Sabancı University ranks 22nd on the Times Higher Education (THE) “Top Universities in BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2016"

Nine Turkish universities were included in the BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2016.

Times Higher Education’s BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings include the top 200 universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and 35 other emerging economies, and Sabancı University ranked 22nd. 

Similar to the World University Rankings, the list uses a methodology that covers Teaching, Research, Citations, International Outlook and Industry Income using 13 performance indicators. 

The difference of the BRICS rankings is the greater weight placed on Industry Income and International Outlook as the list includes the best universities in emerging economies. 

Together with Sabancı University in 22nd place, other Turkish universities on the “BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings" are Koç University (13th), Bilkent University (41st), Istanbul University (62nd), METU (64th), ITU (69th), Boğaziçi University (71st), Anadolu University (106th) and Hacettepe University (168th).   

Sabancı University and Fraunhofer IML, one of Germany's leading applied research centers, signed a Framework Agreement for Strategic Cooperation in Logistics. The international cooperation between Sabancı University and Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics will support Turkey's logistics industry towards becoming a global logistics hub.  

The signing ceremony of the framework agreement between Sabancı University and Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics was held at Sabancı University on November 27, 2015. The ceremony was hosted by Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker and attending were Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Professor Yusuf Menceloğlu, Fraunhofer IML Director Professor Michael Henke and Fraunhofer Institute Advisor Professor Mehmet Şükrü Tekbaş. 

Logistics plays a great role in the foreign trade and economy of Turkey and bears great importance as a strategic area where all industries meet. Considering the recent growth in the logistics industry and Turkey's 2023 goals to reach an export volume of USD 500 billion, a GDP of USD 2 trillion and becoming a global logistics hub, the cooperation between Sabancı University and Fraunhofer IML becomes even more significant.

The objective of the Sabancı University-Fraunhofer cooperation is to conduct safe, effective and sustainable logistics operations that will increase the competitive strength of Turkey and provide economic, social and environmental value to the society, develop models that will solve the issues of the logistics industry, and implement effective logistics applications.

The logistics expertise of Sabancı University focuses on supply chain network design, distribution and collection planning, disaster logistics, sustainable transport planning, and development of decision support mechanisms based on optimization methods. In addition, there are efforts on smart transport systems, use of clean fuel-powered vehicles in logistics, and research on energy logistics. The cooperation also aims to establish new mechanisms for reinforcing university-industry partnerships, benefit from the methods and approaches developed by Fraunhofer Institute, and create value for the country by converting academic studies to tangible products and services. Fraunhofer’s mission is to undertake applied research. The cooperation with Sabancı University will enable Fraunhofer to bring its logistics knowhow to Turkey, and contribute to the development of innovative projects and applications in the field. 

Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker said the following about the cooperation agreement: "There is no doubt that logistics is one of the keys to Turkey's development. Logistics is also a primary factor in three key areas that our university finds significant: research and development, civic involvement, and better university-industry partnerships. I believe this cooperation agreement will be an important step for both institutions and countries to achieve their objectives."

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Professor Yusuf Menceloğlu delivered a short presentation on the international achievements and partnerships of Sabancı University. Menceloğlu discussed the importance of the logistics industry for Turkey, where almost half the population is younger than 30, and said that the proximity of Sabancı University to the leading industrial companies in the area was a great benefit to logistics research.  

Fraunhofer IML Director Professor Michael Henke spoke on the application-oriented logistics research in Germany and drew attention to the potential of the Turkish logistics industry to create value for all other industries.  Henke continued: “As Fraunhofer, our main mission is to act as a liaison between research and application. It is possible to adapt the methods used by our Institute to Turkey. This university cooperation will reveal new strengths in Turkey, create synergy between industry and universities, and become a bridge that enables innovative and practical applications."

Bülent Çatay - Şevket Akınlar

The cooperation between the two institutions will be coordinated by Professor Bülent Çatay from Sabancı University and Dr. Şevket Akınlar from Fraunhofer IML.

“QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Top Universities Under 50" rankings were revealed. The system uses the same methodology as the QS World University Rankings to determine the top universities under 50 years of age.  Sabancı University entered the list for the first time this year and ranked between 61st and 70th.

Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker said: "We are delighted with Turkish universities advancing in world rankings.  These well-deserved advances motivate our entire university community to work in greater dedication.  Therefore, I am confident that we will see better and better results in the years to come."

Reputation has greater weight in the QS system, and reputation accounts for 50% 

of the total score, which enables younger universities to compare their visibility and outreach. Accordingly, the weight of the criteria are: 

Academic reputation: 40%

Employer reputation: 10%

Number of students/faculty members: 20%

Number of citations/faculty members: 20%

Number of foreign faculty members/total faculty members: 5%

Number of foreign students/total students: 5%

There are no Turkish universities in the Top 50; however, Bilkent University ranked between 51st and 60th, and Koç University between 71st and 80th. Three Turkish universities were on the rankings this year. 

Graduate students will be accepted for the 2015-2016 Spring Semester leading to the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in the following programs.
Detailed information on research areas including basic sciences can be obtained at http://fens.sabanciuniv.edu.

Academic inquiries should only be posted to contact names for each program given below; for administrative or procedure related questions please contact to Student Resources Office.
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9093, E-mail: studentinfo@sabanciuniv.edu

Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering

The program emphasizes the latest developments and technological innovations in this globally emerging field. Areas of specialization include molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics, and plant biotechnology.

Academic Contact: Batu Erman,
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9530, 
E-mail: batu@sabanciuniv.edu 

Computer Science and Engineering
Research areas; natural language processing, pattern recognition, formal methods, software engineering, cryptography and information security, network security, computer architectures, distributed systems, database systems, data mining, computer graphics and virtual reality, embedded systems, knowledge representation and reasoning.

Academic Contact: Cemal Yılmaz,
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9532,
E-mail: cyilmaz@sabanciuniv.edu

Electronics Engineering 
Research areas; wireless communication, wireless networks, sensor networks, signal, speech and image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, data networks, RF, microwaves, antennas and propagation, RF MEMS and RF Circuit design, photonics and fiber optic telecommunication, high-speed electronic devices, microsensors and microelectromechanical systems, medical and industrial ultrasonic imaging, medical instrumentation, analog and digital VLSI design, ASIC and FPGA design, computer-aided design and testing.

Academic Contact İlker Hamzaoğlu,
Phone: (216) 483 9577,
E-mail: hamzaoğlu@sabanciuniv.edu

Industrial Engineering 
The program focuses on production and service systems, integrated manufacturing, supply chain management, logistics, joint inventory-pricing decisions, product development process, modeling and analysis of manufacturing processes and equipment, manufacturing and technology strategies, fuzzy systems, combinatorial optimization and operations research approaches to telecommunication and energy systems. Emphasis is given to close collaboration with the industry.

Academic Contact: Murat Kaya
Phone: (216) 483 9622,
E-mail:mkaya@sabanciuniv.edu

Manufacturing Engineering

The Manufacturing Engineering program focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies. The research areas include manufacturing processes and equipment, computer-aided design and manufacturing, integrated manufacturing systems, additive manufacturing (3D printing), biomanufacturing, nano-micro manufacturing, composite and polymer manufacturing, and manufacturing and technology strategies with special emphasis on industrial applications. 

Academic Contact: Bahattin Koç
Phone: (216) 483 9557,
E-mail: bahattinkoc@sabanciuniv.edu

Materials Science and Engineering  
The program focuses on the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing of materials for advanced technological applications.  Areas of ongoing research include semiconductors, synthetic and biological polymers, ceramics and composites at the nanometer scale, with particular emphasis on applications in nano-technology.

Academic Contact: Özge Akbulut,
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9968 ,
E-mail: ozgeakbulut@sabanciuniv.edu

Mechatronics Engineering  
Research areas;  smart product design, multi-disciplinary design optimization, topology design optimization, metamaterials, microsystems, intelligent control systems, robotics, machine vision, haptics, computer aided engineering, renewable energy systems, embedded systems, process control, hydro-turbines, advanced seals, turbine blade reverse engineering. Two-phase flow, Boiling heat transfer, MEMS, Boiling instabilities in microsystems, Convective heat transfer, Critical Heat Flux, Microchannels, Cavitation, Micro- and Nanofluidics, Micro pin-fins, Cross flow, Electronics cooling, Miniaturization of heat sinks

Academic Contact: Serhat Yeşilyurt,
Telefon: +90 (216) 483 9579,
E-posta: syesilyurt@sabanciuniv.edu

Mathematics  
The program emphasizes the interaction between pure mathematics and its applications, including those leading to interdisciplinary work. The main areas of concentration are number theory and algebra with applications in coding theory and cryptography, analysis and applications.

Academic Contact: Semih Onur Sezer,
Phone: (216) 483 9586,
E-mail: sezer@sabanciuniv.edu

Physics
In condensed matter physics the main research areas are experimental and theoretical semiconductor physics, mesoscopic and nanoscopic physics, and superconductivity. In high energy astrophysics, X-, gamma ray and optical obervations of compact objects (neutron stars and black holes) and their environments are the main areas of interest. Other research fields are quantum information and high energy physics.

Academic Contact: İnanç Adagideli,
Phone: (216) 483 9605,
E-posta: adagideli@sabanciuniv.edu

For Admisson :
Admission Requirements and the Necessary Documents for Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Applicants must have completed their previous degree programs by January 18th, 2016

Financial Support:
Financial support is available in the form of a monthly stipend and/or tuition waiver. Decisions on scholarship will be made by the Admissions Committee .

Deadline:
Applications must be submitted by November 20^th, 2015. After initial screening, interviews will be scheduled for potential candidates during November 23^th – December 04^th,  2015. Applicants will be informed by e-mail. It is highly recommended to check e-mails for candidates.

For Online Application: https://admission.sabanciuniv.edu

The Graduate Admissions Calendar

Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 4 December 2015  13:00-17:00

Computer Science and Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Written Exam*: 4 December 2015  09:40-10:40

 Interview**    : 4 December 2015  11:00

(GRE Subject Test: Starting from 2013-2014 Spring applications, the CS program will request a GRE Subject test score from all international applicants. For 2015-2016 Spring semester applicants, please be aware that a GRE Subject Test score would strengthen your application; so submit your score document, if you have already taken the test.)

Electronics Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview*: -

Industrial Engineering  (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 2 December 2015  09:00-13:00

Manufacturing Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)

Interview**: 27 November 2015  13:00

Materials Science and Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 2 December 2015  10:00

Mechatronics Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 1 December 2015  13:00-16:00

Mathematics (MSc. / PhD.)
Written Exam*: -
Interview**     : -

Physics (MSc. /PhD)
Written Exam* : 3 December 2015  09:00
 Interview**     : 3 December 2015  13:00

 ( The written exam covers the topics of the first & second year introductory physics, the third & fourth year classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, statistical mechanics, and quantum mechanics. Applicants who provide GRE Physics subject test scores may be exempt from the written exam.)


*All candidates are required to attend the admission exam at the given date.

**Eligible candidates are going to be invited via e-mail for the interview

Applications:
Online applications are accepted via http://admission.sabanciuniv.edu/ . Application documents (official exam results, transcript, etc..) should be uploaded on the online system and application packages be submitted either in person or post by mail to the address below. Please note that print-out of the completed application form should also be added to the application package. The packages sent via mail must arrive at the department by the application deadline. Applications sent via e-mail are not accepted.

Warning! All the application documents become property of Sabancı University. It is suggested to keep the original reports of TOEFL, GRE and ALES scores, and apply with the copies of those test scores. But please note that the originals must be produced at the time of registration to Sabancı University.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Economics 2004 graduate İmge Emine Kaya Sabancı was named among the top 100 most influential woman leaders.

RichTopia, a digital platform offering inspiring content on business and current events, named İmge Kaya Sabancı the 96th most influential woman leader in the world. Other influential women leaders in the list include Hillary Clinton, Dilma Rousseff, Michelle Obama, Christiane Amanpour and Melinda Gates. 

İmge Kaya Sabancı, Regional Director of Ernst & Young's Woman Entrepreneur Empowerment Program, said that being on the list was a great motivation for giving support to even more women.

Mechatronic Engineering program faculty Meltem Elitaş received first prizes in the 11th National Oncology Research Symposium and the 8th Surgical Research Conference.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Mechatronics Program Assistant Professor Meltem Elitaş and Anadolu Medical Center's Oncology Specialist Professor  Serdar Turhal, MD, won the first prize in the 11th National Oncology Research Symposium with a project proposal titled "Design and production of a high-precision microfluid device to study the effects and tolerance of Sorafenib in liver cancer cases."

The 11th National Oncology Research Symposium seeks to bring together specialists from all disciplines to develop multi-centered projects, find solutions to problems in the field, share clinical study data, and promote a medium of dialog for the advancement of scientific studies.

Assistant Professor Meltem Elitaş won another prize in an "Invention Contest." Elitaş and Anadolu Medical Center General Surgery Specialist Associate Professor Tuğrul Tansuğ, MD, presented their invention "Continuous Laparoscopic Surgical Stapler" in the 8th Surgery Research Congress held by the Turkish Surgery Society and won first prize in the invention contest held during the congress.

Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering doctorate program graduate Ayşe Kumsal Tekirdağ won the "Turkish Molecular Biology Society Achievement Award" established this year.

Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering doctorate program graduate Ayşe Kumsal Tekirdağ won the "Turkish Molecular Biology Society Achievement Award" established this year for having published her PhD studies under advisor Devrim Gözüaçık in scientific journals with high impact factors, and for her outstanding contributions to the field of molecular biology through her work.

A. Kumsal Tekirdağ will be making a presentation in the IV. International Congress of the Molecular Biology Association.

Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Program 2010 graduate Ceren Özek will be a member of the stem cell research team at the Harvard University Medical School Stem Cell Institute led by Dr. Lee Rubin to work on slowing the ageing process.

Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Program 2010 graduate Ceren Özek, who had received the International Obesity Society's Young Researcher award last year, will continue her studies in neuroscience at Harvard University.  Ceren will be a member of the stem cell research team at the Harvard University Medical School Stem Cell Institute led by Dr. Lee Rubin to work on slowing the ageing process.

Ceren's story of joining two important scientific research teams in the United States despite her young age of 28 was extensively covered by the Milliyet daily. Ceren is the fourth generation of medical professionals in her family.  She graduated from Robert College and went on to complete the Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Program at Sabancı University and receive her PhD in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.

Ceren's postdoctoral studies focused on the proteins in the brain affected by the PTP1B enzyme, which is known to be correlated to obesity and diabetes. 

Ceren joins a Harvard University team

Last year, Ceren Özek won the Ethan Sims Young Researcher Award given by the International Obesity Society, leaving behing two American, one Canadian and one British scientist. Ceren is now preparing to join the stem cell research team at the Harvard University Medical School Stem Cell Institute led by Dr. Lee Rubin to work on slowing the ageing process.

We will find "solutions" to neurodegenerative diseases

Ceren had the following to say about her future work in Harvard University: "We will seek to diagnose and find solutions for neurodegenerative diseases that arise as a factor of ageing. In the long term, we will also experiment with stem cells to come up with treatments for neuropsychological disorders like schizophrenia. In a way, I am a member of a team that will seek the formula to slowing down the ageing process through stem cell treatment. The lab in Harvard is one of the best research centers in the world. Many positive results have been obtained in stem cell research until now. It has been observed that transfusing certain blood factors in a young guinea pig to an older specimen slows the ageing process in the brain and other organs of the recipient. This research and the associated scientific experiments are designed for the long term. If experiments yield the desired results, we will also be able to slow ageing in humans via stem cell treatments."

"The human brain is still a black box"

Ceren Özek said there was still very little insight into the mystery of the human brain, continuing “The brain is an unsolved mystery. It is nothing short of a black box and we have scant knowledge of the brain. There is a shortage of brain and neuroscience research in Turkey. Once my work in the United States is complete, I want to come back and contribute to the field."
Speaking about the research on the interactivity between obesity, diabetes and the brain, Özek said, "I was on the team that studied metabolic disorders and the connection between the brain and the metabolism. If a successful treatment to inhibit the PTP1B enzyme can be developed, we can gain significant headway into the treatment of obesity and diabetes."

Story: Mert İnan

Source: 24. 11. 2015 Milliyet gazetesi

Istanbul Policy Center-Sabanci University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative and the Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) organized a public forum and roundtable on “Post Election Turkey” on November 17-18, 2015 in the Houses of Parliament, London, UK as part of a series of talks between IPC and CEFTUS.

Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, hosted the open panel on Tuesday, November 17 at the House of Lords. After the keynote speech from IPC Director and Sabanci University Professor Fuat Keyman, Dr. Ayla Göl from Aberystwyth University moderated the roundtable. Lord William Wallace of Saltaire, Lord David Owen, and Lord Peter Hain gave speeches on Turkey’s political momentum, specifically looking into topics such as Turkey-EU relations, the peace process, and regional politics, as well as Turkey’s economic and social prospects.

On Wednesday, November 18, Baroness Jan Royall chaired the roundtable held in the House of Commons. Professor Keyman, Sabanci University Professor Izak Atiyas, and Lord Peter Hain gave speeches on Turkey’s domestic dynamics and foreign policy following the November 2015 general elections.

The next talk in this series will be held in Istanbul on Friday, January 15, 2016.

The Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum held a symposium titled "International Gender and Esthetics: Art, Film and Literature" from November 6 to November 8, 2015.

The symposium at the Karaköy Minerva Palas began with introductory remarks by Banu Karaca. Banu Karaca spoke on “War, Gender and Visual Literacy." Karaca said that war was not a distant possibility in Turkey, and that while a war raged in the Middle East, Turkey was living in its own brand of war with news of death arriving on a daily basis.

Banu Karaca continued, “If we are not in a warzone itself, we witness war by the caskets that arrive. We are living proof of the argument that history consists of images. Rocking back and forth between extreme value or stark disregard attributed to images has always been under criticism. One such criticism has to do with the limits of visuality."

Karaca explained that some studied how images of war were being produced and consumed, and argued that the limits of war images had to be enforced.

Banu Karaca said, “Angela Davis says that such images are extremely complex and it is unimaginable that an image represents unadulterated truth. Davis argues that all images are created and viewed in a given economy. She has said that lack of visual literacy works for torture and sexual abuse. Failing to establish a frame and imposing limits on this perception will cause issues. It will lead to people not seeing what they don't wish to see."

Karaca also referred to Susan Sontag, specifically: "There is no war without photography. Consequently, there is no war without cameras and rifles. Technological advances spread war. All photographs are examples of this, from the American Civil War to the satellite images ot today." Karaca said that a similar trend was observed in violence against gender, arguing that the advancement of technology could serve to spread state violence. Karaca continued, “Nevertheless, one is the representation of war, and the other is a war on how war will be represented. These two wars are interlocked."

"The consequence of wars is social and political chaos with gender at the center."

Banu Karaca discussed the victimization of women when visualizing war and said that women were not outside of mobilization when in a hostile environment. Explaining that women took their places in battlefields and factories for the length of the war, continuing, "As soon as war is over, they are isolated from social life. Their experience is silenced and made invisible. They are never seen as warriors; they are depicted as wives and mothers."

Karaca said that in Western performing arts, the man was center stage and women only existed around them as images, and argued that the visibility of women was used to legitimize war. Karaca continued, "It is considered warmongering when young and beautiful women were portrayed in military uniforms just prior to the onset of war in Croatia. This is a call for the protection of women. Gender-based violence occurs in every war. Women warriors are always the part of the same eventuality. The use of women as symbols for power is time-sensitive. The outcome that awaits them is self-sacrifice." 

Banu Karaca argued that the consequence of wars was social and political chaos with gender at the center, mentioning the rise of issues related to masculinity as well.

Karaca said that the "war on terror" started a war on images, continuing, "There were restrictions on the imagery of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Caskets coming back home were almost never shown. This is because such visuals had been used extensively by anti-war activists in the aftermath of Vietnam. War is the most irresistible type of imagery, both today and in the past."

Karaca argued that anti-war documentaries too were unable to leave the war genre behind, concluding "Visual literacy has to do with what visual representation is capable of doing. Creating images must be subject to some rules of engagement. One must avoid images that are too vivid."

"Sisterhood is at the heart of storytelling."

The closing lecture of the symposium was given by Feride Çiçekoğlu from Bilgi University. Çiçekoğlu's lecture was titled “Five Sisters and No Mr. Darcy" and discussed three works of literature and cinema telling the stories of five sisters.

Feride Çiçekoğlu said that sisterhood was at the heart of storytelling and that reality was an area which remained mostly vacant until Jane Austen decided to change things. She said that the two important issues in the beginning of a narrative were identity of the lead character and through whose perspective the story is told.

Çiçekoğlu said that the plot in Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice" was used in numerous Hollywood productions, and went on to discuss how the issue was handled differently in the book and in films, continuing "In the film, the lead character Elisabeth is revealed in the first scene and the story is told from her perspective."

Feride Çiçekoğlu then discussed the book "The Virgin Suicides" and its film adaptation.  The story is about the five daughters of the Lisbon family, and although the story is being told by a group of young men 25 years after the incidents, the lead characters are the girls. Feride Çiçekoğlu commented, “From the beginning, there is confusion about who the protagonist of the story is. Whose is this story, and who is telling? If the story is told through someone else's perspective, how do we know that the protagonists have been wronged? Why don't we hear the voices of the protagonists?"  

Finally, Feride Çiçekoğlu discussed the film “Mustang.” Çiçekoğlu noted the fact that the film tells the story of five sisters and has no male subjects.  Çiçekoğlu also mentioned that director Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s first film was aptly titled. Commenting on the film, Çiçekoğlu said, "The director is passionate about women becoming subjects that act, instead of being acted upon. The women here both want to survive and to be free."  

Panel sessions during the symposium discussed the perception of gender, women and men across a wide range from cinema to plastic arts.

Symposium sessions were titled “The Philosophy of Feminist Knowledge”, “Gender and the Fiction of Nations”, “Masculinity in Literature”, “Gender and Sexuality on the Axes of Class and Genre”, “The Esthetics of Passion”, “Voices of Women in Literature” and “Re-Producing Gender.”

Panelists included distinguished academics and artists from Turkey and abroad.