Basic soldering techniques will be shown for soldering pcb circuits and electronic components. Attendees will be able to practice their newly learned skills aftermath.
In this training, substractive manufacturing(machining) machines in the CoSpace Workshop will be introduced. Participants will learn how to operate machines in the workshop as well as their safety structures. Successful participants will have been granted access to the workshop after the training. This is a hands on training, therefore quota for the training is 2 people for each session.
In this workshop we will cover the basics: How to warp a basic loom and a basic weaving technique. The loom is in the shape of a heart and later can be used as decor.
Sabancı University ranked 36th on the Times Higher Education (THE) Asian University Rankings.
Times Higher Education (THE) revealed the 2019 Asian University Rankings. Sabancı University ranked 36th among all 417 entrants, and had the highest position among 23 Turkish universities included in the rankings.
Similar to the World University Rankings, the THE Asian University Rankings list uses a methodology that covers Teaching, Research, Citations, International Outlook and Industry Income using 13 performance indicators.
The Asian University Rankings use the same indicators as the World University Rankings; however, there are changes to the weights of categories and indicators that are specific to universities in Asia. The weight of prestige surveys is reduced while the weights of industry income, research income and productivity (number of citations) are increased.
The Turkish universities on the Asian University Rankings and their positions are: Koç University 47th, Bilkent University 82nd, Boğaziçi University 88th, ITU 115th, Hacettepe University 116th, and METU 159th.
ASPILSAN Enerji A.Ş., Turkey's only energy storage company, and Sabancı University signed a research and development cooperation protocol for scientific and technological studies in Energy Storage Technologies.
ASPILSAN Enerji A.Ş., a Turkish Army Foundation company that established Turkey's first lithium-ion cylindirical battery production facility, now enlists the help of Turkey's youth for further strength in the industry. ASPILSAN and Sabancı University signed a Research and Development Cooperation and Mentorship Framework Protocol for scientific and technological studies in Energy Storage Technologies.
The protocol was signed in a ceremony during IDEF '19, the International Defense Industry Fair, with the attendance of ASPILSAN Board of Directors Chair İlhan Bölük, Turkish Army Foundation Deputy General Manager Sadık Piyade, Sabancı University President Professor Yusuf Leblebici, ASPILSAN Enerji General Manager Ferhat Özsoy, and Sabancı University Vice President Professor Fuat Keyman.
The protocol includes undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs to be offered by Sabancı University in areas needed by ASPILSAN Enerji. Another major aspect of the protocol is the use of the knowledge, experience and resources developed by Sabancı University in projects to be developed by ASPILSAN Enerji.
Academics to gain industry experience
Sabancı University faculty members will have the opportunity to work and do research in ASPILSAN Enerji's own R&D centers.
ASPILSAN Board of Directors Chair İlhan Bölük stated that the project would be an exemplary initiative in Turkey for helping academics gain valuable industry experience and developing university-industry collaboration.
Emphasizing the importance of R&D initiatives for ASPILSAN Enerji, Bölük said, "We have established three R&D Centers in Kayseri, Ankara and Istanbul to be closer to universities. We intend to take our research further with the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM).”
Professor Yusuf Leblebici: “At the core of technological development is a trained workforce”
Sabancı University's emphasis on industry partnership and the cooperation with ASPILSAN Enerji, Turkey's only energy storage company, will expand the depth of expertise in energy storage applications.
Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici said, “It is of great value that the technologies we develop in the university reach out to the industry. The university-industry partnership we start today will not only contribute to technological development through project development and prototype production, but also to training a qualified technical workforce for the critical subject of energy storage. At the core of technological development is a trained workforce.”
Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) and Merck presents
Groundbreaking Collaboration in Biotechnological Product Development
Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) and Merck present a historic R&D and Application Unit in the field of biotechnological product development in Turkey. “SUNUM&MERCK Life Science Research” is now in service.
Through this collaboration, Turkey resumed a new biotechnology R&D unit and modern laboratory infrastructure and equipment. The studies to be carried out here will contribute to Turkey’s vision of becoming one of the countries that has important pharmaceutical R&D centers and production hubs. Established through the collaboration of SUNUM and Merck, one of the oldest pharmaceutical and chemical companies of the world incorporated 351 years ago and still is one of the most advanced in science and technology, the Merck & SUNUM Life Sciences Application Unit was brought into service with a special ceremony at the Sabancı University on April 11, 2019. Along with Yusuf Leblebici, the Sabancı University President; Şehram Zayer, Merck Turkey Chairman and General Manager; Alpagut Kara, SUNUM Chairman; Ron Bunschoten, Merck Head of Sales Central, East and South Europe - Process Solutions; Fazilet Vardar Sukan, Director of SUNUM and Sabancı University academics, and top executives of Merck, representatives of outstanding public and private sector institutions and organizations and many prominent figures of the sector attended the opening ceremony.
With SUNUM&MERCKLife Sciences Application Unit, Turkey is getting a modern infrastructure for biotechnological product process development. The aim is to contribute to biotechnological product R&D and the formation of academic based workforce. Biotechnological products are generated thanks to the “recombinant DNA technology”, transplanting the gene of a living cell to another. This technology enables the production of the proteins and hormones naturally secreted by the body in the lab environment by the cell cultures. The human body friendly molecules produced this way are called biotechnological products.
The long-established pharmaceutical and life sciences company of the world with a history dating back 351 years, Merck provides innovative solutions in these sectors with its science-focused R&D intensive investments. Discovering new molecules with the biotechnological product development studies, it discovers new molecules and presents them to the service of the patients and the field of medicine.
Within the scope of Turkey’s 2023 vision, the aim is to create a value worth 23.3 billion dollars by using innovative and advanced technologies in healthcare. The road map stipulates increasing R&D investments, comprising high-caliber work force and multiplying the number of biotechnological production centers. Thanks to this project, through the know-how transfer of Merck, our vision to become a country that boasts important pharmaceuticals and active ingredients R&D centers, production premises and qualified academicians are supported. A center is being brought into service where the Turkish scientists and the pharmaceutical companies in our country can invent new biotechnological pharmaceuticals.
Scholarships for the Doctorate Students
Within the scope of the collaboration between SUNUM&MERCK, a joint working group was formed by the two institutions and scholarships are given to Sabancı University Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Programs’ Doctorate Students. Support is given to the formation of the qualified work force that Turkey will require in the near future.
Our Mission is “To Co-create and Codevelop”
Speaking in the opening ceremony of SUNUM&MERCK Life Sciences and Application Unit, Yusuf Leblebici, the President ofSabancı University said, "The existence of these centers in Sabancı University, the studies conducted and the collaborations with our faculties have always been prioritized. Aiming to provide sustainable contribution to advancement of information and technology, our university becomes stronger through the national and international collaborations it makes with the industry within the scope of its “Co-create and Codevelop” mission. Making it to the top among the universities enlisted under the “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” category of The Times Higher Education 2019 World University Rankings announced this month, is a significant indicator of the importance we give to collaborating with the industry. Today, we are once again contended to see these types of international collaborations coming to fruition. The trust invested by Merck, one of the long established companies of the world, in the infrastructure and work force of Sabancı University makes us proud. Combining our R&D power in engineering with Merck, we are adding a brand new one to our scientific collaborations in healthcare and medicine.”
Underlining that SUNUM&MERCK Life Sciences Application Unit will be a unit where pharmaceutical and active ingredients producers stationed in Turkey can carry out training and development sessions endeavoring to raise the required high-caliber and academic work force, he also expressed that they were of the firm belief that this unit will be the source of groundbreaking ideas and inventions in healthcare and medicine. He continued, “One other output of this collaboration is giving scholarship to some of the doctorate students of the Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program. Through the studies conducted by our academics and researchers with an interdisciplinary approach, Sabancı University and its faculties will continue to be a center of excellence and attraction.”
Contributing to the development of biotechnological pharmaceuticals in Turkey
Celebrating its 21th Anniversary of establishment in Turkey, Merck’s products were first introduced to our country at the beginning of 1900s. Drawing attention to how they are focused on creating projects that can add value to our country, Merck Turkey Chairman and General Manager Şehram Zayer said, “We are very proud to perform the opening ceremony of this center that will contribute to Biotechnological pharmaceuticals R&D endeavors, in collaboration with Sabancı University, one of the respectable and leading universities of our country and Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM). Turkey’s 2023 vision quite clearly aims focusing on R&D in healthcare and the forming of an ecosystem to create value through domestic and international investments. As Merck Turkey, we are quite glad to contribute to the achievement of this aim”. Cutting a swathe to the importance of qualified academics to carry out these studies Zayer said, “This project will contribute to our country in many fields. In this center, researchers will be able to work on biotechnological product process development and sanitization. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Certification of the biotechnological product research centers will be supported by the know-how transfer Merck will provide. We are foreseeing an increase in the number of the biotechnological pharmaceutical production in Turkey. One of the most important contributions of the project, is cultivating the young scientists to take part in these R&D works alongside our esteemed academics who are currently working in this field.”
High-caliber and academic work force
In the speech he gave during the opening ceremony, SUNUM Chairman Alpagut Kara emphasized that SUNUM is one of the 4 centers granted a certificate of competency pursuant to “Law on Supporting Research and Development Activities” and that they focused its funds primarily on nano materials, life sciences, food, agriculture, water, environmental and energy technologies since the day it was establishment. Expressing that SUNUM is right at the heart of the research, training and innovation activities, Kara underlined that they are an exemplar center among thematic research centers operating within high education institutions with their national and international qualified research staff, bridging the university and the industry.
Kara went on to add: “We signed this agreement feeling the support of MERCK, one of the leading suppliers of the Global Healthcare Services and Life Sciences sector, and the long established power and the close ties of SABANCI UNIVERSITY, our home institution. Under the roof of “SUNUM&MERCK Life Sciences Application Center”, not only biotechnological pharmaceuticals and active ingredients R&D studies but also training sessions will be carried out and scholarships will also be granted to doctorate students. Moreover, thanks to this unit the sector will focus its attention on SUNUM and a significant contribution will be made to the high-caliber and academic work force our country requires.”
The opening ceremony was completed with an orientation tour of the SUNUM&MERCKLife Sciences Application Unit that ensued the signature ceremony held after the speeches.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design (VAVCD) 2015 master's graduate Rezzan Hasoğlu was among the 6 finalists of the Lexus Design Award.
This year, the Award received more than 1550 submissions from all over the world. A jury of four highly respected design leaders assessed the submissions and chose 6 finalists. The 6 finalists including Rezzan Hasoğlu had the opportunity to meet and work with four established global designers in New York. The finalists advanced to develop working prototypes of their ground-breaking designs with mentorship from world-class creators. These prototypes were then debuted before the design world on during Milan Design Week from April 9 to 14.
Rezzan Hasoğlu’s design “Arenophile” seeks a new purpose for desert sand, a naturally abundant material which has not been widely used. By creating composite materials using desert sand and non-toxic binders, this project proposes new products through experimentation and research.
The project resulted in two types of products: Vitrified and ceramic tiles made from desert sand. Sea sand is often used in the construction and glass industries today. The composite materials bound by desert sand developed by Rezzan Hasoğlu will have their uses in these industries. Due to its manual production process, the texture of the product stands out, and leads to interaction with its users through touch.
Rezzan Hasoğlu graduated from the Sabancı University FASS VAVCD master's program in 2015 and went for a second degree from Royal College of Art, London. She established her design office "Studio Sahil" in London. Her design approach is very hands-on whilst combining digital tools.
Focused on research and experimentation inspired from natural phenomena, she seeks ways of translating cultural nuances into tangible objects through exploring processes and materials.
Times Higher Education (THE) launched a new ranking. The first ever 2019 THE University Impact Rankings, THE’s pioneering initiative to recognize universities across the world for their social and economic impact, based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, was published.
The inaugural “2019 THE University Impact Rankings” assessed more than 450 universities from 76 countries. Sabancı University was within the 201-300 bracket.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals consist of 17 interlinked objectives. THE included 11 of the 17 SDGs in its “2019 University Impact Rankings”. Sabancı University ranked 41st overall and 1st in Turkey in “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure", 67th overall and 2nd in Turkey in "Climate Action", and 101-200 in "Gender Equality".
THE Chief Knowledge Officer Phil Baty commented:
"Sabancı University's inclusion in the first University Impact Rankings and placement in the 201-300 bracket is a great achievement. It demonstrates Sabancı University's commitment not just to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals through its teaching, research and knowledge transfer, but also to embodying the goals in its internal practices, policies and procedures and providing verifiable evidence of its activities. Sabancı University also has the honor of being an inaugural participant in these rankings."
In addition to the data-based ranking systems implemented until now, University Impact Rankings consider university policies, practices, activities, data sharing with the public depending on the nature of data, free provision of services linked to Sustainable Development Goals, and activities that are in direct support of SDGs.
The activities of the Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence (SU Gender), Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), and Corporate Governance Forum were influential in Sabancı University's performance in the THE 2019 University Impact Rankings.
In honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” were presented at a ceremony hosted by the Sakıp Sabancı Family and Sabancı University on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at the Sabancı Center.
Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı:
•Sakıp Sabancı firmly believed that the society needed to develop in every aspect, and attached great importance to the contribution of social sciences.
•Sakıp Sabancı Research Awards are the first international award given in social sciences in Turkey.
Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards Jury Prize Winner Joseph S. Nye, Jr:
"Soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction"
"Soft power can come from a country's culture, ideals or policies"
“Soft power plays a great role in Turkey's future”
Left to Right : Yusuf Leblebici, Sevil Sabancı, Güler Sabancı, Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Cosette Creamer, Kerim Can Kavaklı, Meltem Müftüler-Baç, Fuat Keyman, Özgür Kıbrıs
In honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” were presented at a ceremony hosted by the Sakıp Sabancı Family and Sabancı University on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at the Sabancı Center.
"We aimed to raise well-educated students, true global citizens liberated of their prejudices and free in mind, thought and conscience"
Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı delivered introductory remarks to the event.
Güler Sabancı said that while designing Sabancı University together with Sakıp Sabancı, they aimed to raise well-educated students, true global citizens liberated of their prejudices and free in mind, thought and conscience. She said that they always believed such individuals would make a contribution to humanity, science and society while generating value for life. She continued, "Today, when I look at our graduates all around the world, who make a difference through their achievements, I feel delight and I am sure that Sakıp Sabancı would have been delighted as well."
“We wanted Sabancı University to be among the best not just in Turkey, but across the world”
Güler Sabancı said, “We are proud that our university represents Turkey on international rankings through great achievements."
Referring to Sakıp Sabancı’s firm belief that the society needed to develop in every aspect, and his attaching great importance to the contribution of social sciences, Güler Sabancı continued, “Considering the global turmoil that faces us and the increasing need to understand our times with a corresponding increase in the importance attributed to social sciences, we can appreciate how farsighted he was."
“The Sakıp Sabancı Turkish Studies Center at Columbia University is a great symbol of Sakıp Sabancı’s vision and the values he held dear"
Güler Sabancı said that Sakıp Sabancı wanted everything done to have international outreach and impact, and specifically directed people to cooperate with the best in the world when doing things. Sabancı stated: “The Sakıp Sabancı Turkish Studies Center at Columbia University was established with the generous and bold efforts of Dr.h.c. Dilek Sabancı and Sevil Sabancı. I believe that this Center is a great symbol of Sakıp Sabancı’s vision and the values he held dear.”
Güler Sabancı added that the structure of the Columbia University Center was especially meaningful considering Sakıp Sabancı’s dedication to world-class studies in social sciences and working with the best. Sabancı said, “We are confident that Sakıp Sabancı’s memory will live on at Columbia University under a program that accurately reflects his viewpoint."
Turkey's first international award in social sciences
Güler Sabancı said that the awards were world-class in every way from jury panel to processes and participants, which confirmed her belief that the awards lived up to the memory of Sakıp Sabancı, and expressed her hope that the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards would continue to expand the horizons of researchers in the future. Sabancı declared the theme for the 2020 awards to be “Economics and the Future of Turkey: Sustainable Environment, Transportation and Energy”.
Jury Prize given to Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is one of the leading international relations theorists of the world and a Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus. He has served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and Chair of the National Intelligence Council under the Clinton Administration (1993-2001).
"Soft power, which is the ability to get what you want through attraction, can come from a country's culture, ideals or policies"
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. spoke: “When we talk about power, we expect others to do what we want them to do. I thought that it was more important to achieve this by making our idea more attractive, by developing a mutual relationship with others. Most of us do this already. So I named it soft power. Soft power is what one needs to make an effective foreign policy. The art of diplomacy is to get agreements. It is underpinned by the idea to sway the preferences of others rather than using force and sanctions to be influential in world politics. Soft power, which is the ability to get what you want through attraction, rather than coercion or payment, can come from a country's culture, ideals or policies."
Nye continued, “I believe that soft power will play a great role in Turkey's future. It is important that Turkey goes back to the soft power approach, and the use of soft power when planning its future. I think that the culture and universities in Turkey will contribute greatly to the country's soft power. Sabancı University and others make great efforts to preserve academic freedom and intellectual integrity. These will add to Turkey's soft power in the future. By utilizing its soft power, Turkey can achieve great things and create tremendous impact. I am confident that the future holds great things for Turkey."
Essay Awards to three young researchers
The three equally-weighted Essay Awards were given to:
•Cosette D. Creamer from University of Minnesota with "Judicial Responsiveness in the World Trade Organization"
•Kerim Can Kavaklı from Bocconi University with "Does the Rise of China Weaken Global Governance? Evidence from the Anti-Trafficking Regime"
•Moria Paz from Georgetown University with "A World of Walls".
Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Meltem Müftüler-Baç, the president of this year's jury panel, explained the reasoning behind the jury's selection.
After the speeches, Joseph S. Nye, Jr. received the Jury Prize from Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici, and this year's Jury Chair Meltem Müftüler-Baç. Winners of the Essay Awards received their prizes from Sabancı University Board of Trustees Member Sevil Sabancı and Sabancı University Vice President and Istanbul Policy Center Director Fuat Keyman.
More than 390 submissions from 31 countries over 14 years
Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards were established 14 years ago to honor the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı, and are given by Sabancı University in the history, economy and sociology of Turkey. The award program is led by the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Istanbul Policy Center. Submissions are reviewed by an international panel of independent jury members. In the last 14 years, Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards have been given in subjects ranging from Turkey's economy to foreign policy, history, and social dynamics. More than 390 submissions were received from 31 countries for the 14 Awards given so far.
Jury Panel
The president of this year's Jury Panel was Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Meltem Müftüler-Baç.
Jury members were Sabancı University Vice President and Istanbul Policy Center Director Fuat Keyman, Sabancı University FASS Dean Özgür Kıbrıs, Sabancı University FASS Faculty Member Ayşe Kadıoğlu, Brookings Institution Vicre President and Sabancı University International Board of Overseers Member Kemal Derviş, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University faculty member Erik Jones, and Wright University of Pennsylvania faculty member William Burke.
About Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is University Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Princeton University, won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, and earned a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard. He has served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chair of the National Intelligence Council, and a Deputy Under Secretary of State. His most recent books include The Powers to Lead, The Future of Power, and Presidential Leadership and the Creation of the American Era. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Academy, and the American Academy of Diplomacy. In a recent survey of international relations scholars, he was ranked as the most influential scholar on American foreign policy, and in 2011, Foreign Policy named him one of the top 100 Global Thinkers. In 2014, Japan awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun.
Haluk Bal: I arrived in a very high-quality environment and I did my best to preserve that. I prioritized delegation as a result of my personal experience and management style.
When the Mayor of Tuzla visited the campus, he talked about the number of people living in the municipality. I joked that I was the mayor of this town. Indeed, the food and beverage, transport, health and other services we provide to students and other people on campus are more than what the municipality provides.
The university had been teaching for six years when you started. In such a short time for a university, construction was complete and the system was running.
Wednesday Talks with Nesrin Balkan
The university was truly well-established on all fronts. I arrived in a thriving organization built on a strong foundation. But everything changes so quickly nowadays. New needs arise, as do new objectives and strategies. And Sabancı University is a dynamic place, so there is always a new project or initiative going on. During my time here, we opened new programs. We took strides in internationalization. Countless academic and administrative changes were made. I'll stop here because it's beginning to sound like self-promotion! Coming here at a time like this, I was able to translate my previous experience to the work that I do here. I'm in charge of a university when I had nothing of that sort on my mind. This is another lucky break in my career. After years in a commercial business, as I turned 50 and reached the top of my career, I was exceptionally lucky to start this job.
That's reasonable. You always say you were lucky in your career. How about your life outside work, your social life?
My life outside work consists of my home, my lovely wife Buket, and my son Sinan. At the cost of sounding cliché, I must say that I was more than lucky to have met and married Buket. I am truly happy; Buket and my happiness at home have played a large part in my career development.
That's lovely; I met Buket and Sinan at university events. It's obvious that you are a happy, peaceful family. And I agree that 50 is the zenith of your career. By that time, you are experienced and mature enough to convey your experiences to others. What do you think?
I agree. You have complete inner peace and confidence. You are also in tune with younger people. I had a great 8 years at the university so far, and I believe the rest will be just as great. Working in a university gives you an emotional satisfaction that other jobs don't have. My son is a student here, so I am also a Sabancı University parent. My friends from Darüşşafaka or IBM all have university-age children. My experience here made me chief advisor. Our house becomes a tea garden after each university exam. Friends, neighbors and anyone else whose child just sat the exam come over for advice and suggestions. I love helping candidates and their parents. I'm always in touch with our own students as well. My door is always open to them. We keep in touch after they graduate; they always call or visit. Here, I'm called "Hocam" or "Professor" as well. That's satisfaction on a different level; you know it as well as I do.
Working with young people, basking in their brilliance and positive energy is something that you can't find in another environment.
That's a big plus. Sometimes I work with our students too. We plan student club budgets and events together. I tell them about my experience in finding sponsors, preparing project submissions and such. Like a mentor, I sometimes tell them life lessons, and support them in operational matters. Sometimes they talk about their issues and I try to provide guidance. I can often see that I make a change for the better in their lives. My moment of bliss is when they come to me and say, "Hocam, thanks for all you've done for us." It's a huge pleasure. And that is the biggest plus in comparison to working in a company.
Compared to other universities, is the role of Secretary-General more critical here?
The responsibilities of a secretary-general varies between universities depending on the wishes of the founders and administrators. Sabancı is vastly different from other universities in terms of administration as well. I have contact and relationships with the secretary-generals of other universities and I can say that Sabancı gives the most responsibility to the function. I think this is the right structure. We provide all the administrative and financial support that our faculty and students require. There are advantages to providing these services as a team and under one structure: Our response time to issues and requirements is very quick. And this is not limited to the secretary-general's office; Sabancı University has an administrative structure that cannot be compared to any other university in terms of efficiency.
It's dynamic and fast.
This is partly due to the high regard our Board of Trustees Chair and the Sabancı Family have for the university. We can reach Güler Sabancı at any time and have regular monthly meetings with her. When something urgent comes up, she and other Board of Trustees members are always within reach. The university administration has healthy relationships both among itself and with the members of the Board of Trustees. Few institutions are blessed this way. We also work and get along really well with our President, Nihat Berker. This is important to me. I feel fortunate because of that.
Being secretary-general sounds like mayorship. It's not unlike managing a town of five thousand.
That's a good analogy. When the Mayor of Tuzla visited the campus, he talked about the number of people living in the municipality. I joked that I was the mayor of this town. Indeed, the food and beverage, transport, health and other services we provide to students and other people on campus are more than what the municipality provides. I told him that although I couldn't compete in numbers, the similarities were quite the same. He agreed.
Can you talk about personal plans?
I have some plans Nesrin, but I think I'll be around here for a few more years. I do complain about the pace of work sometimes. My son graduates in two years. After that, we might have different plans together. But I'm not planning too long into the future.
How about your hobbies? I know you love the sea.
Yes, I love it all right. I have recently begun to think that losing our father and sister in a sea accident compelled my brother and I to challenge the sea and refuse to be afraid of it. I remember from my childhood that our mother would beg and plead with us not to swim too far from the shore. She was deathly afraid that she would lose us to the sea as well. You know how I now feel about the sea? You can drop me in the middle of the ocean, blindfolded and in the dark, and I can survive. I won't panic or be afraid. Swimming, diving, boating and fishing are my favorite holiday activities. Buket is keen on cultural holidays. I like seeing nice places too, but I make sure that any holiday either begins or ends by the seaside.
Well, you do need the sea for a proper holiday.
Exactly. For twenty years, I have always gone into the sea with my goggles and snorkel even if I had no means to catch fish. I swim while watching the bottom of the sea. I also play music. In fact, I did promise you a concert, and we'll pull it off some way. So when I have more time dedicated to myself, my first occupation will be the sea and fishing, and the second one, music. I play the guitar. I have a good ear for music. I can read music but I need to work on it. That will make me a better guitar player too. I have almost all string instruments at home, including the kanun. I even took kanun courses for a while but I didn't have enough time. You need to take two or three courses a week, and practice at home all the time. So I stopped playing for now. I intend to go back to it when I have time. Music, the sea, nature, gardening, flowers... they are all a pleasure to me. I'd like to have more time for those.
How about the plants on campus? The trees have grown over the years and we have some lovely plants.
Indeed they are awesome. Now I need to mention our founding president Tosun Terzioğlu and Nermin Hanım from Kartepe Peyzaj, who has been doing our landscaping since the beginning. You will know as Tosun Bey told everyone: The land here isn't fertile and water is an issue. Nevertheless, they made wonders here. That was possible thanks to Tosun Bey's support and Nermin Hanım's exceptional work. They prepared a great catalog of the plants on campus. I don't know all of their names, but I do love nature and plants. Sometimes, when I'm too frustrated by work or angry at someone, I remind myself to go for a walk. I climb the stairs, walk over to the Rectorate, and come back down. I forget all about what made me angry or frustrated as I walk among breathtaking flowers and plants, and arrive back in my office refreshed.
Any final thoughts?
I sometimes question what I have contributed to myself and the university while working here. The university was well designed from the beginning and being managed professionally. So, I cannot claim credit for having achieved this or that; besides, there is no need. I arrived in a very high-quality environment and I did my best to preserve that. I prioritized delegation as a result of my personal experience and management style. Instead of being a micro-manager who makes all decisions and checks every minute detail, I chose to have people take responsibility in their work, be accountable for results, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. I then built the same understanding into policies and procedures.
As a human-centric administrator, communication was always my top priority and my door was open at all times. Although I must admit that I am falling behind on this lately; I used to be more accessible. I valued personal contact with all employees, receiving their feedback, and adjusting my work accordingly. I held roundtable meetings. I created abundant training opportunities for employees ranging from English lessons to specialization in different fields. Together, we achieved great things. It was a pleasure to be a part of a well-built system that worked smoothly. I also believe that I improved many administrative processes that are critical to the future of the university during my time here. So I think I do have a legacy here.
As an employee, I'd like to add that your people skills are amazing. You have excellent dialog with everyone at all levels. I have an example. A server who had once worked in the Rectorate told me. Employees complained that the server could not be reached by phone when he was out serving beverages, and requested that he be given a portable telephone. At one point you became involved and told him "everyone has the right to take a breather from time to time."
That is true. You need to give people breathing room; you need to let some things slide.
This exhibition includes the works of current VAVCD students working in video, 3D modelling and motion graphics. With each student coming with their own perspective, aesthetic and expertise these classes become a place to learn the medium of expression. The outcome is the work in progress shared by each student.
Like Karl Marx said, ideology is material. The way one thinks is not controlled by the thinker, but by the forces of their material environment. Your world shapes your mind. When the material world changes, you change too. To put it in another way: we construct the world with tools and materials that are around us. We may not know where thoughts come from, but we know the expression of a thought is limited by the tools and materials with which we can express it. That’s why this showcase of visuals is different. Because the beauty of mind and expression is unique and different from each person. There have been massive social and technological changes in the last fifty years, artists and designers are now flowing with them.
In these digital media courses, students learn to blur the line between reality and fantasy. Becoming skilled in 3D modelling, animation and editing students attempt to make their ideas manifest - SPARKS. The Digital Media Exhibition aims to share and translate each student unrestrained imagination into images in their own unique way, it is a showcase that represents - communication, collaboration and exchange of views, and most importantly, respecting individual uniqueness, creativity and freedom of expression.
More than 100 works from VAVCD student will be displayed in FASS Art Gallery (Video, 3D Modelling, Motion Graphics and Arts). 11 - 26 April, 2019.
We remember the late Sakıp Sabancı, the Honorary Chairman of Sabancı University, in the fifteenth year of his passing with the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards.
Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards and Remembrance Ceremony will be hosted by the Sakıp Sabancı Family and Sabancı University on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 7:00pm at the Sabancı Center.
Covering fields such as Turkish and Islamic art and history, economics and sociology in Turkey, the Awards will be given to papers on “Future of Multilateralism in Global Turmoil: Rethinking Security, Economy, Democracy” this year.
Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı will deliver introductory remarks to the event. Also speaking will be Jury Panel Chair and Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Meltem Müftüler Baç on behalf of the jury panel consisting of internationally-recognized Turkish and foreign professors, and award-winning authors.
The Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award involves a Jury Prize that will be awarded to an individual who has made distinguished contributions on the above-mentioned theme. In addition to the Jury Prize, Essay Awards will be given to three researchers under 45 years of age. Winners of the Article Awards and Jury Prize were selected by an international panel of independent jurists. The eighth Jury Prize will also be handed.
