The International Polymer Processing Engineering Conference, one of the leading events in the polymer industry, took place in İzmir, Çeşme between May 26 and 30, 2019. Sabancı University students held the top three places in the PPS-35 Student Poster Contest which was held in the conference.

The Polymer Processing Society (PPS), whose Turkish representative is Sabancı University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences member Yusuf Menceloğlu, held the 35th annual International Polymer Processing Engineering Conference in Çeşme, İzmir with the attendance of over 500 scientists from 40 countries. 

Subjects explored in the conference were the formulation, processing and forming methods of polymer systems, the entire polymerization process beginning with the monomer and ending with end-user products, and recent technological developments in the industry. 

Sabancı University students held the top three in the PPS-35 Student Poster Contest

The PPS-35 poster contest was open to all students who registered in the conference, and submissions were assessed by 10 faculty members from various institutions. Among 113 submissions in the contest, first prize went to Sabancı University Material Science and Nanoengineering Program student Çağla Girişken with her graduation project “Low Density, High Modulus Polypropylene Wood Composites Prepared by using Thermo Kinetic Mixer” developed in association with RAVAGO Petrochemicals as part of the Industry-Oriented Projects program; second prize to Aleyna Beste Özhan’s poster “The Design and Testing of a Poly(carboxylate ether)-based Viscosity Modifier for Ternary Blends of Ordinary Portland Cement, Calcined Clay, and Limestone”; and third prize to Mehmet Kerem Çıtak’s graduation project “Partially Biodegradable Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)/ Polylactic Acid (PLA) Blends with Improved Impact Resistance”. The prize for the winners was PPS membership*.

*The Polymer Processing Society (PPS) aims to foster scientific understanding and technical innovation in polymer processing by providing a discussion forum for the worldwide community of engineers and scientists in the field. Membership in PPS is open to all researchers in the field, and to all persons who feel the activities of the society advance their professional development.

The Business Against Domestic Violence (BADV) Project implemented by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum was presented in the Population Dynamics and Evidence-Based Population Policies Regional Conference which was held in Tbilisi on June 14, 2019.

The UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Country Office in Georgia organized a conference to commemorate the 25th year of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the 50th anniversary of UNFPA, and the 20-year anniversary of its support to the country’s development.

UNFPA Country Office in Georgia in close collaboration with the UNFPA Regional Office for Central Asia initiated the regional conference to mark these important anniversaries with the support of the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the government of Georgia.

The objective of the conference is to support enhanced understanding of the current population dynamics and trends in the region, including ageing, and of the status of policies and initiatives addressing these dynamics in the countries of the region. Through exchange of scientific evidence and good practices, the evidence-based and people-centered policy making on population and development issues were strengthened in the countries of the region.

BADV Project Director Sevda Alkan presented the project in detail during the "Practices in Countries" session of the conference. Alkan emphasized the role of the private sector in empowering women, and gave examples to collaboration between businesses and academia.

Discussion topics included challenges facing financial markets, the global economic outlook, and the rise and fall of nations.

Sabancı University Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) held its third conference in the "The Future of Financial Markets" series with prominent Turkish and international subject matter experts.

Sabancı University Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) established with the founding sponsorship of Akbank held the third event in its international conference series on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Sabancı Center. Titled "The Future of Financial Markets", the conference featured prominent academics and professionals who discussed matters including challenges facing financial markets, developing countries and the global economic outlook, and the rise and fall of nations.

Introductory remarks were made by Sabancı University Chair Professor of Finance and CEF Founding Chairperson Özgür Demirtaş, Sabancı University President Prof. Yusuf Leblebici, and Akbank Board of Directors Chair Suzan Sabancı Dinçer.

Prof. Özgür Demirtaş said, “The finance sector must understand and meet the needs of the manufacturing industry. To do so, we need more qualified people. If we want Istanbul to be a financial center, we need to do what is expected of us and CEF is a crucial step in that direction,” and gave information about the accomplishments of CEF.

In his remarks, Sabancı University President Prof. Yusuf Leblebici said, “Established with the founding sponsorship of Akbank, the Center of Excellence in Finance is one of the most successful centers in our university, and this conference will contribute significantly to Turkish and global financial circles. Our speakers will share their valuable opinions on the challenges facing financial markets and what can be done going forward. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Suzan Sabancı and the Akbank Board of Directors for their support, and to our faculty members and esteemed speakers for the privilege of being here today. I hope everyone will find this conference useful."

Saying that the Center of Excellence in Finance has enjoyed great success under the guidance of Prof. Özgür Demirtaş, Suzan Sabancı Dinçer continued, “CEF became an outstanding center with its conferences, lectures and research. We at Akbank are proud of its success and the support of Sabancı University is greatly appreciated.”

Academics and professionals discussed "Challenges Facing Financial Markets"

Following introductory remarks, the first session of CEF's Future of Financial Markets conference was a panel discussion on "Challenges Facing Financial Markets" moderated by Akbank CEO Hakan Binbaşgil. Speakers in the panel were JP Morgan Chairman Sir Winfried Bischoff, Harvard University Professor of International Economics Professor Dante Roscini ve ABN AMRO Bank NV. Supervisory Board Chairman Tom de Swaan.

CEOs discussed developing countries and the global economic outlook

The moderator of the second panel discussion, titled "Developing Countries and the Global Economic Outlook", was Akbank Executive Vice President Levent Çelebioğlu. Panelists SOCAR Turkey CEO Zaur Gahramanov, Tekfen Holding Chairman Murat Gigin and Eczacıbaşı Holding CEO Muharrem Gümrah commented on the global economic outlook in the context of developing countries from the perspective of Turkey's leading groups, and discussed possible developments in the future.

The guest of the discussion titled “The Fall or Rise of Nations" was Massachusetts Institute of Technology Elizabeth and James Killion Professor of Economics Daron Acemoğlu and the talk was moderated by Sabancı University Chair Professor of Finance and CEF Founding Chairperson Professor Özgür Demirtaş

The final event in the CEF Conference was a discussion on “The Fall or Rise of Nations" where speakers discussed recent developments and predictions with respect to regions and countries. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Elizabeth and James Killion Professor of Economics Daron Acemoğlu and Sabancı University Chair Professor of Finance and CEF Founding Chairperson Prof. Özgür Demirtaş offered different perspectives on the fall and rise of nations, and the global implications of such movements.

The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings list the world’s best universities that are 50 years old or younger.

Sabancı University was the top Turkish institution on the ranking of emerging young universities around the world. Sabancı University ranked 48th among all 351 entrants, and had the highest position among 14 Turkish universities included in the “Young University Rankings 2019” rankings.

The 14 Turkish universities are: Sabancı University (48th), Koç University (70th), Bilkent University (101 – 150), Atılım and Gebze Technical Universities (201 – 250), Akdeniz, Bahçeşehir, Erciyes, Izmir Technology and TOBB Universities (251 – 300), Çukurova, Dokuz Eylül, Ondokuz Mayıs and Yeditepe Universities (301+).

“Young University Rankings 2019” consider research, teaching, citations, international outlook, and industry income.

Applications from universities other than Sabanci University (SU) and undergraduate programs within SU will be evaluated by the relevant Faculty Boards, in compliance with "Regulations on the Basis Concerning Horizontal Transfer among the Institutions of Higher Education at the Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degree Levels ," published by the Turkish Higher Education Board (YOK) and the rules adopted by Sabanci University. Applicants may be able to invited for the interviews,as required. 

All application documents should be submitted to Sabanci University Student Resources Unit by July 23th, 2019. The related Faculty Administrative Committee evaluates transfer applications.

Evaluation results will be sent to the applicants in the written form. Delays due to the post will not be accepted. An interview will be organized for the candidates who are satisfying the application requirements during July 29, 2019. 

Applicants to be accepted to the programs will be determined as the result of the examination of the application documents by the related Faculty Administrative Council. 

General Rules for the Application Requirements:

1. Equality: The equality of the institutions and programs which candidates are to leave must have been recognized by YOK for the overseas applications.
2. Equivalence: Institutions and programs which candidates are to leave should be the equivalent of the Undergraduate Programs of SU.
3. Term Completion: Students who had completed first two semester of the undergraduate diploma programs can apply. Last two semester of the diploma programs can not be applied.
4. Grade Point Average : Applicants must possess a minimum cumulative grade point average GPA of 60/100 (2.29/4.00). Candidates, applying from the universities implementing the grading system other than equivalency table of 4.00 and 100, should submit an official document and conversion table for the grades.
5. To Be Registered : Applicants must be registered in the current higher education institution as a student.
6. English Proficiency: The students certifying that they have passed one of the national and/or international foreign language examinations at a level determined by the university and the ones who have graduated from a higher education where the medium of instruction is English are exempted from English Language exam. In all other applicants, the students are required to pass the English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE)
7. Education Period: The total periods required to complete the program and those formerly passed must not exceed the maximum education period of 14 terms. 

Application Documents:

All documents must have been ofically prepared in english or turkish languages. It is necessary to attach the Turkish or English notarized translations besides the original documents prepared in other languages.

1. Application Form and Application Fee : Applicants who apply for more than one program must fill just one Application Form (which will be avaliable during the application dates). The form must have been fotocopied as many as the number of programs applied for and the bank receipt for the payment of the non-refundable fee of 450 TL to the SABANCI University account numbered 30727 (IBAN NO:TR87 0004 6007 1388 8000 0307 27) with Akbank SABANCI University Branch must be attached to each form. Applicants for sophomore year should indicate the program set related to the graduation program they wished to study on their application form. The departments of these applicants will be determined in accordance with Sabancı University Undergraduate Education Regulations.

2. The Certificates of Examination Results: There must be a copy of OSYS certificate used for the admittance to the institutions the applicants are to leave for the applicants from domestic universities,including higher education associations in KKTC and those mentioned in the OSYM guide.

Please click for the exam/diploma list which is required for the applicants who get registered to a higher education institution outside of Turkey in 2017 and after 2017.

Please see below for the exam/diploma list which is required for the applicants who get registered to a higher education institution outside of Turkey before 2017:

• In case of applications submitted from abroad, prospective students that are Turkish nationals must prove that they obtained the minimum score required to be placed in the relevant undergraduate program (185 points) in the OSYS exams administered in the year they are admitted to the university abroad or satisfied the requirements regarding any of the following examinations and minimum results.
• SAT 1 (min 1500/2400 score, new system min. 1090 ),
• ACT, Math, Science reasoning and total 21/36,
• GCE A Level Certificate (min. 2 courses),
• ABITUR (1-4 diploma score),
• International Baccalaureate  (IB min 28/45 diploma score),
• Matura (2/1 diploma score),
• French Bakalorya (min 12/20 diploma score).  
• Italy Maturita (min 70/100 diploma score)

It is required for the international applicants, who complete entire high school education outside of Turkey, to submit one of the exam or diplomas stated in the list in the below link:

https://www.sabanciuniv.edu/sites/default/files/2019-2020%20International%20Exam_Diploma%20List.pdf

3. Transcript: An official document demonstrating all GPA's, grades, and all accepted courses from Student Affairs Office of the higher education institution the applicant is enrolled in.
4. Detailed Description and Contents of The Courses: There must be documents with the contents and detailed descriptions of the courses indicated on the candidate's transcript. It will be useful for the overseas applicants to attach catalogs giving information about the foreign institutions or documents like these. It is required for each course which is succesfully passed. Courses which are found equivalent by the Faculty Administrative Board will be substituted with their grade.
5. English Proficiency Exam Result: The document certifying that the student has passed one of the national and/or international foreign language examinations at a level determined by the university (accepted by the University) or an official document indicating the program's education language prepared by the Student Affairs Office of the university the applicant is enrolled in(preferably enclosed) (for the fully English teaching institution) If the information is also indicated on the transcript, no more document is required.
6. Student Certificate :The document demonstrating that the applicant is a student of the institution prepared by the Student Affairs Office of the university the applicant is registered in.
7. Certificate of Disciplinary Standing: The document indicating the disciplinary standing for the domestic applicants (preferably enclosed prepared by the Student Affairs Office at the university applicant is enrolled in)
8. Letter of Recommendation: Min 2, preferably 3 letters of recommendation (enclosed). Sample letter is attached to the Application Form (which will be avaliable during the application dates).
9. High School Diploma: It is useful for the applicants graduated from domestic high schools to attach approved copy of their high school diploma and for the applicants graduated from overseas high schools to attach notarized turkish translations of their high school diploma and certificate of diploma equivalence from Turkish Ministry of Education - Teaching and Training Board. This certificate will be required later if the applicant is accepted.
10. The Passport Pages: Those pages with photo and identification information and approved photocopies of the pages relating to the years of education in the foreign higher education institutions for the overseas applicants.
11. The Document of Return from Abroad: The official writing indicating the state of the applicants whose parents have returned to Turkey upon completion of their offical duty or their working lives abroad.
12. Financial assurance to have education in Sabancı University (required for foreign students admitted.)
13.  Copies of certificates, courses, internships, sports competitions with rewards taken before.

2019-2020 Academic Year Fall Term Quota

On Saturday, June 22nd, 2019, Sabancı University held the commencement ceremony for its 20th graduate and 17th undergraduate classes. Graduates received their diplomas at a ceremony on the Sabancı University campus. 

The top ranking students of the three faculties also received their awards. The Valedictorian of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences was Naci Ege Saraç, the Valedictorian of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences was Atakan Başdüzen, and the Valedictorian of the School of Management was Burak Şahin.

Sabancı University Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees Güler Sabancı's advice to graduates:

• You commence your lives as young individuals devoted to the scientific method and Republican values, egalitarian at heart and free in mind, thought and conscience.

• When faced with challenges, let universal values light your path.

• It is a lifelong endeavor to build one's personality.

• You are defined by how creative, courageous, civilized, conscientious and capable of common sense you are.

• I advise all of you to build a character that is not limited to your resume, a personality that will lead to you being remembered as a "good, worthy and conscientous human".

• Go beyond all identities; have respect for your fellow humans and their differences.

• If we are to live in a better world, it falls upon you to do this.

• Do not let anyone drag your objectives downwards.

• Do not hesitate to ask for guidance or advice, but always make your decisions with self-confidence.

“We intended to make a difference in higher education when we started 20 years ago”

Güler Sabancı began her speech by celebrating the 20th year of Sabancı University. Sabancı continued that they had intended to make a difference in higher education and create a global university when they started 20 years ago, and had breakthrough scientific achievements and research that defined the future. Güler Sabancı emphasized Sabancı University Honorary Chairman late Sakıp Sabancı’s firm belief that a better future for Turkey lay in a well-educated and well-trained youth.

Sabancı spoke about her meetings with alumni residing in Boston, San Francisco, London, Amsterdam and Munich, saying that they were delighted with their achievements. Sabancı continued, "We once again saw proof that we were great at raising true 'global citizens' equipped with competencies that are applicable anywhere in the world - an achievement that is dear to us all."  She added that graduates were doing well whether in the academic and business world. 

A new administration in the 20th year of Sabancı University

Güler Sabancı explained that the 20th year of Sabancı University was marked with significant changes in the administration, and that the return of Professor Yusuf Leblebici, who was recently appointed President, boosted their strength. Sabancı added that Yusuf Leblebici’s outstanding contributions to the development of a unique and trendsetting system in the early years of Sabancı University. Sabancı continued, “It is a matter of pride and honor that Yusuf Leblebici returns to our university as its President after his oustanding achievements and experience in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne."

Güler Sabancı announced that another major change in administration was due for the Secretary General, a position that is critical to the institutional structure of Sabancı University. She said that Haluk Bal, who had been Secretary General for nearly 15 years, was due to retire and would be succeeded by Rasim Karas. 

“You commence your lives as young individuals devoted to Republican values, egalitarian at heart and free in mind, thought and conscience”

Addressing the graduates, Güler Sabancı said, “You graduate at a time when a new world order is being created with technology a major motivating factor. Nevertheless, the world continues to be rife with difficulties. Everyone wants to read, see or hear people who think alike.  Unfortunately, they become less tolerant of differences.  Supercilious differences, labels, gender and any kind of opinion can result in division.  The way out is going beyond all identities, seeing and understanding fellow humans, and respecting differences. If we are to live in a better world, it falls upon you to do this."

Güler Sabancı added that they commenced their lives as young individuals devoted to the scientific method and Republican values, egalitarian at heart and free in mind, thought and conscience.

Güler Sabancı emphasized that receiving education at Sabancı University was a great privilege which provided them with the capabilities to become ‘global citizens’ and make a difference wherever they may be. 

"It is a lifelong endeavor to build one's personality"

Continuing her advice, Güler Sabancı said, "Remember that you are more than your resume. What makes you and defines you is not the diploma you hold or the number of Instagram followers you have. It is your personality, who you are as a person. It is how creative, courageous, civilized, conscientous and capable of common sense you are."

Güler Sabancı emphasized  that to build one's personality was a lifelong endeavor. She said that her personality and view of life had evolved from the beginning of her career and the foundation of Sabancı University to date. She called one's discovery of oneself, seeing one's shortfalls, amending them, overcoming challenges, and growing mature a never-ending journey.

Sabancı said, "I advise all of you to build a character that is not limited to your resume, a personality that will lead to you being remembered as a 'good, worthy and conscientous' human."

“Let universal values light your path”

Sabancı advised students to set targets for themselves, make plans, and implement their plans, concluding "Do not let anyone drag your objectives downwards. Do not hesitate to ask for guidance or advice, but always make your decisions with self-confidence. Trust yourself, not others. When you meet difficulties -and you will-, let universal values such as human rights, equality and rule of law light your path."

“A key asset of developed societies is the strength of their research and development infrastructure, and the extensiveness of the contributions of such activities to the economy”

Speaking in the ceremony, Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici said that Sabancı University was the top Turkish institution in global university rankings among Turkish universities: “With the quality and uniqueness of our academic programs, as well as our research output that signifies our contribution to science, we are proud to be among the best of universities in Turkey. But ultimately, we will not settle with being Turkey's best university, our target is to become a research university that is recognized and admired worldwide."

Yusuf Leblebici added that Sabancı University was allocated 80 PhD scholarships in the Industrial PhD Programs implemented for the first time this year, leaving all other universities behind by a large margin.

Leblebici noted that scientific research was key to the future of many application areas that would never have been discovered any other way, continuing, "A key asset of developed societies is the strength of their research and development infrastructure, and the extensiveness of the contributions of such activities to the economy."

Also addressing the graduates, Yusuf Leblebici concluded, “Never lose your curiosity or self-confidence; never suppress the voice of your conscience; and never forget the humility that is the heritage of these lands."

Speaking in the ceremony were Sabancı University Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees Güler Sabancı and President Yusuf Leblebici as well as Aysu Yurduşen on behalf of graduate students, Fatih Öztoprak on behalf of undergraduate students, and Sabancı University Alumni Association President Zeynep Bahar Çelik.

Fatih Öztoprak

Zeynep Bahar Çelik 

Commencement was followed by live music and dance shows by Ayhan Sicimoğlu. Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı joined the dance to share the excitement of graduation with the students. 

Click to watch 2019 Commencement Ceremony.

"The author's style is determined by personal history"

Left to Right: Zeynep Uçak, Nitshona Saporta, Elif Pınar Ön, Ahmet Ümit ve Yusuf Leblebici

The Sabancı University Academic Year Closing Lecture was given on Friday, June 21, during the Commencement events. Ahmet Ümit was this year's speaker of the Closing Lecture for the Graduation Class, parents and all Sabancı University members.

Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici delivered introductory remarks before the lecture.

Ahmet Ümit's lecture was titled “Never Ending Education: Literature”. Ahmet Ümit told the story of how he became a writer, saying that while writing a report one day in 1983, he realized that he was in fact writing a story, and decided that he wanted to be a writer.

Ahmet Ümit named his mother a key influence in his becoming a writer due to being an excellent storyteller. He said that his first ever story was loosely based on his mother. Saying that all authors were influenced by their lives in what they write, Ümit continued, "The author's style is determined by personal history." 

Ahmet Ümit said that, when he wrote his first book, Ali Taygun told him "You write crime novels", upon which he began to explore the genre. In his words, Ümit realized that everything he had known about crime genre until that day was either wrong or incomplete, saying that crime genre writers "wrote the murder because they were to perform the true function of literature." Ümit continued, "We all wear masks. Our true self is behind it. If literature has one function only, it is to explain the human soul." 

Ahmet Ümit concluded by saying “Each child in Turkey is born multicultural. It is in our genes. But we don't learn them. We don't talk about them. We are presented with a treasure as a birthright. It is the common heritage of humankind. This is not simple historical knowledge, it is how we conceive of life."

Following the lecture, Ahmet Ümit and graduates laid the commemorative brick in the Alumni Pier.

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences posdoctoral researcher Özlem Karahan has been selected as one of the recipient of the 2019-2020 Fulbright Research Award. 

Dr. Özlem Karahan will continue her studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Prof. Donald Sadoway’s group. Dr. Özlem Karahan will investigate the electrochemistry of aluminum-sulfur batteries with special attention to electrode kinetics as related to charging and to discharging. During her studies at Sabancı University, Dr. Özlem Karahan has achieved important breakthroughs, including the development of novel phase-change smart nanomaterials for energy applications and infrared applications. Dr. Özlem Karahan continues her research in Prof. Dr. Kürşat Şendur’s research group until she starts this venture.

Ledün Çevik, from Sabancı University Political Science Program, has involved conducting academic research at King's College London within the scope of Erasmus+ Traineeship Consortium.

Ledün and her supervisor Sevinç Bermek have prepared an election report regarding the 24th of June presidential and legislative elections of Turkey which is also followed by the foreign press.

The electoral report has been published at London School of Economics (LSE) Blog, under the European Policy and Politics section. The report refers to the new government system of Turkey, gives information regarding the political parties and the candidates. Ledün states that thanks to the inventive academic research environment of Sabancı University and the encouragement of the faculty members, she has easily involved in the research environment in abroad and managed to work by herself.

Click here to read the report

Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) has released the third issue of IICEC Energy Market Newsletter. 

Please click to read IICEC Energy Market Newsletter.