To celebrate the 20th year of our university, we have prepared a set of four questions to ask faculty and administrative personnel who have been with us since the beginning, and to our first students. They all tell "the story of 20 years" from their own perspectives.
Going in alphabetical order, this week's interviewee for "The Story of 20 Years" is Selim Birsel.
Selim Birsel has been a member of the Sabancı University family since 4 January 1999. He has been working as a faculty member at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Sabancı University for 21 years.
Selim Birsel’s answers to our four questions are below.
What was your initial memory / impression of when you met Sabancı University for the first time?
S.B: When I first started working at Sabancı University, the entire university was located in our Minerva Han building in Karaköy, each floor was allocated to a faculty. The first meeting I attended was a university meeting organized by our Rector Mr. (Tosun) Terzioğlu after New Year, and all of us could fit in a meeting room. We were just a bunch of people. In 1999, we were working for a university that would open that year, it was not just a plan anymore.
What are the differences between yourself 20 years ago and yourself today, and how did Sabancı University contribute to that change?
S.B: 20 years ago, I was younger, of course. I also remember being inexperienced in some areas. In the following years, I have gained experience in many areas and had the opportunity to realize some of my dreams.
What comes into your mind when you think of Sabancı University in 20 years? What are your dreams for Sabancı University for the next 20 years? What about yourself?
S.B: High-quality and responsible individuals who can think for themselves. I dream of a university that can serve as an example in the world and be among the first preferences of those who pursue a higher education. 20 years from now, I will not be working at the university anymore. I think I can imagine that I will be somewhere in the field, where I can do my research, my art, which gives me peace of mind, maybe I can fish sometimes.
Where and how would you be now if your paths hadn't crossed with Sabancı University?
S.B: It is very difficult for me to answer that question.
I think I would rather look ahead and forward than think about my life in the past.