21/05/2026
The International Staff Week, organized by the Sabancı University International Relations Office within the framework of the Erasmus+ project, was successfully held on our campus between May 11–15, 2026. Concurrently, our campus also hosted the GE4 Annual Meeting, a network of which the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS) is a member. Throughout these two events, we had the pleasure of welcoming over 75 international participants from 25 different countries to our campus.
Organized under the theme “Bridging Cultures, Shaping Futures: Global Learning in an AI-Driven World,” this year's IRO Staff Week and GE4 Annual Meeting served as a highly productive gathering, strengthening intercultural interaction and focusing on the future of global learning in the age of artificial intelligence.
Both events kicked off with a joint opening session. The welcome message of the program was delivered by Isabella Dufour-Baumgartner, President of GE4. Following the welcome, Prof. Dr. Erkay Savaş, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Sabancı University, took the stage as the keynote speaker, delivering an insightful presentation titled “Global Learning in an AI Era.”
As part of the program, a panel discussion titled the “Global Leadership Forum”—sharing its name with the main theme of the event—was also held. Moderated by Dr. İnanç Arın from FENS, the panel featured our Vice President Prof. Dr. Cem Güneri, Prof. Dr. Olgun Çiçek (INQAAHE), and Nils Albert (GE4 International Advisory Board) as speakers, who engaged in an inspiring discussion on the future of global education and leadership.
Organized in cooperation with Koç University—as it was last year—the IRO Staff Week brought together academic and administrative staff members, mostly working in the field of internationalization, from countries including France, Poland, Italy, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Jordan, Lithuania, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Ireland, Finland, and South Africa. Within the scope of the program, participants from Koç University visited the Sabancı University campus on Thursday, May 14, while SU representatives attended the events held at Koç University on Tuesday, May 12. Additionally, alongside the campus tours included in the program, the guests had the opportunity to discover the city through a specially organized Istanbul tour.
During the IRO Staff Week sessions, our Vice President Prof. Dr. Cem Güneri shared Sabancı University’s education and research policies, as well as the activities of the International Relations Office, highlighting our university’s goals within its internationalization strategy.
Faculty and staff members further contributed to the event with the following sessions: Zafer Gedik from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences with “Creativity vs Standardization in Education”; Hüseyin Sungur Kuyumcuoğlu from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with “Beyond the Algorithm: Philosophical Perspectives on the Future of AI”; Ayşe Gözde Kurtuluş from the School of Languages with “A Taster Session of Turkish: Survival Phrases & Culture”; CIP Manager Zeynep Bahar with “Empowerment in Action: Unveiling Civic Involvement Projects at SU”; and Entrepreneurship and Business Development Manager Evren Değerliler with “SU's Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: SUCool."
Participant Testimonials:
Axhèle N'Gueta- EDC Paris Business School, France:
Wrapping up my Erasmus experience in Istanbul atSabancı University
A big thank you to the entire university team for their warm welcome, the enriching exchanges, and the incredible conferences we had the chance to attend ..This experience has been truly eye-opening,
both academically and personally. Grateful for every moment 🤍Until next time Istanbul ✨
Elisa Laurano- Università di Torino, Italy:
I had the opportunity to experience Erasmus as a student, and this was my first Erasmus experience as a staff member. Once again, it confirmed how powerful and enriching this kind of experience can be. A university is not simply a place where students go to learn notions and concepts; it is much more than that. It is a space for growth, exchange, and connection, also for those who work there. Having this experience in a city like Istanbul has been truly indescribable. It is a unique city where you can see and feel the traces of all the civilizations that have passed through it and shaped its history. I really hope to come back soon to enjoy this extraordinary city again, meet all the wonderful people who live here, and eat another hundred simits.
Hiba Abu Khader, The University of Jordan, Jordan:
At the end of this wonderful week, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone responsible for organizing this amazing staff week, which was filled with valuable experiences, unforgettable memories, and meaningful moments. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the distinguished staff of Sabancı University, who paid attention to even the smallest details, ensured our comfort at all times, and facilitated every necessary service. Their kindness and dedication truly made us feel as if we were in our second home, Türkiye. In addition, I would like to mention the special group of people I had the pleasure of meeting during this week. They were incredibly kind and wonderful, and the conversations we shared opened new horizons of knowledge, understanding, and cultural exchange.
Nordin Yahaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia:
A huge thank you to Sabancı University for an exceptionally well-organized event. The intense discourse in the seminar rooms was wonderful, and experiencing the majestic city of Istanbul, especially during last night’s memorable gala dinner, will stay with us for a very long time.
