The Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) revealed its new report on oil:

The strategic conflicts of interest among Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States may destabilize the global oil market

The Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) revealed a new report by Head of Center for Energy Policy Research at Higher School of Economics, Dr. Vitaliy Yermakov on “Supply Dynamics among the "Big Three" Oil Producers : Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA”. According to the report presented by Dr. Yermakov, the world is transitioning to a low-carbon future, and the strategic conflicts of interest among Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA in the global oil market can lead to dramatic and destructive price fluctuations.

Bringing together key stakeholders in energy and climate issues, Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC) continues to publish breakthrough reports. The report “Supply Dynamics among the "Big Three" Oil Producers : Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA” written by Head of Center for Energy Policy Research at Higher School of Economics, Dr. Vitaliy Yermakov for the IICEC Energy and Climate Research Series was revealed at an event held in Istanbul.

Hosting the event, Sabancı University IICEC Director Prof. Difiglio delivered introductory remarks, saying “IICEC will continue to invite the most prominent names in the sector towards its mission of being a respected platform that brings together key stakeholders in energy and climate issues.”

Dr. Vitaliy Yermakov presented the report, discussing how the developments in the Russian, Saudi and US oil markets over the last decade shaped the petroleum industry, why and how their strategies changed over this time, and the implications of these changes on the present of the industry. The report presentation was followed by a panel discussion with Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Energy and Sustainable Development Foundation Energy Advisor Howard Bevan and Engie Turkey CEO Denis Lohest on the report and the industry in general.

Dr. Yermakov: “Russia may never be as strong as it looks, but it will never be as weak as it seems."

Dr. Yermakov began by underlining the rate of variability in petroleum prices. Discussing the impact of actual supply-demand balance and national strategies on the petroleum market, Dr. Vitaliy Yermakov said, "America, Russia and Saudi Arabia account for nearly one-third of all petroleum production in the world." Dr. Yermakov continued: “The boost in production reduced oil prices. The increase in American production was a surprise to everyone. Oil trade moved to new markets; in particular, the US began to aim for the European and Asian markets. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia started to play a more active role in OPEC.” Commenting on the agreement between Russia and OPEC being longer-term than expected, Dr. Yermakov said, “The agreement withdrew the excess oil from the market and brought some stability. Russia's tactical reduction of the Rouble's value in the last few years translated to stability in oil production over a longer term." 

Speaking in the panel discussion, Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Energy and Sustainable Development Foundation Energy Advisor Howard Bevan said: “The term of the agreement between OPEC and Russia does not solely depend on the success of the parties. It is an opportunity yielded by the negativity of the situation and ongoing issues in other countries.” 

Engie Turkey CEO Denis Lohest said:

“We should focus on whether there is a possibility for the petroleum market to be split; it is important to note what factors will affect this market, and to what extent. Oil production has become a major influence on the petroleum market.” 

How did the "Big Three" shape the market?

The IICEC Energy and Climate Research Series report “Supply Dynamics among the "Big Three" Oil Producers: Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA” study the dynamics that the three largest oil producers of the world created when they built the oil market, how they shaped the marketplace, and the current situation. 

According to the report, the world is transitioning to a low-carbon future, and strategic conflicts of interest in the global oil market can lead to dramatic and destructive price fluctuations. Under these circumstances, it becomes important to think of the whole timeline from the past to the present and the future, understand how the developments in the Big Three changed the oil industry, why and how strategies have changed, and what these changes mean. The report outlines the challenges faced by the Big Three, and takes a comprehensive look into the developments in the global oil market. The main issue observed by Dr. Yermakov in the report is how producer and exporter companies with different revenue needs and levels of financial resilience will reach an agreement.

Please click to read the report.

Sabancı University Vice President of Research and Development Şirin Tekinay was re-elected as a member of Board of Governors of the European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI) for a period of three years at the organization's General Assembly held on September 17, 2018.

Şirin Tekinay has been a member of the Board of Governors of Europe's largest communication network among actors in engineering education since 2015.  Last year, Tekinay helped Sabancı University become an institutional member of SEFI, which provides the university with priority in participating in SEFI publications, conferences and student organizations.

SEFI membership enables Sabancı University to look for top-level partners in European Union applications, like the Alumni and Career Office does in international internships, and brought our "Roots and Wings” education system a nomination for the Maffioli Award. Roots and Wings was shortlisted for the awards and provided us with a great opportunity to promote our university during the presentations of finalists at the SEFI Annual Conference in September 2018.

To revisit the news of Sabancı University's SEFI membership on February 13, 2018, click here  for the article "Sabancı University becomes a member of SEFI". 

Sabancı University Program for Undergraduate Research (PURE), is now accepting students for the 2018-2019 Fall Term. Application deadline for PURE 2018-2019 Fall Term is October 10, 2018.

To apply for a PURE 2018-2019 Fall Term Project, you need to register at PURE Website and select research projects offered by Sabancı University faculty members and researchers. Applicants will be assigned to projects on the basis of project supervisors' approval and applicants' project preferences. 

To register and login to PURE Website, you need to click on "My Account" at the upper right corner of the main page and follow the instructions. 

For 2018-2019 Fall Term Project List, please click here. 

For rules and regulations about PURE and detailed information, please visit the Application Page. 

For your questions, please contact pure@sabanciuniv.edu.

Times Higher Education (THE) revealed the 2019 World University Rankings. 1258 universities were evaluated this year, and Sabancı University was within the 351-400 bracket. While Sabancı was the highest-rated Turkish university in the rankings, 22 other Turkish universities were included.   

Times Higher Education (THE) revealed the 2019 World University Rankings. 23 Turkish universities entered the rankings this year. Sabancı University was ranked in the 351-400 bracket among 1258 universities from 77 countries, and was the highest-ranked among the 23 Turkish universities in the list.

The 23 Turkish universities and their respective brackets are: Sabancı University 351-400; Koç University 401 – 500; Bilkent, Boğaziçi and Hacettepe Universities 501 – 600; ITU and METU 601 – 800; Anadolu, Atılım, Erciyes, Gebze Technical and Istanbul Universities 801-1000; Akdeniz, Ankara, Bahçeşehir, Çukurova, Dokuz Eylül, Gazi, İYTE, Marmara, Ondokuz Mayıs, TOBB and Yeditepe Universities 1001+. 

The methodology of THE University Rankings assesses successful universities based on 13 performance indicators in teaching, research, citations, industry income and international outlook. 

The scope and weight of these five categories are provided below:

• Teaching: the learning environment (worth 30%)
• Research: volume, income and reputation (worth 30%)
• Citations: research influence (worth 30%)
• Industry Income: innovation (worth 2.5%)
• International Outlook: staff, students and research (worth 7.5%)

Sabancı University School of Management faculty member Mahmut Bayazıt was chosen to the editorial boards of a national and an international journal.

The international journal International Studies of Management & Organization is being published since 1971. The journal aims to make current empirical and theoretical contributions to management and organization.

The other journal that has Mahmut Bayazıt among its editors is the Psikoloji Çalışmaları Dergisi, the publication of the Istanbul University Psychology Department that has been in circulation since 1956. The journal publishes quantitative and qualitative empirical research in psychology and its branches.

The winners of the fifth Hakan Orbay Research Awards given by the Sabancı University School of Management in honor of faculty member Hakan Orbay who passed away in 2011 were chosen.

The Hakan Orbay Research Award for Young Researchers went to Assistant Professor Selman Erol from Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University with his paper titled “Network Hazard & Bailouts”. The winner of the PhD Student Award was The Wharton School, UPENN (Finance Department) PhD candidate Adrian Ayvan Çorum with “Activist Settlements”.

Organized by KAGİDER (Woman Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey) in association with Sabancı University and hosted by Boyner Holding, the “Project 15 Woman Entrepreneur Boot Camp” brought together 150 entrepreneurial women whose businesses are less than three years old.

Selected applicants were asked to complete the online KAGİDER Pusula training prior to joining the boot camp, where they attended training sessions by subject matter experts and successful woman entrepreneurs, and completed workshops. Participants were chosen among applicants whose businesses had a turnover of less than TL 1 million, and had not passed the critical threshold of three years in operation.

Oktar: ‘Our goal is to prepare woman entrepreneurs to the market’

The event held in association with Sabancı University and hosted by Boyner Holding on September 15 and 16 began with introductory remarks by KAGİDER Chair Sanem Oktar. Oktar stated the following: “Since established, KAGİDER has supported tens of thousands of women, and shown them the path to success in entrepreneurship. To celebrate our 15th year, this project aims to provide fifteen thousand women with remote access, while providing online training to 1500 women, and working on the business ideas of 150 women who would join the boot camp. Today, I'm delighted to have made the boot camp a reality. Our goal is to prepare woman entrepreneurs to the market. I believe we will expand the entrepreneurship map of Turkey with new and strong businesses built and grown bu women."

Also speaking in the event, KAGİDER Training and Mentorship Strategy Group President Seçil Şendağ emphasized the importance of networking: “This camp aims to make the long and difficult journey awaiting women a little easier. During your two days here, look in the eyes of your fellow journeyers; see each other, share your business ideas, build friendships. Because we women are far stronger when together."

15 chosen entrepreneurs will be supported

The event continued with a panel discussion titled "Growth Begins with Thinking Big: What Do Investors Expect?" moderated by Sanem Oktar, with speakers Armut.com founder Başak Taşdemir, Biolive (producer of bioplastics from olive stones) founding partner Duygu Yılmaz, and Vispera Bilişim Teknolojileri founding partner Aytül Erçil, followed by a networking session facilitated by training and development consultant Betül Bozkurt. The two-day event continued with training sessions by PDA founder Kılıç Arslantürk on “Gaining and Retaining Customers”, Sparkus.com founder Dani Benreytan on “Creative Thinking for Business Development Management”, Sabancı University School of Management faculty member Berna Beyhan on “Business Model Training”, marketing agency NBT (Next Big Think) Turkish representatives Çiğdem Çetinbaş and Hülya Çeltekoğlu on “Surviving in the Digital World”; a panel discussion moderated by Seçil Şendağ with speakers BEE’O founder Aslı Elif Tanuğur, Reeder founding partner Sezen Şaral and Suteks Group founder Nur Ger on “Internationalization and Being a Global Company”; a training on "Effective Presentation Skills" by Sabancı University SUCOOL Coordinator Naci Kahraman; and "Coach-Led Presentations" by KAGİDER members.

The participants of the “Project 15 Woman Entrepreneur Boot Camp" will submit their project dossiers including short videos where they describe their businesses between September 17 and 23. After an initial screening by the Pre-Selection Committee, the 15 woman entrepreneurs with brilliant business ideas will be announced by a jury panel composed of prominent businesspeople and investors of Turkey on October 15. The selected entrepreneurs will be provided various means of support. These include meetings with angel investors and the entrepreneurship ecosystem, public relations assistance, mentorship from KAGİDER members for six months, and support of the Advisory Board comprised by KAGİDER members who are experts in their respective fields.

The project was implemented with the proceeds from journalist Elif Ergu’s book "İlham Veren Kadınlar" published to commemorate the 15th year of KAGİDER, the 15th year celebration gala event held by KAGİDER, and the ticket sales of the play “Duyanlar Olsun” performed by KAGİDER members.

A research team including Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Member Ünal Ertan and Foundations Development Program Faculty Member Şirin Çalışkan observed an extended area of infrared emissions around a neutron star named RX J0806.4-4123 using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.   

The observation by Sabancı University faculty together with researchers at Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Arizona was published on Sept. 17, 2018, in the Astrophysical Journal. The research was supported by NASA, TÜBİTAK, the U.S. National Science Foundation, Pennsylvania State, the Penn State Eberly College of Science, and the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium.

This animation depicts a neutron star (RX J0806.4-4123) with a disk of warm dust that produces an infrared signature as detected by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Credits: NASA, ESA, and N. Tr’Ehnl (Pennsylvania State University)

Sabancı University Faculty Member Ünal Ertan said the following about their discovery: “Neutron stars are among the densest objects in the universe that we can observe directly. They have a radius of about 10 kilometers and the mass of a sun. This observation detected an area of infrared emissions that appears to be 30 billion kilometers in diameter and was never seen around a neutron star before. We receive continuous electromagnetic waves in infrared lengths from this area. In our study, we also attempted to explain the physical mechanism that produces this emission."

The researchers including Sabancı University faculty suggest two possibilities that could explain the extended infrared signal. The first is that there is a disk of material surrounding the neutron star after the supernova. In this model, the source of the emissions is the core of the disk that is closest to the star. Although the area is much smaller than the observed source, the infrared radiation generated there may scatter and reflect on the outer disks, which leads to an image that is the observed emission. The idea that such systems could have a disk surrounding them that would affect their evolution was first suggested by Sabancı University faculty member M. Ali Alpar in 2001.

The second possible explanation is a “pulsar wind nebula,” where particles are accelerated in the electrical field that is produced by the neutron star As the neutron star travels through the interstellar medium, a shock can form where the interstellar medium and the pulsar wind interact. The correct explanation may be discovered by the close observation of other sources in the future.

To read further on the topic on the NASA website, please click here.  

Sabancı University Civic Involvement Projects and the Municipality of Ahmetbey collaborated for the implementation of a Discover Yourself Project in the Ahmetbey township of Lüleburgaz.

Sabancı University, in association with students from other universities, has been undertaking Discover Yourself Projects aimed at primary school students in provinces other than Istanbul for 18 years. 

A Discover Yourself Project was implemented at the Lüleburgaz Ahmetbey Cumhuriyet Primary School between September 1 and 14, 2018 with the participation of 12 volunteer university students.

Discover Yourself Projects are a part of the required Civic Involvement Projects at Sabancı University, and enable both primary school and university students to gain experiences that they will cherish for a lifetime.

Volunteer university students worked with the 3rd to 7th grade students of Ahmetbey Cumhuriyet Primary School to engage them in a series of activities designed to help them learn while having fun, from creative drama to art skills, communication etiquette and cultural interaction. The Discover Yourself Project concluded with the Sun Day event.

The project was sponsored by the Municipality of Ahmetbey.