07/01/2026
The book “Founding a University”, which was translated into English as part of the university's 25th anniversary celebrations, and for which a signing ceremony was held on campus, is now available in Turkish on Storytel. Written based on Güler Sabancı's memories and observations, the book has been made into an audiobook in her own voice.
The Story of a University Founded Together
This book, which recounts the process from the very first moment the idea of founding Sabancı University emerged until the present day, tells the story of the founding of Sabancı University, Türkiye's third private university, established with the goal of making a difference in higher education, through the personal testimony and memories of Güler Sabancı. While describing Sabancı University, which she calls "one of the most important goals of her life," Güler Sabancı also touches upon the place of this journey within her own career and life journey. The book highlights the stages Sabancı University went through in its institutionalization process, which began with the vision of being a "world university," as well as the contributions of the Sabancı Family and the Sabancı Foundation, and the roles undertaken by the academic staff. Underlining that the university is a multi-stakeholder structure and was created "together," the book provides a broad overview, encompassing everything from bureaucracy and academics to students and international institutions that were worked with.
Shedding Light on the Development of Foundation Universities
Güler Sabancı also makes a note on the recent history of higher education in Türkiye. The book, which serves as an important historical record shedding light on the development of foundation universities in Türkiye, presents multi-layered processes extending from bureaucracy to academia, from an institutional memory, with a narrative that can guide future generations. Intended to reach a wider audience through audiobook format, "Founding a University" is an important reference source in the fields of education, leadership, social responsibility, and institutional memory.
The proceeds from Storytel's release of " Founding a University" will also be transferred to the Sabancı University scholarship fund.
