11/08/2025
A Different Perspective on Our University: Our Exchange Student Alina Gosch
Alina Gosch, who came to the Political Science and International Relations program from the Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany, as part of the Erasmus+ Exchange Program, experienced our university in a different culture and geography. She shared her thoughts on the past 25 years of Sabancı University with us.
Can you introduce yourself? Which faculty/program are you studying in?
My name is Alina, I’m a third-year Political Science student from Freie Universität Berlin. I’m currently spending my second semester at Sabancı University as an exchange student.
What do you think about the opportunities offered to you in terms of research at Sabancı University?
What I appreciate most about the teaching at Sabancı University are the relatively small class sizes and the accessibility of the professors. Additionally, I’ve had the opportunity to take courses in research areas that I wouldn’t have been able to explore in my home university, all taught by incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring professors. Although students aren’t strongly encouraged to pursue independent research projects in the undergraduate program, it’s easy to apply for courses in other programs or faculties, which is a great opportunity to broaden one’s perspective.
What are your plans after graduating from the university with the “unique” education you received from our university and the knowledge and skills you acquired? How do you dream of contributing to both the business world and society?
In the summer, I’ll return to Berlin to finish my degree. My time at Sabancı has definitely enriched me both personally, by getting to know a new culture and meeting amazing people, and academically, by allowing me to dedicate more time to my studies and explore new fields of research. In the future, I hope to use the education I’ve had the priviledge of receiving to contribute to a society where everyone has the freedom to live according to their own choices and to contribute based on their own talents and values.
How would you describe the path Sabancı University has covered in 25 years, based on what you have observed and learned?
In a rapidly changing national and international environment, Sabancı University has managed to become one of the top universities in Turkey, attracting exellent professors and students from all around the world. From what I’ve observed, it offers a more flexible, student-centred experience compared to many traditional institutions. Over the past 25 years, it has built a strong reputation for academic excellence, critical thinking, and global engagement.
Our university has celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Can we get your 25th anniversary message?
Our university’s motto, “Creating and Developing Together”, remains as fitting today as it was 25 years ago. In the face of growing environmental, societal, political, and economical challenges, places that focus on finding creative and cooperative solutions to these challenges are what our society needs most. Sabancı University has been such a place for the past 25 years – and hopefully will continue to be for many more years to come.
What are your dreams and predictions for our university for the next 25 years?
I hope that Sabancı University remains a place open to critical thinking and high-quality research, one that succeeds in including people from different socio-economic backgrounds. By fostering diversity and and staying true to its founding principles, I believe Sabancı University can further strengthen its role as a global leader in academic excellence, social responsibility, and innovation.
