Sabancı University won a number of prizes in the "Woman Technology Leaders Competition" held by Microsoft to recognize women working on technology in Turkey. Nominees for the 9 awards included a Sabancı University student, and the awards were presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at the Microsoft Turkey office.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Computer Science and Engineering final year student İpek Ganiyusufoğlu was a finalist in the “Emerging Technology Stars” category. Winners were FENS faculty member Esra Erdem in the “Woman Leader Making a Difference with New Technologies” category, and Sabancı University Vice President of Research and Development Şirin Tekinay in the “Woman Instructor of the Year” category.
FENS faculty member Esra Erdem won her award with the physiotherapy project she developed using artificial intelligence and robotic systems. The Woman Leader Making a Difference with New Technologies category is designed to recognize women who make a difference with the technology solutions they develop, and lead successful projects.
The Woman Instructor of the Year Award won by Vice President of Research and Development Şirin Tekinay with her Holistic Engineering Education project recognizes woman faculty members who make significant contributions to the transformation of Turkey to an information-producing society rather than an information-consuming society, pave the way for the education of young generations and a qualified workforce, and make an impression on the society with their contributions. Şirin Tekinay supports education and research through her efforts to rethink engineering education in a holistic perspective that brings science, technology, art, design and entrepreneurship together with a vision to disseminate innovation beyond higher education and into primary and secondary schools, ultimately achieving a leap in society's access to technology.