A meeting was held for the presentation of the “World Energy Outlook 2014” Turkey Report prepared by Sabancı University Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) and TÜSİAD.  The report was presented by International Energy Agency Chief Economist Dr. Fatih Birol.

TÜSİAD President Haluk Dinçer and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yıldız made introductory remarks.

Haluk Dinçer discussed critical developments in the near region that had an impact on energy markets.  Dinçer said, “The sustained tension between Russia and Ukraine, and the severe political fluctuations in the Middle East are causes for deep concern.  In 2014, the weak recuperation signals in the global economy were overshadowed by a number of geopolitical risks. It is no small probability that global risks on a level we had never experienced before will continue to increase.  As we prepare for 2015, we need to have clear foresight into how geopolitical risks will be managed.  Meanwhile, there is also the issue of managing the systematically declining growth rates in both developed and emerging countries.  It is in this environment that the volatility in all markets with the energy market in particular makes 2014 and 2015 a critical period of time.”

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yıldız said, “Turkey will neither forgo its efforts towards becoming an EU member state, nor a very important neighbor like Russia.”  Minister Yıldız also noted that the energy industry would grow together with the private sector, and that they would consider the demands, concerns and issues of the private sector for this purpose.” 

The “World Energy Outlook 2014” Turkey Report was then presented by International Energy Agency Chief Economist Dr. Fatih Birol.

Dr. Fatih Birol provided in-depth projections and World Energy Outlook findings on recent developments in producer regions, the resources to provide energy to main consumption centers, the potential for energy efficiency, and important events on the agenda such as the Climate Summit to be held in Paris in 2015 that influence global energy markets. 

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences member Ahmet Onat's patent titled “Magnet Movable Linear Motor” received third prize among 147 submissions in the University Patents Competition held during the 3rd Ege University R&D and Technology Days.

Faculty members Cemil Arıkan and Bahattin Koç were among the invited speakers at the 3rd awards ceremony held at Ege University on December 11th and 12th, 2014.

For details of the event, visit http://arege.ege.edu.tr/

Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Forum, Sabancı University Civic Involvement Projects and Istanbul LGBTT Solidarity Society held an academic gala event for the film TRANS X ISTANBUL on Human Rights Day, December 10th, 2014.

The screening in the Cinema Hall was followed by a question and answer session with moderator Sibel Irzık, director of the Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Forum, and the film crew.

Having premiered in the Istanbul Film Festival last year, TRANS X ISTANBUL is a docudrama that is centered around an individual, and is part of a multifaceted project on the human rights of trans individuals in Turkey.

Director Maria Binder spoke on the production process of the film.  The Trans X Istanbul discussed their experiences in the screening of the film in 8 provinces in Turkey and shared the feedback they received.  Lead actress Ebru Kırancı said, “This film made the invisible become seen.”  Also attending the panel was LGBTT Istanbul Society volunteer Deniz Tunç.

Faculty member Yoong Wah Alex Wong and his students gained international recognition with their animated film.

The animated movie "Jobwatch" produced by Alex Wong and his students in the Fall - VA433/3D Modeling and Spring - VA434/3D Animation courses received Award Winner of Best Animated Comedy at Epic Animation Game Festival, Albany, California, USA.

Alex Wong’s students Aljaz Tepina, Zeynep Özel, Müge Mahmutçavuşoğlu, Ayşe Ecem Bezer, Başak Erbakan, Burak Ertekin, Reysi Leon, Pamir Mundt, Eylul Güler, Hendrik Ludders, Tugçe Karakaya, Ensar Güneşdoğdu and Yiğit Sakin are proud of their international achievement.

In addition to the recognition in the US, “Jobwatch” was screened in international short animation festivals in Romania, Denmark and the Czech Republic.  Another screening will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria in January.

About “Jobwatch:”

There is no perfect interview, interviewee and interviewer. In the job interview, the interviewer tries to find the perfect candidate that will be perfect suit for the "unknown" open position. However, no matter how much details the interviewer puts in to identify the best candidate, the result is always surprising and out of our expectation. "Jobwatch" showcases the conceptual representation of a tedious interview process that leads to a humorous and unexpected ending. Although the perfect candidate (Crab - Miss Lipsy) passes all tests as a lifeguard during the interview, she is unable to swim in reality.

Jobwatch izleyin:

Domestic violence affects the professional lives of women. Working women continue to suffer violence in the hands of their partners.

The Business Against Domestic Violence (BADV) Project implemented by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum issued the “Impact of Relationship Violence on White-Collar Women and Businesses Report.”

Click for report.

Click for detailed results. 

According to the report revealed in a conference on Tuesday, December 9th, 2014:

• 75% of white collar women, the majority of whom are university graduates, have been subject to a form of violence at least once.  Among working women, 40% suffer psychological-emotional violence, 35% social violence, 17% economic violence, and 7% physical violence.

• The perceived main reason behind continuing a relationship despite violence is economic (84%).  Among sufferers of violence, 16% of women admit that they continue the relationship because of economic reasons.  35% of working women think that their income is inadequate to meet the needs of themselves and their families.

• Meanwhile, 40% of men admit to mistreating their partners.  37.5% of men who are university graduates admit to subjecting their partners to some form of violence.  This ratio is 24.5% among high school graduates.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum takes a new step towards developing solutions to economic and social issues in association with markets and businesses.  Utilizing the organizational and administrative capacities of businesses, the Forum designed a project to enable women who suffer violence in their relationships to take action.

The Business Against Domestic Violence  (BADV) Project implemented with the support of the Government of the Netherlands’ Matra Fund and UNFPA disclosed the “Impact of Relationship Violence on White-Collar Women and Businesses Report” in a conference at the Sabancı Center on December 9th.

Introductory remarks were made by Consul-General of the Netherlands, Robert Schuddeboom.  Keynote speakers were UNFPA Turkey Deputy Representative Zeynep Başarankut Kan and Emel Armutçu, Advisor to the President of Hürriyet Gazetecilik. 

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Melsa Ararat presented the “Impact of Relationship Violence on White-Collar Women and Businesses Report” . Melsa Ararat explained that the report was compiled with the voluntary participation of 19 companies and assessed the awareness of businesses regarding domestic violence, the incidence of violence towards women in their relationships, and the attitudes of businesses towards violence.  The closing speech was made by KAMER Foundation President Nebahat Akkoç. 

Consul-General of the Netherlands Robert Schuddeboom said that violence towards women was a serious issue worldwide.  Schuddeboom continued, “We cannot tolerate a world where violence victims remain silent for fear of persecution.  We cannot tolerate a world where women cannot speak up and stand for their rights, and perpetrators go unpunished.  Equality of the sexes in political, social, economic and gender terms is critical to the struggle against violence.  We believe that the Business Against Domestic Violence Project is helping to improve awareness regarding women’s rights and domestic violence, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

“Gender-based violence is an attack against human rights”

UNFPA Turkey Deputy Representative Zeynep Başarankut Kan began by asserting that gender-based violence is a blatant attack against human rights.  Zeynep Başarankut Kan said, “Women are subjected to emotional and physical abuse regardless of their levels of education and positions in business.  Cultural norms intimidate them into silence.  As UNFPA, we work towards supporting gender equality and preventing violence against women in all aspects of life.  Work and business are also among our focal areas.  UNFPA expanded its work for gender equality and violence towards women, and did not hesitate to give full support to this project implemented by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum and Gender and Women’s Studies Forum.”

“A title like this was nothing short of a dream 10 years ago”

Emel Armutçu, Advisor to the President of Hürriyet Gazetecilik, expressed her happiness that Sabancı University was leading a study into domestic violence in the world of business.  Armutçu said, “A title like this was nothing short of a dream 10 years ago.  Everybody knew there was a serious issue, but no one was talking about it.  Businesses in Turkey must take this seriously and put in some efforts for their human resources.  If you were to ask businesses now, they will all say that they don’t have such issues, but we know for a fact that they do.  In developed countries, businesses have long since made alliances against this issue.”

“I don’t believe that violence towards women can be prevented by resorting to feelings of faith and mercy”

Nebahat Akkoç began by talking about the work of the KAMER Foundation.  Akkoç defined violence towards women, explained its consequences, and discussed measures against violence.  Nebahat Akkoç also shared the results of the awareness group studies they conducted in 27 provinces, saying she didn’t believe that violence towards women can be prevented by resorting to feelings of faith and mercy, and that emphasis had to be put on the fact that violence towards women is a violation of human rights.

Survey Results

The intention of the survey was to present the impact of violence suffered by women within the family or in the hands of their partners on the work environment and professional life in general.  The report was compiled on the responses of 1715 working women.

The respondent profile has an average age of 35, has university degrees and are mostly (62%) married.  Women and men are represented almost equally.  Dependents are mostly members of the immediate family; children (45%) and spouses (35%).  The average income of respondents is TL 3500, and more than 30% of the responding women are in management positions.

Women have been suffering violence in different forms and frequencies for the last five years

Working women have been subjected to violence in different forms and frequencies in the hands of their partners in last five years.  Social violence is the most prevalent among working women with 40%.  This is followed by psychological violence (35%), economic violence (35%), and physical violence (8%).  The prevalence and incidence of these four forms of violence is greater in divorced women compared to married or never-married women.  Meanwhile, some women do not know that what they have suffered is violence, or do not consider it violence.

Violence experiences are mostly shared with friends and neighbors; however, approximately 30% of the sufferers of violence do not talk to anyone about this.  The most prevalent effect of violence on work is lack of spirit (54%) and exhaustion (36%).  30% of women have to leave their homes temporarily because of violence.

There is a strong correlation between finance and violence

The greatest reason underlying violence is believed to be finances (79%).  The perceived main reason behind continuing a relationship despite violence is economic (84%).  Among sufferers of violence, 16% of women admit that they continue the relationship because of economic reasons.  35% of working women think that their income is inadequate to meet the needs of themselves and their families.  This in turn may be feeding the economic reasons that cause violence.  Only three out of 10 respondents think that women can end violent relationships if they really want to.  This attitude is consistent between men and women.

Violence will affect women at work

Almost all respondents (99%) believe that being subjected to violence by a partner will affect women at work.  The majority of working people experience the negative effects of work-related stress on family life.  70% of working people state that they had difficulties in fulfilling their duties towards their families at least once in the past year due to work-related reasons.

The most prevalent effect of violence against women on work is lack of spirit (54%) and exhaustion (36%).  Inability to focus and carelessness are other effects.  Absenteeism (3%) and tardiness (4%) are rare.  Losing a job due to domestic violence is a rare occurrence.

When faces with violence, asking for support from the workplace is not common.  Recommended sources of support are social services specialists and women’s organizations (70%).  The human reoucres departments of companies are among the least-preferred sources of support (2.2%).  Non-work friends and neighbors are the most preferred persons to go to in cases of violence (43%).  Approximately half of women (45%) say they would be embarrassed to discuss domestic violence with their managers at work.

About a quarter of respondents observe changes in the performance of their colleagues whom they believe to be suffering from violence.  Reserve and depression are the most common symptoms observed in the workplace (28%).

The situation for men

Approximately 40% of men admit to mistreat or subject their partners to violence.  The prevalence is higher among university graduates (37.5%) than high school graduates (24.5%).  Half of men feel bad themselves when they mistreat their partners.  Men who have never been married experience this more often than married men (16.8% versus 10.8%).  Younger men have more awareness of the impact of violence on their partners.

Approximately half of male respondents have mistreated their partners at least once when arguing on a subject.  The pretext for violence may be neglecting to cook, going out without notice, or refusing sexual intercourse.

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences member Selim Balcısoy’s work on a Visual Exploratory Tool for Narrative Generation for Big Data received IBM’s Global Faculty Award.  This award is given to few scientists every year based on the influence and quality of their research. 

We spoke to Balcısoy about his award and research:

What is your area of research?

My academic studies focus on the visualization of big data, visual analysis, and augmented reality.  I specifically focus on deriving narratives from big data and physical visualization of data.

Can you talk about your award-winning project?

The idea for this project came from work I did with Project 102 students and a student team making their graduation projects last year.  I compiled the conclusions of these studies in a single list and applied to IBM with the Visual Exploratory Tool for Narrative Generation for Big Data project.
The purpose of the project is to visualize the leading characters and the relationships between characters and times or places.  We based our work on Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence and Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.

First, I asked approximately 35 students in the Project 102 course to read Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence and prepare infographics about it.  The image below is that of one of the best (for Museum of Innocence) and you can view all works here.

With my graduation project groups, we did research on how similar infographics can be generated automatically or semiautomatically.  An academic paper we wrote with a group of students was accepted to IEEE VAST 2014, the globally most prestigious conference in the field, as a Poster Presentation.  The conference was held in Paris in November, and my students and I attended.

I must thank Erk Ediz Akyigit, Tuğkan Cengiz and Onur Burak Yıldırım for their selfless work in this project.  You can view the video presentation here and a screenshot is below:

I presented the above work in two seminars in October; one in IBM Research’s Almaden Research Center, and one in CMU’s Menlo Park campus.  I am preparing TÜBİTAK and H2020 project on this subject, and the same group of students and I are expanding the article into a journal entry.

How can you comment on the contribution of this award to your work?

First and foremost, it was a great motivator.  The fact that the research we conduct with undergraduate students in particular support projects that are deemed worthy of such awards shows how realistic our school’s research objectives are regarding undergraduate students.  This award has spurred me to do more high-impact, comprehensive projects with undergraduate students in the future.

Groundwork has been laid for the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence established by Kordsa Global in association with Sabancı University

Sabancı Holding Board of Directors and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı: “This center introduces a new model to Turkey.”

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence established by Kordsa Global in association with Sabancı University in Teknopark Istanbul with the attendance of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.  The Center will work on advanced, nanotechnology-integrated composite technologies that transform many industries from aviation to automotive.

Kordsa Global, a Sabancı Holding company, and Sabancı University established by the Sabancı Foundation held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence, the product of an innovative industry-university partnership model, with the attendance of leading political, academic and industry representatives.

Attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Fikri Işık, Minister of Development Cevdet Yılmaz, Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin, Sabancı Holding Board of Directors and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, Kordsa Global Board of Directors Chair Mehmet Pekarun, Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker, Sabancı University Board of Trustees Members Suzan Sabancı Dinçer and Sevil Sabancı, Kordsa Global CEO Cenk Alper as well as Sabancı Holding directors and the representatives of many companies and institutions that support the high technology initiative in Turkey.  To be built in Teknopark Istanbul, the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence will work on composite material technologies.

Güler Sabancı: We are laying the stone for the future

Speaking at the ceremony, Sabancı Holding Board of Directors and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı said that the center introduced a new model in industry-university partnership to Turkey, continuing, “For the first time in our country, we witness together the creation of a platform that will combine advanced materials, R&D, academic structure and production.  Two Sabancı Group organizations, Kordsa Global and Sabancı University, start an initiative that is of paramount importance.  Today, we are laying the stone for the future.  We are beginning a new period.  We set off on a new path with the objective to have Turkey make a difference in the global arena with advanced technologies, become a global player in this field, even joining the premier league.  This is not an investment for tomorrow; this investment is for 10, 20, 30 years into the future.  We believe in Turkey and its potential, and we invest in the future of this country.”

Sabancı went on: “This foundation is for a 65-million TL investment for now; however, the real value of this center stands far beyond this figure with the new frontiers it will set for our country as well as our Group through the value and model it will create.  This center introduces a new model to Turkey.  This is an exemplary model that has significant potential to contribute towards our 2023 objectives.  The model brings different cultures (students, researchers, faculty members, entrepreneurs, engineers) together in the same ecosystem, allowing them to work in close cooperation, understanding their respective issues better, and creating better solutions more quickly by a common mind.  They will share laboratories, work in the same environment, and run faster towards common goals – not in adjacent rooms but all together, at the same table, in the same lab.  This will also allow the university to become a greater part of the economy.  I hope that the success of this model will set an example to new centers to be built.  One of our objectives for the year 2023 is to be one of the top 10 economies of the world.  This requires an innovation-focused growth policy, and innovation-focused growth is only possible with the design and production of high-technology products.” 

An investment of TL 65 million

The center will be built with an investment of TL 65 million and provide facilities for graduate education, fundamental research, applied research, product development, incubation services and commercialization opportunities in composite technologies, and will host PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, faculty members, incubation companies, researchers, engineers and employees for prototype production under one roof at the same time.

The center will have an indoor area of 10,000 square meters with 3000 square meters of laboratory facilities where Kordsa Global and Sabancı University will create a breakthrough ecosystem fueled by doing research, learning and producing together.  The high-tech production facilities provided by Kordsa Global will enable the domestic manufacture of materials and composites subject to import controls.

The innovative model developed by Kordsa Global, the top-ranking company in the textile industry for two years in a row on the R&D Center Performance Assessment conducted by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology on all R&D centers in Turkey since 2013, and  Sabancı University, a top contender of the Most Entrepreneurial and Innovative Universities Index since 2012, will bring together students, faculty, researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs and designers together in the same room towards common goals.

About KORDSA GLOBAL

Kordsa Global is a leading enterprise that serves the rubber, composite, and construction markets by providing reinforcing products. The company, with headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, enhances its commercial leadership with its technological know-how, operating 10 businesses in 8 countries distributed over 5 continents, and employing approximately 4000. Kordsa Global's sales figure reached TL 1.5 billion in 2013.

Kordsa Global and the rubber sector

The success story of Kordsa, the world's leading nylon 6.6 and polyester industrial fiber, tire cord and its only cord producer, started in 1973 with a tire cord factory investment in İzmit, Turkey. The Company, in which Sabancı Holding, one of the leading conglomerates in the Turkish economy, has a 91.1% shareholding, exhibited continuous growth and with its global production capacities, continues to lead the sector, rapidly adapting its operations to changing market dynamics, while at the same time searching for new markets. Strengthening its R&D investments, the company has introduced innovative high-performance and green products to the sector and with the reinforcement solutions that it has developed, it has begun to catch the interest of the composite and construction sectors.

Yasal Uyarı

This document and its content are provided only for informational purposes and reflects information, products, materials and visuals current at the time of publication.  The risk of a decision taken or a transaction effectuated based on any information in this document rests entirely with the person taking the decision.  Kordsa Global and/or its subsidiaries make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, relating to the content, including to the truth, accuracy, timeliness, adequacy, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose thereof. The Company may not be held responsible for damages or losses of any kind arising out of the use of the information herein or of a decision taken or a transaction effectuated based on any information in this document.

Students who have Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate diplomas or students enrolled at universities other than Sabancı University can apply to the courses offered by Sabancı University to participate as special students. The candidates apply for special student status should firstly meet the requirements determined by the relevant Faculty/Graduate School for the level of English.

Approval for special student application can not be considered as the approval of any diploma programs. Special students are not considered as Sabancı University student and can not benefit from the student rights.

 Transcript on which courses registered and course grades are printed can be given on demand to special students.


2014-2015 Academic Year Spring Term Special Student Application

 Sabancı Üniversitesi Öğrenci Kaynakları Birimi, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Cd. No:27, Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul

Mailing Address:
Sabancı University
Student Resources Unit
Orta Mah. Üniversite Cad. No:27

34956 Tuzla
İSTANBUL, TR
Phone: 0216 483 90 92
Fax: 0216 483 90 73
E-mail: studentinfo@sabanciuniv.edu

Our alumnus from our undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering program, 2011, Gorkem Soyumer has founded a start-up, Enerwhere, based on work he did  for a Master of Science in Management of Energy and Sustainability (MES) from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.

He built one of the first solar-diesel hybrid smart grids in the Middle East as part of his master thesis research at CSEM-UAE. Now he holds the position of Innovation Engineer. I think he's fantastic advertisementon what one can do with a B.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering.

If you need more information on his company's activities, here's a link: http://enerwhere.com/