Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı speaking at the Sabancı University Commencement Ceremony:

• You will live to be 100. You must develop and plan your resources for a life of 100 years.
• In an age when humanoid robots are being built, you must avoid becoming roboticized humans!
• Make your feelings an integral part of your thinking and reasoning.
• Your consciousness and conscience will be your greatest advantages in competition.
• One common feature of all successful people is their perspective on life.
• Regardless of what job you do, you must love it and want to do it. Your measure of success cannot be money alone.
• True wealth and true success is the positive effect we have on people's lives.  

900 students from 30 countries received their degrees at the 18th Graduate and 15th Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony held on the Sabancı University campus.

On Saturday, July 1st, 2017, Sabancı University held the commencement ceremony for its 18th graduate and 15th undergraduate classes. Graduates received their diplomas at a ceremony on the Tuzla campus of the university, attended by over 6000 people. The top ranking students of the three faculties also received their awards. Winners were Fulya Türker in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Lina Meija Peroni in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Elif Ertürk in the School of Management. Among Sabancı University graduates this year were students from 30 countries.                              

Speaking in the ceremony were Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and President Professor Ayşe Kadıoğlu as well as Gökçe Karşılıklı Haliler on behalf of graduate students, Tanra Gürçay on behalf of undergraduate students, and Sabancı University Alumni Association President Zeynep Bahar Çelik.

You must constantly develop your resources of knowledge and competency, and plan yourself for a life of 100 years

Güler Sabancı began by saying: “You are at an important turning point for your lives ahead of you. You have worked and you have succeeded in completing a difficult phase. A new era begins today, and I wish you all success in it."

Sabancı added that while having talent, competence and knowledge was the start of the road to success, luck also played a part in it. Reminding Louis Pasteur's words "Fortune favors the prepared mind", Güler Sabancı said that the graduates of Sabancı University were already prepared.

Güler Sabancı said that the transformative effects of science and technology, from artificial intelligence to robots, were felt in every aspect of our lives, and extended the average life expectancy of humans. She emphasized the need to make longer-term plans compared to previous generations. Sabancı said, "You must constantly develop your resources of knowledge and competency, and plan yourself for a life of 100 years."

Sabancı explained that while in the agricultural society one could live a lifetime on the knowledge they inherited from their parents only, and going to university was enough for finding a good job and cruising until a comfortable retirement in the industrial age, no school could give the knowledge an individual will need until the end of their life today. Güler Sabancı expressed her confidence that, since the knowledge and competencies taught in schools could only be foundations for people's careers in business, graduates would find their ways back to Sabancı University in the future.

Güler Sabancı added that today's graduates would work for more than 50 years, having enough time for 2 or 3 different careers, and considering the wealth of experiences that would bring, it was impossible to transfer an exhaustive body of advice or experience to the younger generations.

One common feature of all successful people is their perspective on life

Güler Sabancı said that all successful people had a common feature, which was their perspective on the world. Sabancı continued: "They consult, they question, they inquire, they do their homework and approach things with an open mind; they are constructive and solution-oriented, they plan their resources well, and they focus on getting results. Most important of all, successful people always strive to improve the capabilities and possibilities given to them."

Güler Sabancı remarked, “This perspective also includes being open to learning, enthusiastic to reinvent or develop oneself, and being diverse in capabilities. There is also the propensity to view life as a journey in learning, development and maturation, where one always develops and goes further. Because they know one thing very well: what matters is not what you have today, but what you choose to do with it."

Continuing "What you encounter is less important than how you handle it," Güler Sabancı said: "If you look at life with a mindset that is focused on development, you can go beyond what has been provided to you. Remember that your success and happiness will be defined by how you build on top of what you have today. The good news is that you have been raised at Sabancı University with the necessary competencies and this mindset."

We aimed to equip our students with a development-focused mindset

Emphasizing that Sabancı University aims to help its students acquire a mindset that is focused on development, Sabancı said that students at Sabancı University did not merely learn a science or a profession, but were raised to become individuals who adopt universal values such as human rights, equality and rule of law, have common sense, believe in the power of knowledge, and manage their feelings with conscience and consciousness. She underlined the focus on "learning to learn" at Sabancı University. Güler Sabancı continued: “The values and competencies you have acquired here will light your way in whatever path in life that you will follow."

In an age when humanoid robots are being built, you must avoid becoming roboticized humans!

Güler Sabancı said “We can see even today that artificial intelligence will transform work and business as we know it, and will shake the roots of social equilibrium. We can foresee that in 20 years, many of the professions and jobs available today will be done by robots, or learning machines."

Explaining that emotions set sentient beings apart from robots, Güler Sabancı said that what set humans apart from other species was their awareness of emotions and their ability to manage them. That, according to Sabancı, was the reason why no robot or artificial intelligence was able to replace human consciousness. Sabancı said, "In an age when humanoid robots are being built, you must avoid becoming roboticized humans"

and gave advice to new graduates:

• "In the new social order that awaits you, you must be aware of your emotions and work on how to manage them.
• Make your feelings an integral part of your thinking and reasoning.
• Your consciousness and conscience will be your greatest advantages in competition.
• At this stage, my advice is regardless of what job you do, you must love it and want to do it.
• Your measure of success cannot be money alone.
• To do this, the work you do should have a purpose that goes beyond it.
• Money is of course important, and every human is entitled to enjoy the comforts of life, but none of those are the true measures of success in one's life.
• People remember you not by how much money you make, but how you spend it.
• I will also recommend the book 'Başarı Şimdi Aslanın Ağzında' by the late Sakıp Sabancı.
• As we say our goodbyes, there is one thing I want you to remember: 'True wealth and true success is the positive effect we have on people's lives.'"

“We keep building bridges”

President Ayşe Kadıoğlu said that in nearly 20 years of education, Sabancı University brought a fresh perspective to higher education in Turkey with its pioneering and innovative endeavors. Ayşe Kadıoğlu continued, “We are the first university in Turkey that allowed its students to enroll to a faculty and later make well-informed choices about their diploma programs, and we have set an example to other universities in Turkey."

Referring to the Composites Center established last year in an impressive university-industry partnership, Kadıoğlu said that other centers working in collaboration with different institutions made great contributions to research and education. She added that the first English-language PhD program in gender studies in Turkey would begin in September under the guidance of the Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence. Kadıoğlu continued, "I would like to share some good news that is of interest to us all: we have begun work on opening a new location, Sabancı University Maçka. We intend to create connections and develop new ways of cooperation there. We are also working towards establishing a Sakıp Sabancı Chair and Center in Turkish Studies at Columbia University. We will keep building bridges." 

"Sabancı University has always favored freedom over free rein"

Ayşe Kadıoğlu said that a diploma was the certification of an ending, continuing, "Regardless of how important that ending is, the means or the process that took us to that end matter more. The adventurous journey of learning and knowledge holds just as much, if not more, meaning as the end." Kadıoğlu stated that it was through this process that students acquired some values unique to Sabancı University.

 "Knowledge may not free the body all the time, but it frees the mind"

Ayşe Kadıoğlu spoke, “First and foremost, Sabancı University alumni know exactly what freedom is. There is a great difference between freedom and free rein. Since established, Sabancı University has favored freedom and informed choices over free rein. Knowledge may not free the body all the time, but it frees the mind. And you graduate today as free minds who know the difference between being free and doing as you please."

Kadıoğlu continued, “Secondly, it has always been our priority to stand against all discrimination and respect all differences. I am sure that you will do your part for a better country and a better world by upholding these values in your everyday lives."

Ayşe Kadıoğlu said that students met scientific thought for the first time in Sabancı University, continuing, "What makes a thought scientific is its being open to verification; this requires being receptive to criticism and the coexistence of self-confidence and humility."

Ayşe Kadıoğlu concluded by saying: “Criticism is not about destruction; it is about construction. Make sure that your critical thinking has a constructive side to it. You are capable of doing this because you are Sabancı University graduates."

Gürsel Sönmez Awards presented to 3 graduates

Awards in honor of the late Sabancı University Faculty Member Gürsel Sönmez, who passed away in 2006, were presented at the ceremony. This year's Dr. Gürsel Sönmez Research Award recipients were Physics PhD graduate Tolga Çağlar, Industrial Engineering master's graduate Rebi Daldal and Mathematics master's graduate Seyyed Hamed Mousavi.

Hat-tossing 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.

Sabancı University's continuous work on gender reaches a new height with the inauguration of the Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Center, Sabancı University Acting President Ayşe Kadıoğlu and Center Director Ayşe Gül Altınay discussed the university's work on the subject since 2006 and its projects planned for the future.

The Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence (SU Gender) opens a new page in gender studies in the university.  The opening event of the Center was held at the Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum on Wednesday, May 31. Studies undertaken to draw attention to gender relations and equality as an important component of social life since 2006 will be taken to further levels under the guidance of the Center.

Academics, civil society and business leaders met at the opening
Introductory remarks of the event hosted by Sabancı University Acting President Ayşe Kadıoğlu were delivered by Ayşe Kadıoğlu and Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence Director Ayşe Gül Altınay.  Introductory remarks were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Ayşe Öncü. Speakers in the panel were the Center's Advisory Board members Yeşim Arat from Boğaziçi University, Kenan Çayır from Istanbul Bilgi University, Sociologist and Istanbul Women's Museum Curator Meral Akkent, KAGİDER Chair Sanem Oktar, and prominent gender author Karin Karakaşlı.

Ayşe Kadıoğlu: “Becoming a Center raises the stakes”
Delivering introductory remarks to the event, Sabancı University Acting President Ayşe Kadıoğlu began by saying that the Center was a prolific organization that conducted diverse activities ranging from landmark programs like the Purple Certificate Program to street events.

Kadıoğlu explained that the Center's participatory approach to expansion was compatible with the way Sabancı University preferred to work. Kadıoğlu said that the Forum was able to expand into a Center thanks to the accumulation of experience and knowledge through activities like the Purple Certificate Program. Saying that becoming a Center raised the stakes, Kadıoğlu informed the audience that Sabancı University would be launching the first English-language international PhD program on gender.  According to Kadıoğlu, this will be an encouragement for other PhD programs.

“Women's demand for equality needs respect, not love”
Ayşe Kadıoğlu said that the focal point of women's demand for gender equality was respect rather than love, reminding the audience that women suffered the most violence at the hands of their loved ones. Referring to Hannah Arendt’s concept of "the banality of evil", Kadıoğlu said that evil was always closer than it appeared, and concluded “Men who subject women to violence define them using widespread social codes such as 'Women are flowers, they are vulnerable; they are not safe in the street at night.' That is why women who want equality rather than being protected and guarded will be in the streets and squares more than ever."

“We combat discrimination and defend pluralism, participation, and openness of knowledge”

Also speaking in the event, Center Director Ayşe Gül Altınay delivered a presentation outlining the history, work and principles of the Center.

Ayşe Gül Altınay emphasized that the Center's purpose and principle had been combating all forms of discrimination in social and personal affairs since the beginning. Altınay said that the Center built processes and initiatives designed to enrich social accumulation in a way that was compatible with the academic principles of Sabancı University.

Speaking of activities like the Purple Certificate Program and Gendered Steps, Altınay said that they supported the development of joint decision mechanisms, solidarity, creativity, and accessibility of information both within the Center and among the general population, and that they strove to create platforms which would enable interaction between academic, civil society, artistic and political circles.

The transformative effect of gender awareness
Introductory remarks were followed by a panel discussion with members of the Center's Advisory Board. Panelists shared their thoughts on the difference enabled by gender studies in their areas of involvement, and the transformative effects of gender awareness. They also shared personal stories of the difference that gender awareness made in their lives. 

The closing meeting of the "Green Climate, Green Economy" project implemented by Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center, Green Thinking Society and the Green European Foundation, and the presentation of the project's final output, the "Green Economic Policies for the Climate" report, were held at the Minerva Han in Karaköy on Thursday, June 1, 2017.

Following introductory remarks by Project Coordinator Özgecan Kara from the Green Thinking Society and Project Scientific Coordinator Ümit Şahin from Istanbul Policy Center, the report was presented by principal author Ahmet Atıl Aşıcı.

The joint project by three institutions that work on various aspects of climate change and develop policies makes policy recommendations under three headings: climate-friendly city, climate-friendly energy, and climate-friendly soil. The report recommends that renewable energy is integrated into urban transformation projects and regulatory obstructions are removed, legislation for restorative agriculture is adopted, incentives are provided for passive buildings which minimize energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the Metropolitan Law numbered 6360 is revised and city centers are planned in a way that enables commuting on bicycles. Other contributors of the project were consultants Sevil Acar from Kemerburgaz University, Osman Balaban from METU, Barış Karapınar from Boğaziçi University, and Ateş Uğurel from Solarbaba.

“There is a general opinion that the cost of climate change prevention is too high”
In her introductory remarks, Green Thinking Society Project Coordinator Özgecan Kara discussed the meetings held for drafting the report, as well as the contributions of interviewed individuals and the participatory nature of the project.

Istanbul Policy Center Project Scientific Coordinator Ümit Şahin said that there was a prevalent general opinion that the cost of solutions to climate change was too high to be paid. Şahin said, “We must publish analyses which show the economic backing to proposed solutions in order to change popular opinion. The report we present today is in a way the sequel of the Low-Carbon Development Ways and Priorities Report issued previously by Istanbul Policy Center."

“Holistic policies are needed for sustainability”
Istanbul Technical University professor and the report's principal author Ahmet Atıl Aşıcı said that Turkey had one of the highest rates of increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Aşıcı argued that the transition to a green economy had to be achieved with a reduction in the government's weight in the economy and expansion of its regulatory role. Discussing preferences in economic policy, Aşıcı emphasized the importance of following holistic policies to achieve economic and ecological sustainability.

“There are obstacles to transformation”
Ahmet Atıl Aşıcı said the following about the obstacles to transitioning to a green economy: “The greatest obstacle is incentivizing fossil fuels. The objectives of the Ministries of Energy and Agriculture clash due to fragmented approaches. Decision-making processes, policies and strategies are determined and implemented in non-participatory ways, which create conflicts of interest."

Decentralized, renewable energy solutions, commodization of the city, and investment in soil

Sevil Acar from Kemerburgaz University said that the green economy advocated by the project was small-scale and decentralized, being founded on participatory mechanisms. Acar said, “Turkey is ideally positioned for the transformation to green economy. It has a dynamic private sector and there is great interest in renewable energy contracts."

Osman Balaban, a consultant in the project, commented “We need a decentralization program that increases the power available to local administrations and strengthens their financial structure. We also need to change our perspective on urban transformation."

Barış Karapınar discussed the importance and potential of soil in combating climate change. Saying that the potential was not fully utilized, Karapınar continued: “Investments that will improve the organic matter content of soil are effective in retaining carbon, and are cheaper. These investments can also improve soil fertility.”

Also speaking of unprocessed agriculture, Karapınar said that shallow farming increased the soil's water retention rate, biodiversity, and carbon retention ability.  Karapınar noted that soil had great potential in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, and invited less political debate.

A patent application was filed for the Continuous Surgical Stapler developed by Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Mechatronic Engineering faculty member Meltem Elitaş and Mechatronic Engineering 2016 bachelor's graduate and Materials Science and Nanoengineering master's student Hilal Şenuysal.  

The continuous stapler can be used in minimally invasive procedures like laparoscopic surgery, and compared to conventional staplers, it eliminates the need to replace staple cartridges after each use, and allows for continuous stapling without taking the stapler away from the patient during surgery.

As a more profitable, faster, more precise alternative to conventional surgical staplers, the user-friendly device won first prize in the 8th Surgical Research Congress held by the Turkish Surgical Society in 2015.

The development of the Continuous Surgical Stapler was supported by general surgery specialist Associate Professor Tuğrul Tansuğ, MD. 

Sabancı University Executive Development Unit – EDU completed a "Business Leadership" program available to the general public in order to share the collective knowledge and experience with wider audiences and provide reliable support to professionals who believe in continuous development. Participants received their certificates on Saturday, June 17, 2017.

The Business Leadership program held by Sabancı University Executive Development Unit - EDU from February 25 to June 17, 2017 aimed to help managers utilize their own potential and tap into the potential of their teams, and develop their leadership skills to turn them into teams of excellent employee satisfaction and performance.

Designed for individuals who currently have or aspiring to gain manager- or leader-level responsibilities, the program blended theoretical information about leadership in business and other aspects of life with applied exercises and group coaching to support development.

The program consisted of three modules: "Trust- and Cooperation-Based Leadership", "Emotion and Conflict Management" and "Problem Solving at the System Level". All three modules included sessions of Group Coaching.

Sabancı University Microelectronic Engineering 2005 bachelor's and Industry Leaders Electronic Engineering and Computer Science 2007 master's graduate Ergi Şener gives trainings on Mobile Technology Trends and Mobile Innovation.

The first of the trainings aimed towards individuals seeking to integrate mobile technologies to business, make a difference with novel technologies, and learn more about technology applications was given to Türk Telekom employees and sales teams.

Another session was held on May 24, 2017 at the Karaköy Minerva Han to address subjects such as the latest situation in new mobile technologies, notable areas of application, methods of integrating technologies with workflows, the right innovation approach, reading technology accurately, gain competitive advantage through technology, and develop an understanding of benchmarks in the leading fields of application worldwide.

We commend our graduate for his achievements and wish him further success in the future.

İLKO Pharmaceuticals and Sabancı University receive TÜBİTAK support for biotechnological drug project

Scientists from İLKO and Sabancı University received TÜBİTAK support for their project to develop a domestic biogeneric drug molecule to be used in cancer treatment.

The SİMAB Project co-developed by İLKO Pharmaceuticals and Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) to produce domestic biogeneric drugs for cancer treatment received TÜBİTAK support as part of the Public Institution Research and Development Project Support Program (1007).

At the end of the 4-year project, Turkey will become a key player in the biotechnology market, currently regarded the future of the global pharmaceutical industry, and Turkey's import dependence on cancer drugs will decrease, which will translate to a contribution to the national economy.

The biotechnological product that will emerge at the end of the project will be applicable to the treatment of prevalent types of cancer in Turkey, including cancers of the colon, lungs, ovaries, cervix, and kidneys. 

 ‘Generic drugs cost TL 162 million of public funds’

Speaking on their collaboration with Sabancı University for the future of Turkey, İLKO Pharmaceuticals General Manager Hatice Öncel said, ‘The Turkish pharmaceutical industry must keep up with the latest developments and technologies in biotechnological drugs to achieve international quality standards and a competitive position in the global pharmaceutical market.'

Explaining that they had established Turkey's first international biotechnology research, development, production and marketing investment İLKOGEN with South Korean Genexine in 2014, Öncel continued:

‘The future of the global pharmaceutical market depends on next-generation biotechnological drugs. Biotech drugs comprise a global market of 232.5 billion dollars, and the market is expected to grow 10% annually for the next three decades. Currently, close to 60 biopharmaceuticals are available in Turkey, and all of them are imported. The share of biotechnological drugs in all prescribed drugs was 17% in 2016. Encouraging domestic production in this area will reduce import dependency, improve employment opportunities in the industry, and contribute to the national economy. The generic drug for the pharmaceutical we will develop with Sabancı University costs TL 162 million of public funds. When this product is developed locally, the budget will be relieved of a significant burden. Once the product is developed and marketed, we will be able to export it as well, which will be an additional boost to the economy.' 

‘We will be able to produce molecules of our own discovery in the long term’

Assistant Professor Dr. Tolga Sütlü, a Sabancı University graduate and a researcher of the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center representing the public partner in the project, said:

"Biotechnological pharmaceuticals have only recently become possible thanks to the development in molecular biology. This group of drugs is designed using genetic engineering techniques to target tumor cells and other molecules confirmed to be associated with these cells in the treatment of cancer. The drug that we will produce has proven efficacy in the treatment of colon, lung, ovarian, cervix and renal cancers.  Since they are protein structures, biotechnological products cannot be produced by chemical synthesis as in conventional drugs; the only way to make them is to genetically program cells manufactured in laboratories to produce this protein molecule. The project will use mammal cells instead of micro-organisms to ensure that protein molecules are compatible with and safe for humans. This production technology is currently not available in Turkey, and production is limited to developed countries only. The R&D facilities and knowhow we will acquire as a result of this project will play a leading role in developing our competency in producing these drugs. An important next step will be producing drug molecules that are of our own discovery."

 Sabancı University ranked between 461st and 470th on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, one of the world's most prestigious university rankings.

London-based higher education ranking institution QS announced its “World University Rankings 2017/2018”. Sabancı University ranked between 461st and 470th on the QS World University Rankings, one of the world's most prestigious university rankings. The rankings evaluates more than 1000 universities worldwide on six indicators based on four criteria determined to be relevant to prospective students, namely research, teaching quality, employability and international outlook. 

Four of the indicators are based on “hard” data, and the remaining two on major global surveys – one of academics and another of employers. The weight of the indicators based on hard data are 20% for student-to-faculty ratio; 20% for citations per faculty; 5% for international faculty ratio and 5% for international student ratio.  The weight of the survey indicators are 40% academic reputation and 10% for employer reputation. 

Turkish universities featured in the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings 2017/2018 were Bilkent University, Sabancı University, Koç University, Middle East Technical University and Boğaziçi University. 

Sabancı University FENS Faculty Member Özge Akbulut, replied WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Magazine's questions about her work and the challenges of innovation in an emerging economy

Please click to read Özge Akbulut's interview on WIPO magazine titled as "Smart solutions to global challenges: the quest of a Turkish inventor".

June 6th ELAE result code explanations are as follows:

SL (Satisfactory in the ELAE): indicates students who have received the required grade or above in the June 6th ELAE.

EL: (Exempt from the ELAE): indicates students who are exempt from the June 6th ELAE.

UL (Unsatisfactory in the ELAE): indicates students who have not been able to obtain the required grade in the ELAE.

NA (Non-attendance): indicates students who did not attend the exam and is equivalent to a “UL” grade.

Grade bands are as below:

 Postgraduate candidates who have taken the June 6th ELAE will be informed of their results by their faculties.

 Students who hold their right to study at FDY Summer School as a result of their end of course results and/or ELAE results will  automatically be registered to the Summer School.

 Those students who hold their right to study at School of Languages Summer School but do not wish to study at the Foundation  Development Year Programme have to complete “Application Form to Study Outside FDY”, and hand in the form to the School of  Languages Admin Office by12:00 on 14th June, 2017. A photo of the completed form can also be sent to aslituan@sabanciuniv.edu on the condition that the original forms are submitted at a later date.

 Click for the “Application Form to Study Outside FDY”

 Please see the link for your ELAE results.

 We wish you success in your studies,

 The School of Languages Directorate