01/10/2026
Members of the Sabancı University International Board of Overseers (IBO) gathered for a meeting held at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum on September 25–26, 2026. The meeting addressed the university's current status and future strategies, evaluating a wide range of topics, from global developments and the future of higher education to artificial intelligence and internationalization.
Attendees included Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Hayri Çulhacı; Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici; Board of Trustees members Melisa Sabancı Tapan, Şerafettin Karakış, and Agâh Uğur; and International Board of Overseers (IBO) members Robert Armstrong, Waquih S. Ishak, Dil Sidhu, Ayşe Kıvılcım Coşkun, Ling San, Bernhard Lorentz, Şerif Kaynar, and Cem Sertoğlu.
Also participating in the meeting were Ece Kamar (Turing CTO, former Microsoft Corporate Vice President, and Sabancı University Adjunct Faculty member); Cem Güneri (Vice President for Education); Mehmet Yıldız (Vice President for Research and Development); Aykut Gümüşlüoğlu (Sabancı University Secretary General); Emre Erdem (Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences); Senem Aydın-Düzgit (Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences); Ayşegül Toker (Dean of Sabancı Business School); Melis Orhan (Director of Institutional Communications); and Emrehan Aktuğ (Faculty Member, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).
The First Day Began with a Speech by Dil Sidhu
The International Board of Overseers 2026 program commenced on Friday, September 25, with an opening address by Prof. Dil Sidhu, a member of the Sabancı University International Board of Overseers and a faculty member at the University of Cambridge.
During the session held on Saturday, September 26, discussions covered the global agenda, higher education, and artificial intelligence, alongside assessments regarding the future of Sabancı University.
The University’s Current Status and Strategic Outlook Were Discussed
In the day's first session, Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabancı University, and Emrehan Aktuğ, a faculty member of the same faculty, evaluated current global developments and the outlook for the future in their presentation titled "The Current Global Situation and a Look into the Future."
Subsequently, Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici delivered a speech titled "The University’s Current Status and Strategic Outlook." Leblebici shared the university's current standing and its strategic approach for the upcoming period with the IBO members. Following the presentation, the floor was opened for questions and comments from the IBO members.
The program continued with a speech by Ling San, a member of the Sabancı University International Board of Overseers and a representative of Nanyang Technological University, titled "Building Excellence, Resilience, and Growth in a Rapidly Changing World." San addressed the themes of excellence, resilience, and growth within the context of a rapidly changing world.
The Future of Higher Education Discussed with Deans
In another key segment of the meeting, the deans of Sabancı University’s three faculties came together. The future of higher education was addressed under the theme "The Future of Higher Education" during a roundtable discussion featuring Emre Erdem, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences; Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Ayşegül Toker, Dean of Sabancı Business School.
Following the roundtable, Ece Kamar, Turing CTO, former Microsoft Corporate Vice President, and Sabancı University Adjunct Faculty member, delivered a talk titled "What Is Happening in Artificial Intelligence and What Does This Mean for the Future?". Kamar discussed developments in the field of artificial intelligence and the implications of this transformation for the future. After the presentation, IBO members shared their views and assessments.
Topics Regarding the Future of Sabancı University Evaluated
In the afternoon session of the program, a closed session was held with the participation of the International Board of Overseers (IBO) members. During the session, views and suggestions aimed at further strengthening Sabancı University’s position as a world-class institution were discussed.
Key topics highlighted in the IBO members' assessments included strengthening the ties between professional education and the business world, developing co-op programs that allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in professional work environments, expanding scholarship opportunities and resource development efforts, and reinforcing the bonds between alumni and the University.
Members of the International Board of Overseers highlighted Sabancı University’s structure, which enables the provision of unique learning experiences for students, as one of the university’s distinguishing characteristics. Views were also shared regarding ways to make the strength of the academic staff more visible and to further develop the university’s structure, which allows it to rapidly adapt to a changing world.
The meeting concluded with the views and assessments of the IBO members regarding Sabancı University’s future activities.
