Ayşe Parla receives the TUBA-GEBIP award 2011, given by the Turkish Academy of Sciences to Outstanding Young Scientists.

One of the young stellar researchers at FASS, Ayşe is a sociocultural anthropologist teaching mainly in our Cultural Studies programs.

The award will finance a research project on migration and citizenshipfor the next three years. Ayşe will receive the award in a ceremony on June 3, at the annual Academy Day in Istanbul.

Atiye – Manga
Sabancı University Bands: The Loop - Perfect Stranger -  Banner-Runner

SUŞenlik 2011 will be a festival where the music never ends and fun activities never stop.

Proudly celebrating its 11th year, the Sabancı University Spring Fest (SUŞenlik) will be held on Saturday, May 14th.  This year’s featured musicians are Atiye and Manga.

Sabancı University will open its doors to all guests at noon on Saturday, May 14th, and offers everyone boundless fun. Music will begin at 3.00 pm.

Admission to SUşenlik is free for Sabancı University students.

The SU Alumni Reunion of those living in America took place over a nice dinner on Friday, May 6th, at the Harvard Faculty Club.

Representing the University, in attendance were Güler Sabancı, President Nihat Berker, beloved professor Halil Berktay and Şule Yalçın from the SU Alumni Office. At the event the University representatives met with the close-to 80 alumni living in the USA, many of which who are either continuing their education on scholarship, or working. In additon, in presence were nearly 20 faculty members from various universities in Boston and representatives from Turkish Media.

The alumni discussed their future plans with the other attendees at the event. Many in attendance also made a gift toward the "SU USA Alumni Scholarship", supporting current SU students that are academically successful, yet have a financial burden, in receiving their education.

Please click to see all photographs.

The USA Meeting of Sabanci Alumni in the Media
Ceyda Karan (Habertürk): Tersine beyin göçü peşindeki ‘parlak çocuklar’
Güngör Uras (Milliyet): Şimdiki çocuklar harika
Oray Eğin (Akşam): Harvard'da Sabancı Günü

Named in honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı, the Honorary Board of Trustees Chairman of Sabancı University, the Sakıp Sabancı Conference is held annually by Sabancı University in association with the Brookings Institution to discuss the latest developments in global politics and to draw attention to the role of Turkey in political developments on an international level.

Keynote speakers of previous conferences were Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, Former US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, Former US Assistant Secretary of State and Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Chancellor Oxford University Chris Patten, and US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon.

About Javier Solana
Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga, KOGF is a Spanish physicist and Socialist politician. After serving in the Spanish government under Felipe González (1982–1995) and Secretary General of NATO (1995–1999), he was appointed the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and Secretary-General of the Western European Union and held these posts from October 1999 until December 2009.

Photo Gallery

Held by Sabancı University in association with the Brookings Institution, this year’s Sakıp Sabancı Conference featured Former NATO Secretary-General and Former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Dr. Javier Solana.  In his speech titled “Turkey, Europe and the World in 2011,” Dr. Solana expressed his opinions on the current state of affairs across the world and Turkey’s EU-accession process.  Solana said it was a personal dream of his for Turkey to become an EU member.

The seventh Sakıp Sabancı Conference organized by Sabancı University in association with the Brookings Institution was held on Wednesday, May 4th in Washington, D.C.  The keynote speaker at this year’s conference was Former NATO Secretary-General and Former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Dr. Javier Solana.  In his speech titled “Turkey, Europe and the World in 2011,” Solana discussed Turkey-EU relations and Turkey’s process for EU accession.

The opening speech was given by Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, who explained that this conference series was being held in honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı on issues that commemorate his commitment to freedom of expression and association, the free market, free enterprise, and his dedication to leaving a better world to future generations.  Also commenting on current issues, Sabancı said, “The world is passing through a time when concepts like freedom of thought and democracy are being tested once again globally.  Amid these uncertainties, Turkey strives to be a beacon of stability in its region. With its secular democracy, rapidly-growing economy, and strong civil society, it continues to set a good example for its neighbors.”  Güler Sabancı then welcomed Dr. Javier Solana to the lecture to discuss the difficulties and opportunities that are awaiting Turkey.

EU should open its borders
Former NATO Secretary-General and Former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Dr. Javier Solana discussed the EU from economic and political standpoints.  Arguing that the EU was moving backwards in terms of competitiveness, Solana said, “By 2050, EU’s workforce will have reduced by 70 million, which will be detrimental to the Union’s economy.  Europe should open its borders to prevent this.”

Diversity  is the destiny of EU
Also discussing the issue of immigration, Solana noted that immigration was an important social driving force of cultural diversity in Europe and a source of richness, arguing that cultural diversity is ingrained in Europe.

“Europe should develop strategic partnerships with Turkey to resolve issues in the Mediterranean and the global energy problematic, while developing its mutual relationships with Turkey.”

Solana argued that Turkey maintained a strategic position and policies in the current state of affairs, and that the strategic advantages Europe could develop with Turkey could contribute to the solutions offered to global policy.

“Turkey’s EU membership is my dream.”
To conclude his speech, Solana said that the world was passing through a difficult, hopeful but uncertain period, and that Europe and Turkey needed to work together at this time, which meant the full accession of Turkey to the EU.  Solana ended by saying, “Turkey’s EU membership is my dream.”

Speaking after Solana’s lecture, Brookings Institution Vice President and Sabancı University International Board of Overseers Member Kemal Derviş said he agreed with Solana’s views on Turkey’s EU membership.  Kemal Derviş argued that while Turkey was ambitious to become a member to the EU, it was also “in a position to question what type of Europe it should join.”  Derviş also said that, instead of positioning itself as a superpower, Europe should see itself as an actor striving for the future of a better globalization.

The conference was broadcast live from Washington, D.C., and was televised at the Sabancı University campus in Tuzla.  The Turkish leg of the conference was hosted by Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker and moderated by Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences professor Ayşe Kadıoğlu.

The 7th Sakıp Sabancı Conference, organized in association with the Brookings Institution, will be held on Wednesday, May 4th, at the SoM Lecture Hall.

The conference will be broadcast live from Washington DC, and the theme of the conference is "Turkey, Europe and the World in 2011”. The speaker will be Former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. 

Solana will be exploring the developments in the Middle East from the perspectives of globalization, regional security and development.  He will assess the influence of Turkey on these developments as a candidate to the EU, and discuss whether it is possible for Turkey to help its historical allies and partners understand the situation in the region better in its capacity as both a member of the Transatlantic alliance, and a regional power.

Date: Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
Time: 5.00pm
Place: SoM Lecture Hall (live from Washington DC)
Speaker: Javier Solana - Former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy
Subject: "Turkey, Europe and the World in 2011"

All Sabancı University members are invited.

The 2011 Dicle Koğacıoğlu Article Award is established by Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Gender and Women's Studies Forum in memory of Dicle Koğacıoğlu.

The aim of this award is to support and motivate young researchers and their research on Turkish society and Turkish culture with gender focus. The Award is open to all social sciences graduate students and to all social sciences M.A students who have graduated within the last two years.

Only Turkish submissions will be accepted.

Click here for more information.

Students who show remarkable achievement in their Foundations Development courses during their first year at the university are rewarded with a visit to MIT with our President, Nihat Berker.

Successful students went on a visit to MIT to experience a different education system and culture.  Students will attend lectures of their choice, and visit museums and go to a basketball game with President Nihat Berker as their guide.

Ege Gülcan, a student currently at MIT, gives an account of his first day, complete with photographs:

“We arrived in Boston Saturday night, and settled in our hotels and dormitory rooms.  On Sunday morning, Professor Berker showed us around MIT; afterwards, we took the subway from Cambridge to Boston and went to the Prudential Center for a bird’s eye view of the city.  Then we had lunch together and visited the Quincy Market for some shopping.  Meanwhile, preparations for the Boston Marathon were underway, and many roads were closed.

“After strolling around the Newsbury Avenue and shooing some more, we went back to our rooms and prepared for dinner.  Since Monday was our free day, we toured on our own and bought a few things.  On Tuesday, we will be meeting the president of MIT.  I will keep writing and posting photos.”

The 3rd “23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day Drawing Competition”, for the children of our employees is starting.

The topics according to age categories are:

    * 3-4 Years Age Group     :  My Family and Me
    * 5-6 Years Age Group     :  Funfair
    * 7-8 Years Age Group     :  My Friends
    * 9-10 Years Age Group   :  Atatürk and Children
    * 11-13 Years Age Group :  Climate Change

You can send your child’s drawing (A4 paper) together with the filled in application form to Şükriye Şanslı from Human Resources (President’s Office, Room No:1050) until 19 April 2011.

Evaluation and Awards:

The drawings will be evaluated by a jury. The winners of every age group will be awarded with;

1st place  : Bicycle
2nd place : Scooter
3rd place  : Book Set for Children
 
In addition, each participant will be awarded with a painting set and a drawing book. All the drawings will be exhibited at the University Center.

Application form is attached.

Human Resources

Dr. Josef Ackermann was invited by Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and Akbank CEO Suzan Sabancı Dinçer to give a speech titled Global Financial System After The Crisis at Sabancı University.

Deutsche Bank CEO Dr. Josef Ackermann gave a speech as part of the Sabancı University School of Management’s Conversations with Executives series. The seminar took place on Sabancı University in Tuzla on Monday, April 11, and Josef Ackermann gave a speech titled “Global Financial System After The Crisis”.

“We cannot isolate countries nor financial crises”
Dr. Ackermann began his speech with specific examples of the Asian and Latin American cases, and noted that it was understood that the price of financial crises is too high.  Explaining that in a world where mobility is on the rise, monetary policies, political approaches and global differences in risk management are not the cause of financial crises on their own, and that the complex relations between them spawn crises, Dr. Ackermann said, “The business models of the future require the coordinated management of this complex structure.”

Dr. Ackermann gave examples within the global crisis, arguing that it is not possible to isolate countries and financial crises, and gave advice to students planning to pursue a career in finance.

Dr. Ackermann argued that the finance sector provided great career opportunities despite all crises, and that finance required interdisciplinary know-how and thought systems given the difficulties and multidimensional structure of the financial sector.  Ackermann added that as a global sector, finance brings together people from all over the world, which provides opportunities for not merely professional improvement, but for personal development as well.

Ackermann said that the future centers of finance would not be limited to London and Frankfurt, that Istanbul was on its path to becoming a financial center, and reminded listeners that those who wished to work in this sector should be prepared to be relocated to various cities of the world, including Shanghai and Sao Paolo.

Responding to questions from academics and students, Dr. Ackermann advised the listeners to be open to criticism and feedback.  He added that it is important to listen to customers and consider their needs carefully, which is the only way to recover the confidence that is lost during crises.  Ackermann noted that compliance, integrity in personal disposition and social responsibility are other important elements of business life to be considered.

Dr. Ackermann was invited by Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and Akbank CEO Suzan Sabancı Dinçer, and the seminar was hosted by Sabancı University President A. Nihat Berker and School of Management Dean Nakiye Boyacıgiller.  After a lunch gathering hosted by Suzan Sabancı  Dinçer, Dr. Ackermann took part in a tour of the School of Management with Güler Sabancı, and received information about CAFE, the only center for applied finance education in Turkey and the near region.