First English broadcast of Teachers Are Human with our beloved teacher David Hill! If you want to listen to this nice chat, go to one of the below platforms on 24th of April, Monday, at 8 PM !

www.radyosu.sabanciuniv.edu

wwww.radyosu.org

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Techdays’17 organized by Sabancı University Student Club ENSO-IEEE Engineering Society, will bring together Turkey’s leader companies to talk about technology on 22-23 April.

ENSO-IEEE Engineering Society which is one of the Sabancı University Student Clubs is organizing an event: Techdays’17! 

Turkey’s leader companies will attend and talk about technology in Sabancı University FMAN Auditorium between 22-23 April. 

In our event will have Kaspersky, Seven Bridges Genomics, Kuveyt Türk, Şişecam, IBM, Zaxe, Türk Telekom, Microsoft, Yapı Kredi and their themes will be IoT, 3D Printing, Syber Security, Bioengineering, Digital Banking, Industry 4.0, IT, Data Mining, and Mobile Computing. 

The event will begin at 14.00 on Saturday and at 12.00 on Sunday. There will be free shuttles from Taksim and Kadıköy. 

For registration and tickets: University Center Cafeteria or https://www.biletino.com/event/eventdetail/3518  

For detailed information: enso@sabanciuniv.edu

Seven Bridges Genomics' Hackathon

Don't miss TechDays'17 if you want to join Seven Bridges Genomics' Hackathon. Registrations for Hackathon will be available only ones who will attend to Techdays. 

For detail info:

Mail: enso@sabanciuniv.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ensoieee

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ensoieee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ensoieee

Sakıp Sabancı Remembered with the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” in the 13th Year of His Passing 

Winner of the 2017 Sakıp Sabancı Jury Prize: Nermin Abadan-Unat

This year's Jury Prize in the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards was given to Nermin Abadan-Unat.

Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı: "Population movements in a globalizing world gave rise to constructive interaction as well as conflict." 

This year's Jury Prize in the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards was given to Nermin Abadan-Unat. The winners of the three equally-weighted Essay Awards were independent scholar Defne Kadıoğlu Polat, Zeynep Selen Artan-Bayhan from City University of New York, and Tolga Tezcan from the University of Florida. 

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 Monday, April 10, 2017 at the Sabancı Center. 

This year's theme was "Europeans with Legacies from Turkey in Everyday Life." This theme was chosen partly because of Turkey's failure to achieve many aspects of its standards for gender equality in economic, political and social life despite significant efforts and progress in reducing inequalities. 

Introductory remarks to the ceremony were delivered by Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı. Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Senem Aydın Düzgit, the president of this year's jury panel, explained the reasoning behind the jury's selection.

Nermin Abadan-Unat was awarded the Jury Prize. The jury chose Nermin Abadan-Unat for her outstanding work on emigration from Turkey. 

The three equally-weighted Essay Awards were given to:  

• “At least we have a home here”: Everyday Experiences of Turkish Immigrants in a Gentrifying Berlin Neighborhood by independent scholar Defne Kadıoğlu Polat,
• Praying God Abroad: Religious Boundary and the Experiences of Turkish Immigrants in Germany and the United States 
  by Zeynep Selen Artan-Bayhan from City University of New York,
• Building or Burning the Bridges? The Determinants of Return Migration Intentions of German-Turk Generations by Tolga Tezcan from the University of Florida. 

Nermin Abadan-Unat received her prize from Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and Sabancı University President Professor Ayşe Kadıoğlu. Essay Award winners received their prizes from Sabancı University Board of Trustees Member Sevil Sabancı and Sabancı University President Professor Ayşe Kadıoğlu. 

Güler Sabancı: 

Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı began her speech by saying: “Tonight, we greeted you with a work of art created to commemorate the 10th year of the late Sakıp Sabancı’s passing. After being exhibited in many places around the world, it is now at home at the Sabancı Center." 

Güler Sabancı said that the purpose of the night was to remember Sakıp Sabancı as a true man of Turkey, and to present the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards endowed to honor his will to their recipients. Güler Sabancı emphasized the importance of encouragement and recognition to Sakıp Sabancı, and said that the International Research Awards were built on those two pillars. 

Güler Sabancı said, “When you hear the name Sakıp Sabancı, the first thing that comes to mind about him is his genuine, candid, positive, constructive and worldly personality that endeared him to the Turkish people. Education, science, and scientists were of particular importance to him. He was a close follower of innovation. He would be excited about technological progress and often consult young people, taking their opinion. He always reminded everyone to clear the way for the youth, and express his confidence in them. That is why the university was the project closest to his heart." Güler Sabancı emphasized Sakıp Sabancı’s firm belief that a better future for Turkey lay in a well-educated and well-trained youth, continuing:  "When the Sabancı Group set out to build a global university, he led the way and supported us all with his groundbreaking and constructive endeavors." 

Our alumni take Sakıp Bey as an example and contribute to the Turkish and global economy

Güler Sabancı noted that Sabancı University educated its students to become open-minded individuals who adopt universal values and are always in pursuit of science, preparing them for future success in academic careers in the best universities of the world or professional careers in leading multinational companies.  Sabancı continued, "Our alumni who start their own businesses take Sakıp Bey as an example and contribute to the Turkish and global economy. Thanks to them, Sabancı University achieves positions in global rankings that would have made Sakıp Bey proud." 

Güler Sabancı said that Sakıp Sabancı had an excellent grasp of real life, which was why he was equally supportive of medical, natural and social sciences at once, believing that they would go the furthest if they ran abreast. Sabancı explained that his understanding was behind Turkey's only academic award in social sciences. Güler Sabancu said that the awards had covered a wide range of pressing issues from democracy to diversity, urbanization and gender equality, which was why this year's subject was chosen as "Europeans with Legacies from Turkey in Everyday Life". 

Population movements occurring throughout the world became one of the determinants of contemporary politics

Güler Sabancı argued that population movements occurring in Turkey and throughout the world had become one of the determinants of contemporary politics, saying “Population movements in a globalizing world gave rise to constructive interaction as well as conflict.” 

Concluding her speech, Sabancı said that the next year's theme would be "Democratic Governance and Threats against Coexistence in Turkey and the World."

Nermin Abadan-Unat:

Population movements are as old as humanity

Sakıp Sabancı Jury Prize winner Nermin Abadan-Unat began her speech by remarking that population movements were as old as humanity. Abadan-Unat said that the movement of labor in Turkey started at the individual level in the 1950s, and later evolved into mass movements. Discussing Columbia University professor Daniel Lerner's survey of seven Middle Eastern nations titled "The Passing of Traditional Society", drawing attention to the fact that 49% of the Turkish respondents said that, if given no other choice, they would rather die than live somewhere other than Turkey.  Nermin Abadan-Unat continued, “60 years after this finding, we have 4.5 million Turkish nationals living across five continents of the world. More than three million of them live in Europe, and 80% of those living in Europe are in Germany." She said that the expansion of transnational areas and developments in communication and technology were the reasons behind this unexpected occurrence. Abadan-Unat added, "We must take a close look at the relationship between countries that sent migrant workers, and those that received them."

Turkish migration occurred in two waves

Nermin Abadan-Unat argued that there were two distinct waves of Turkish migration. In the first wave of the 1950s, emigration was at an individual level and only possible through personal contacts or intermediaries. Abadan-Unat said that the adoption of the 1961 Constitution gave Turkish citizens the fundamental right of moving freely in and out of the country, which changed the circumstances. Nermin Abadan-Unat noted two important changes in the second wave: “While the German Democratic Republic prevented its citizens from moving to the West, the creators of Turkey's first Five-Year Development Plan (1962-67) made 'export of labor' one of their priorities due to rampant unemployment in Turkey. According to the initial agreement signed between Turkey and Germany in 1961, groups of male-only workers would go abroad for a year, return to Turkey when their 'rotation' ended, and contribute to industrialization in Turkey. In reality however, workers only had three minutes to sign contracts without knowing where they were headed, received no more than 1 to 3 hours of training for their jobs, 40% worked with no tools whatsoever, and they were housed in dormitories called 'heim' regardless of their marital status."

Turkish woman workers became heads of family

Nermin Abadan-Unat discussed the status of woman workers as well, saying that the number of women holding a working permit in Germany increased from only 173 in 1960, before the signing of the agreement, to 159,984 as of 1974.  She said that at that point, the percentage of working women in Turkey was 11.6 while it was 29.1 in Germany. Nermin Abadan-Unat explained that, according to various studies, women raised in traditional families were trained to adapt to different circumstances when they married, so they were able to adapt more quickly to their life abroad and in many instances assumed the position of head of family.

Abadan-Unat said that the reason for the failure of the hopes that Turkey would benefit from education opportunities provided to new generations and create a workforce equipped with skills in high demand had to be first sought in the immigration policies of the host countries. “Accepting the largest share of Turkish workers, Germany assumed that once new workers stopped coming, the Turkish migrants would return home. When this did not happen, laws to encourage return migration were adopted, especially during the CDU administrations. Heads of family were offered 10,500 DM, with an additional 1,500 DM for each child.  As a result of these efforts, some 250,000 Turkish citizens moved back to Turkey.”

Discussing educational issues with young members of Turkish immigrant families, Abadan-Unat said, “Ray C. Rist argues that there are three reasons which prevent youth from getting ahead in life: a. A selective system is in place; b. Schoolchildren are viewed as blank slates to be filled with highly compartmentalized knowledge; c. Teachers prioritize children whose native language is German.  Today, education is almost exclusively in German. As a result, only half of Turkish youths are able to enter vocational schools, and those who can have fewer options.   A limited number of Turkish youths are admitted to universities that educate students to be part of the 'elite', and Turkish girls are better than Turkish boys in this regard, for example in medicine."

The Turkish diaspora became more diverse, colorful and populous over time

Nermin Abadan-Unat said that another important change of character in Turkish labor migration was the rise of "entrepreneurship" where many Turkish immigrants started their own businesses and became "employers" themselves. As a result, Abadan-Unat said, Turkish immigrants or "new Europeans" began to make their voices heard in music, literature and drama in Germany.  She said that the co-chair of the German Green Party was a Turkish person, as was the current Minister of Integration (Ayhan Özoğuz), and more than twenty Turkish men and women were in various political and administrative offices of Germany, and explained that these noteworthy developments led to the Turkish diaspora becoming more diverse, colorful and populous over time. 

Islam, ethnic identities and diasporas in New Europe

Nermin Abadan-Unat said that the advent of online communication from 2007 onwards helped Turkish nationals stay connected with their home country and surroundings, which led them to acquire multiple loyalties in a "transnational" identity. As the transnational sphere expanded and made new Europeans with Turkish legacies more visible in public life, Abadan-Unat said, which contributed to the rise of extensive Islamophobia in many European countries when considered together with the reintegration of Germany, ongoing wars in the Middle East, and acts of terrorism committed by radical Islamist organizations like ISIS: She said that the situation was exacerbated with the influx of mostly Muslim refugees into Europe in the last three years, provoking many countries who had admitted immigrants in the past to revisit their "multiculturalist" policies. 

Abadan-Unat continued that a rising trend of "ultranationalism" was observed in EU countries as a result of complex international relations, and "the expansion of transnational areas and increase in the activity of international actors" as explained by Thomas Faist led to bilateral responsibilities on the integration processes of new Europeans with Turkish legacies. Nermin Abadan-Unat said “This caused an asymmetrical situation for origin and host countries, but has not been addressed at a sufficient level for six decades.” 

Nermin Abadan-Unat concluded by saying “As worldwide communication networks envelop the world, the needs of new citizens must be given priority. Ongoing scientific studies must be made into differences that emerge in citizenship identities due to illegal movements, investor immigration, retirement immigration, climate-related immigration, and circular immigration. We cannot ignore transnational social identities.” 

Almost 370 submissions from 31 countries over 13 years

Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards were established 13 years ago to honor the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı, and are given by Sabancı University in fields including Turkish and Islamic art, and 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 12 years, Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards have been given in subjects ranging from Turkey's economy to foreign policy, history, and social dynamics. Almost 370 submissions were received from 31 countries for the 13 Awards given so far.

Starting in 2015, the Board of Trustees and Sakıp Sabancı Family resolved to give the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards as part of the Remembrance Ceremony.  Award themes in previous years were other pressing issues such as “Checks and Balances in Democracy: the Turkish Case from a Comparative Perspective,” “Gender Equality in Turkey,” "Coexisting in Turkey: Diversity, Dialog and Cooperation", and "New Centers in Turkey: Economy, Education, Arts and Peace in Cities”. The theme for the 2017 Awards was "Europeans with Legacies from Turkey in Everyday Life." 

The theme of the 2018 Awards will be "Democratic Governance and Threats against Coexistence in Turkey and the World." In the tradition of the previous awards, the 2018 Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards will seek to support scholars, particularly young social scientists, discussing a current issue on an academic level. 

Jury Panel

The president of this year's Jury Panel was Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Senem Aydın Düzgit. The international jury panel consisted of Sabancı University Acting President Ayşe Kadıoğlu, Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center Director Fuat Keyman, Riva Kastoryano from CNRS SciencesPo, Harvard University professor Lenore G. Martin, Stiftung Mercator Foundation member Michael Schwarz and Bielefeld University professor Thomas Faist. 

Depending on the subject of the awards, up to six internationally-recognized scholars are chosen by the President, the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean and the Istanbul Policy Center Director to be invited as jury panel members. The President of the Jury Panel is chosen among its members.  

FASS Dean and IPC Director are also members of the jury panel.  Jury members may be disclosed to the media after the awardees are chosen and notified. Members are kept confidential from the public and the applicants prior to selection.

About Nermin Abadan Unat

Nermin Abadan-Unat was born in Vienna and graduated from the Izmir High School for Girls in 1940 and Istanbul University Law School in 1944. After working in the Ulus newspaper in Ankara for a while, she won a Fulbright fellowship for graduate studies at the University of Minnesota in 1952. She returned to Turkey two years later and became the first female research assistant in the Ankara University Faculty of Political Science, and completed her PhD with a dissertation titled "The Public and Sphere of Influence" in 1955. She became an associate professor of political science in 1958, and professor in 1966. Nermin Abadan-Unat established the Political Behavior Chair in the Faculty of Political Science, and focused on the sociology of politics, mass communication, and from 1963 onwards, emigration from Turkey. She authored books and various articles in Turkish, English and German. Abadan-Unat was also closely interested in Women's Studies, and represented Turkey in the Council of Europe Gender Equality Commission from 1978 to 1999. The “Institute of Advanced Studies” (IEA) in Paris held an international conference on Nermin Abadan-Unat’s “Migration, Liberation and Pseudo-Liberation” in 2013. Nermin Abadan-Unat gave lectures in the Istanbul University Women's Studies Center. Abadan-Unat was a professor of the Ankara University Faculty of Political Science for many years, and gave lectures as a visiting professor at Boğaziçi University until 2016.

In addition to being a visiting professor in many universities in Europe and the United States, Nermin Abadan-Unat was the Vice President of the International Political Science Association from 1967 to 1970, and the President of the Turkish Political Sciences Association from 1978 to 1982. Abadan-Unat was a Senator in the Turkish Parliament between 1978 and 1980, and won numerous awards including the Hohes Verdienst Kreuz by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1978, the Women of Enlightenment Award in 1998, the Fulbright Lifelong Academic Service Award in 2000, Kültür University Bold Woman Award in 2004, Marmara University Lifelong Achievement Award in 2006, Beşiktaş City Council Honorable Life Award in 2010, METU Distinguished Service Award in 2011, Vehbi Koç Foundation Education Award in 2012, Bodrum Association to Support Modern Life Award in 2014, Istanbul University Women's Studies Center Award in 2015, and the Ankara School of Political Science Alumni Association Grand Prize in 2016.

Some of the books published by Nermin Abadan-Unat include: Halk Efkârı ve Etki Alanı (1955), Bürokrasi (1959), Anayasa Hukuku ve Siyaset Bilimi Açısından 1965 Seçimlerinin Tahlili (1966), Batı Almanya’daki Türk İşçileri ve Sounları (1964), Göç ve Gelişme (Ruşen Keleş ile birlikte, 1976), Batı Avrupa ve Türkiye’de Basın Yayın Öğretimi (1972), Turkish Workers in Europe (1976), Women in Turkish Society (1981), Women in The Developing World: Evidence From Turkey (1986), Türk Toplumunda Kadın (1982), Kum Saatini İzlerken (1996), Emancipation in Exile (with Grety Mirdal, 2015).

The three equally-weighted Essay Awards were given to Defne Kadıoğlu Polat, Zeynep Selen Artan-Bayhan from City University of New York, and Tolga Tezcan from Florida University.

Awarded Essays Abstracts

“At least we have a home here” Everyday Experiences of Turkish Immigrants in a Gentrifying Berlin Neighborhood

Defne Kadıoğlu Polat

Abstract

This paper debates the relation between ethnic and economic inequality in Germany by examining the everyday practices of first-generation Turkish immigrants in a previously stigmatized and currently gentrifying Berlin neighborhood. Over the decades many studies have recognized the potential of Turkish immigrants in Germany to change and being changed by their places of settlement. However, debate on migrant-related social inequality still mostly evolves around the integration paradigm. What lacks is a discussion on not only how Turkish immigrants affect German society but how forms of exclusion and inequality are changing with the neoliberal restructuring of the German economy. 

One example of this restructuring is gentrification. Gentrification is the transformation of  neighborhoods, districts or even whole cities for more affluent users. It is currently one of the most heatedly debated issues in Germany, particularly in the capital. However, studies that try to understand how gentrification affects the lives of residents by looking at their everyday practices are still rare. This paper, by studying first-generation Turkish immigrants in an immigrant-heavy working-class Berlin neighborhood, argues that the gentrification process provides us with a unique lens to grasp how ethnic and economic inequality are intertwined. 

Theoretically the paper relies on human geographer Henri Lefebvre’s multidimensional theory of space. In particular it is argued that through the dialectic relationship that Lefebvre proposes between what he calls conceived and lived space we can gain a better understanding of different and competing perspectives on Reuterkiez’s pre-gentrification state and its current gentrifying condition. After introducing the theoretical framework, the paper proceeds with a brief discussion on Berlin’s housing context, also explaining why Turkish immigrants in the capital are currently disproportionally affected by gentrification. Next the debate will turn to the empirical case study. Firstly, the neighborhood under scrutiny, Reuterkiez, will be introduced. Secondly the circumstances of gentrification in the quarter will be described, explicating how it has turned from one of the most stigmatized areas in Germany to one of the most popular spots in Berlin. In this part it will also be discussed how the neighborhood before gentrification has been reduced to the notion of a troublesome ‘immigrant ghetto’ by dominant actors such as the media and local politicians. Thirdly, it will be shown why and how Reuterkiez, despite its bad image and existing social problems has a strong use-value for Turkish immigrant residents, a use-value that is gradually lost under gentrification. Accordingly, the last part of the empirical chapter will debate how first-generation Turkish immigrants in Reuterkiez are affected by the gentrification process. 

Overall the argument presented in this paper firstly demonstrates that Turkish immigrants in Berlin are differentially affected by gentrification given pre-existing social inequalities. Secondly, relying on Henri Lefebvre’s distinction between conceived and lived space, the paper challenges the dominant idea of immigrant-heavy neighborhoods as inherently ‘problematic’ by referring to the experiences of Turkish immigrant residents and their families.

Praying God Abroad: Religious Boundary and the Experiences of Turkish Immigrants in Germany and the United States

Selen Artan Bayhan

Abstract 

Recent attacks carried out by radical Islamist groups in European capitals such as Paris, Brussels, Berlin, and American cities of San Bernardino and Orlando have not only claimed many civilian lives but also revealed the troublesome nature of Muslim presence in the U.S. and Western Europe. Following the attacks, statements questioning the compatibility of Islam with Western values have resurfaced in the press and social media. While there is a shared feeling of unease towards the presence of Islam in the West, there are also significant historical and structural differences that set the contexts on either side of the Atlantic apart. The demographics of the Muslim population, the religiosity of the receiving society, and also deeply rooted relations between religious institutions and state play important role in creating different settings that may have diverse outcomes for Muslims. Since the structure of boundaries between immigrants and native population is path dependent, comparing an immigrant group coming from same country in two different settings would reveal both the structure of the boundaries and their respective effects on immigrant encounters and experiences. This paper is an attempt to understand how religious boundaries, which are structurally different in Germany and the United States, affect Turkish immigrants’ religious practices, experiences and identifications in their respective societies. The data for the American component is based on 52 in-depth interviews from my doctoral dissertation research done in 2013 and 2014 in New York and New Jersey. While the majority of the interviews were conducted with first generation Turkish immigrants, there are also respondents who arrived in the U.S. as kids accompanying their parents (1.5 generation). The section on Germany is heavily based on previous studies about Turkish immigrants and religion/religious boundary. However, I used blog entries, public speeches, and literature with direct quotations of Turkish immigrants in order to give voice to their life experiences as Muslim immigrants in Germany. The study finds out that since the religious boundary is too bright in Germany, and not moving in the direction of blurring, the only option left for Turkish immigrants is to cross the boundary individually. This course of action might be more feasible for immigrants with lower levels of religious orientation, but for immigrants with higher levels, or for women wearing headscarves, moving beyond the religious boundary is hardly possible. In the American context, although the religious boundary has not been blurred entirely, it is moving towards that direction for many Turkish immigrants. Moreover, since becoming American and staying Muslim are not mutually exclusive processes, Turkish immigrants with high levels of religious orientation manage to harbor a hyphenated identity in the absence of a bright boundary. 

Building or Burning the Bridges? The Determinants of Return Migration Intentions of German-Turk Generations

Tolga Tezcan 

Abstract 

What drives German-Turks to return to Turkey? This study attempts to answer this question by investigating the determinants of return migration intention among German-Turks. While German-Turks, invited to work in the booming post-war economy, have always been defined as “guestworkers” and expected to return to Turkey eventually, they have preferred to stay in Germany, enjoy increased wealth by earning high wages, and benefits from the German welfare system. But things have changed since 2006, and the net migration number of Turks has now fallen to below zero for the first time. This study aims to identify the factors that influence the multifaceted issue of return migration intentions by combining quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Quantitatively, I use the most recent “Migration Sample (M1)” of the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), which includes 463 respondents who have a Turkish background, to estimate logistic regressions models and predicted probabilities for return intentions. Qualitatively, I conducted social media voice call interviews with 20 German-Turks planning on return migration. By utilizing a multi-method approach, this study focuses on testing the effects of four domains: (1) economic integration, (2) social and economic ties with Turkey, (3) discrimination, xenophobia, and multiple identities, and (4) generational status. The results indicate that all these domains make a contribution to return decisions. First, the neoclassical economics model, which assumes migrants are more likely to return once they face economic difficulties, is seen as more applicable to the German-Turks case. The qualitative findings confirmed that the return migration plans were rooted within economic challenges, especially after 2002 following the currency change in Germany. Second, the domain of social and economic ties with Turkey suggests support for having “feet in two societies” which triggers return considerations. Furthermore, the qualitative part of this study signals two undiscovered patterns: (I) children are one of the main factors for parents to construct transnational ties in order to be able to get children’s approval when it comes to return. Watching Turkish TV, speaking Turkish at home, and visiting Turkey regularly point to anti-assimilationist practices centered around the children; and (II) despite evidence from the regression analysis that contacting friends and relatives in Turkey increase the return migration intention, most of the German-Turks plan to move somewhere far from their relatives since they feel they cannot fulfill their relatives’ overwhelming economic expectations anymore. Third, perceived collective discrimination and concerns on xenophobia were also found to be catalysts for returning. German-Turks are the targets of collective discrimination based on their stigmatized identity in Germany. Fourth, and finally, this study sheds new light on generational status. The 1.5 and 2^nd generation German-Turks are more likely to develop return migration intentions than the 1^st generation. Qualitative findings in this study suggests that 3-D (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) jobs that have been carried out by mostly 1^st generation German-Turks have now become a source of irritation and anger for subsequent generations. Moreover, for the 1.5 and 2^nd generation German-Turks, by attending the 1^st generations’ funerals, death has taken a mythical form which strengthens the desire to die in Turkey.

Sabancı University SUNUM Researcher Tolga Sütlü and FENS Faculty Member Güvenç Şahin received the Science Academy’s Young Scientist Awards Program (BAGEP) 2017.

A top priority for the Science Academy is encouraging the youth to engage in good science, and rewarding the best examples. In order to choose and reward the best young academics and to support them in conducting new studies, an award program was initiated in the year 2013.

Science Academy runs this program not with government funding, but with the support of the society at large.

The award-winning young academics are granted 10,000 TL per year for a period of two years to support them in their research. The objective here is to reward the most brilliant and promising young academics with a prestigious grant which will help them further their studies.

Sabancı University improved its standing by 8 places and ranked 44th on Times Higher Education's (THE) "200 Under 50" list of top universities under 50 years old. Sabancı University was the only Turkish university on the list to improve its position this year.

Commenting on the subject, Sabancı University Acting President Ayşe Kadıoğlu said: "We are delighted and proud that Sabancı University improved its standing by 8 positions compared to last year and ranked 44th on the "Top 200 Universities Under 50" Rankings.

Sabancı University owes this success to the hard work and dedication of its undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, employees, supporters, and friends.  It is due to the human-focused, performance- and merit-based approach to our students, faculty, and employees that encourages a questioning and free spirit, and provides leading services in education and research."  

Methodology

The performance indicators used in the rankings are:

Research: volume, income and reputation (worth 30%)

Citations: research influence (worth 30%)

Teaching: the learning environment (worth 30%)

International Outlook: staff, students and research (worth 7.5%)

Industry Income: innovation (worth 2.5%)

Sabancı University improved its score in each of the five indicators covered in the ranking methodology:

Research increased from 46.3 to 48.4;

Citations from 52.8 to 61.6; Teaching from 29.3 to 31.9; International Outlook from 42.7 to 46.7; and Industry Income from 70 to 77.7. 

Global "200 Under 50" Rankings 

This year, five Turkish universities were included on THE's "200 Under 50" list as opposed to three last year.. The Turkish universities and their respective rankings are: Koç University 36th (was 36th), Bilkent University 76th (was 76th), Atılım University 98th, and Hacettepe University between 151st and 200th.

16th Annual Gallipoli Trip of Sabancı University is planned on Saturday, May 6th. All our students, faculty, staff, friends and families are invited to this trip.  

We will depart to Gallipoli from the Bostancı Seabus port at 07.00. Shuttles from campus (at 06.00 front of B4 dorm) and back will be provided. On the seabus we will listen to the story of Gallipoli from Cemil Koçak, Halil Berktay ve Akşin Somel. When we come to Gallipoli, we will tour the peninsula and visit important sites with Cemil Koçak,  Halil Berktay, Akşin Somel and history graduate students as our guides in every tour bus. Specially prepared guidebooks will also be provided. We will go back to Gallipoli for a nice dinner at the port and depart back to Istanbul at 20:30. 

Campus Shuttles will be waiting for us at Bostancı. Shuttles to Kadıköy and Taksim will also be arranged if there is demand.

Trip Fee

HIST 191-192 students: 20 TL

Other students: 35 TL

Family or staff: 60 TL

Alumni: 50 TL

Registrations

March 27- May 4 2017, on the internet http://fdd.sabanciuniv.edu/node/add/gelibolu (Bank account: Akbank TR94 0004 6007 1388 8000 0854 06, Arzu Kıran)

May 2-5 2017, at the University Center Cafeteria between 12.00-14.00

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences members Yasemin Şengül Tezel and Ali Koşar won support for their projects within the TÜBİTAK Portugal and Korea Bilateral Cooperation Program. 

Sabancı University FENS Faculty Member Yasemin Şengül Tezel’s project titled “Dynamical models in solid mechanics allowing for discontinuities of 1-Laplacian type with applications in imaging" won support as part of the TÜBİTAK - Portugal Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) Bilateral Cooperation Program (2546), while Sabancı University FENS Faculty Member Ali Koşar’s project titled “Kaynama Isı Transferini İyileştirmesi İçin Manyetik Nanoakışkanlarda Kontrollü Habbecik Dinamiği Üzerine Türkiye - Kore Uluslararası İşbirliği" won support within the TÜBİTAK - Korea National Research Foundation (NRF) Bilateral Cooperation Program (2523).

TÜBİTAK Portugal Bilateral Cooperation Program

The TÜBİTAK Portugal Bilateral Cooperation Program-supported project “Dynamical models in solid mechanics allowing for discontinuities of 1-Laplacian type with applications in imaging” will be implemented by Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences member Yasemin Şengül Tezel, and by University of Coimbra Professor of Mathematics Dmitry Vorotnikov in Portugal. Speaking about the project, Yasemin Şengül Tezel said that their efforts focused on proving the existence of soltions to dynamical models in solid mechanics allowing for discontinuities of 1-Laplacian type. Tezel said that while such models were frequently used in areas like imaging, the mathematical analysis of the equations forming the model were difficult to perform due to their non-linear nature. Yasemin Şengül Tezel remarked, “We expect to prove the existence of certain special solutions to equations in a physically-realistic problem using the latest techniques in variation calculations and nonlinear system conservation laws.”

 Turkey - Korea Bilateral Cooperation Program

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences faculty member Burç Mısırlıoğlu is the advisor of the project titled “Kaynama Isı Transferini İyileştirmesi İçin Manyetik Nanoakışkanlarda Kontrollü Habbecik Dinamiği Üzerine Türkiye - Kore Uluslararası İşbirliği" conducted within the Turkey - Korea Bilateral Cooperation Program. The implementers of the project are Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences faculty member Ali Koşar in Turkey, and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) professor Hyun Sun Park in Korea. Speaking about project details, Ali Koşar said that the main motive behind the project was to start a Turkish-Korean partnership on fusion heat transfer. The objective of the project is to make a new technical hypothesis on the manipulation of nanoparticle dynamics using magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic nanofluids to improve fusion heat transfer performance. Ali Koşar said “This will enable savings in time and cost, while heat transfer will become more effective. Successful control of nanoparticles may have contributions to areas such as chip cooling, micro reactors, climate control and cooling systems, and thermophotovoltaic systems. This project may lead to larger projects and wide-scale joint research initiatives." 

Six projects developed by Sabancı University were chosen to receive support from the TÜBİTAK Priority Areas R&D Project Support Program (1003). The objective of the program is to support domestic R&D projects within priority areas designated by the National Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy that observe the dynamics of their respective scientific or technological field and have traceable targets.

Projects that will receive support within the TÜBİTAK Priority Areas R&D Project Support Program (1003):

FENS Faculty Member and Project Implementer Dr. Cengiz Kaya and Project Researcher Dr. Yusuf Ziya Menceloğlureceived support for their project "Development and Characterization of Boron Carbide-Reinforced Lightweight and Flexible Nanocomposites for Use as Structural and Personal Shielding Materials in Nuclear Medicine Facilities” within the TÜBİTAK 1003 - Call for Development and Wider Implementation of Novel Boron Products and Process Technologies".

FENS Faculty Member Dr. Devrim Gözüaçık received support for his large-scale project on "Spreading Mechanism and Treatment of Lung Cancer" within the TÜBİTAK 1003 - Molecular Medicine Call.

FENS Faculty Member and Project Implementer Dr. Emrah Kalemci and Advisor Dr. Ayhan Bozkurt received support for their project “Development of Cadmium Zinc Tellure (CdZnTe) Detection Systems for Medical Imaging Applications" with Middle East Technical University as Institutional Implementer under the TÜBİTAK 1003 - Bioinstrumentation Systems Call.

FENS Faculty Member and Project Implementer Dr. Erkay Savaş and Researchers Dr. Albert Levi, Dr. Cemal Yılmazand Dr. Kamer Kaya received support for their medium-scale project “Heterogeneous and Dispersed Security Operations Center with Privacy Protection" within the TÜBİTAK 1003 - Cyber Security Call.

FENS Faculty Member and Project Implementer Dr. İbrahim Tekin and Researcher Dr. Hüsnü Yenigün received support for their small-scale project titled "Development of an Indoor Positioning System Using the Global Positioning System and ISM Band Signals” within the TÜBİTAK 1003 - Call for M2M Application Research within Internet of Things.

FENS Faculty Member Dr. Volkan Patoğlu received support for his large-scale project on “Development of an Exoskeleton for the Defense Industry" within the TÜBİTAK 1003 - Next Generation Robotic Systems Call.

Sabancı University project implementers who applied to the 2016 TÜBİTAK 1003 Priority Areas R&D Projects Support Program had a success rate of 35%. We commend all faculty members for their achievements.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum launches the Turkish program of the 30% Club, an organization dedicated to improve gender balance in the decision-making mechanisms of companies, and to increase the representation of women to at least 30% on company boards and in executive positions.

The Turkish launch of the 30% Club, formed by Presidents and CEOs who view the presence of women in decision mechanisms as a business performance issue, was hosted by Borsa İstanbul on Wednesday, March 22, 2017.

The founding Presidents and CEOs of the Turkish chapter of the Club were present for the ceremony at Borsa İstanbul beginning with the sounding of the gong. Introductory remarks were made by Borsa İstanbul President and CEO Himmet Karadağ. Himmet Karadağ said that paying people their dues regardless of gender, race or any other discriminating factor was one of the key values of Turkey and its people. He added that the notion of justice required this. Himmet Karadağ noted that there were significant shortcomings in this matter, especially in the economic sphere. He explained that only 3 out of 10 women were employed in Turkey. Himmet Karadağ continued, “Women represent 25% of executive management in Turkish companies. This is severe injustice committed against women. At this point, we must recognize the importance of having women on boards and executive management. Having women in decision-making positions will first and foremost change our companies. A more inclusive and egalitarian approach will prevail over all aspects of work, most importantly hiring. That is why we at Borsa İstanbul play an active part in social responsibility initiatives. We will continue our support of projects that promote equal opportunity, and will cooperate with our stakeholders." 

Afterwards, 30% Club Turkey President and Akkök Holding CEO Ahmet Dördüncü gave a speech. Ahmet Cemal Dördüncü said, “Establishing gender equality within the company will elevate the position of the business and make their boards more effective. Scientific data suggests that significant change in the quality of company decisions requires that at least 30% of the decision makers are women. It is also a significant threshold for achieving progress in gender equality. As 30% Club Turkey, we intend to include more men that are in leading positions in Turkey, and undertake other activities to reach our objective of 30%."

A video message by 30% Club Founding Chair and Financial Times' boldest businesswoman of 2016 Helena Morissey was shown. Helena Morissey said that the matter was not about hiring a few women, but about transforming business culture.

The keynote speaker of the event was 30% Club UK Steering Committee Member and Big Lottery Fund Board of Directors Member Elizabeth Passey. Elizabeth Passey told the story of how the 30% Club was established.  Passey said that board of directors chairs and CEOs gathered around 30% club in 2010 to improve gender equality. She said that their initial purpose was to increase the ratio of women members on the boards of FTSE 100 companies to 30% by 2015. Passey explained that part of their efforts focused on succession planning, which would help to maintain this ratio once achieved.

30% Club Turkey Steering Committee Chair and Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Dr. Melsa Ararat provided information about the project. Melsa Ararat said, “Women need to be in decision-making positions in economically significant companies in order to be able to take part in economic decisions. We have been following the ratio of women on boards and in executive management in public companies since 2012. Despite encouraging regulations by the Capital Markets Board, this ratio is still quite low and progress is sluggish. As with many other issues that require social transformation, we need the creative and dynamic leaders of the business world to act as champions. The members of the 30% Club, who are the CEOs and presidents of the leading companies in Turkey, state that the presence of women in decision-making mechanisms is indispensable for prudent business management. Their attitude will compel others to recognize subconscious predispositions and question them, which will in turn send a positive message to international investors about BIST companies. The 'Fearless Girl' statue, placed in front of Wall Street's iconic bull on March 8th, symbolizes the expectations of the society and investors in terms of women's inclusion in decisions. As in elsewhere in the world, the inclusion of women in decisions in Turkey will be a positive influence on company performance, and help to ensure that decisions are more participatory, inclusive, stakeholder-oriented and egalitarian. The Club's aim is to increase the ratio of women on boards from 14.2% and in executive management from 15% to at least 30% by 2025. Let's hope we reach this objective sooner.”

About the 30% Club

Simply put, the 30% Club is a cooperation of presidents and CEOs who seek to improve gender balance at all levels of their organizations. This is backed by the belief that better gender balance will make companies more successful and boards of directors more effective. Diversity as a boost to better decision-making by bodies is consistently finding more scientific support. Research suggests that 30% is the proportion when critical mass is reached – in a group setting, the voices of the minority group become heard in their own right, rather than simply representing the minority. In 2010, the ratio of women on the boards of FTSE 100 companies was 12.5%, and 21 companies had boards entirely composed of men. Today, the ratio is 29% and there are no companies where all board members are men.

The Turkish chapter of the 30% Club was initiated under the guidance of the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum, who have been conducting campaigns on the representation of women on boards and supporting their initiative with research since 2010.

About the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum

CGFT was established in 2003 as a joint initiative of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD) and Sabancı University. The Forum focused on establishing Corporate Governance Principles and good governance advocacy in its early years, and then moved on to research and field studies from 2008 onwards. Today, CGFT continues its work as an interdisciplinary academic initiative hosted by the Faculty of Management at Sabancı University, and carries out programs on the improvement of the economic and social effects of companies. The Forum has also been responsible for the Turkish operations of CDP, the world's most prestigious environmental project, since 2009.

http://cgft.sabanciuniv.edu