Dr. Birtan Demirel (35), who developed a fluency disorder at the age of 8 and could not fully overcome it despite many attempts, earned a PhD from the world-renowned University of Oxford without giving up in the face of difficulties. Refusing to give in to despair and never abandoning his dreams, Demirel achieved a historic success by earning a doctorate in experimental psychology from Oxford University after completing his education in brand communication at Izmir University of Economics (IUE). Proud to graduate from Oxford, a school where Albert Einstein taught and famous figures like Oscar Wilde and J.R.R. Tolkien studied, Demirel focused his research on ‘fluency disorders’ to inspire others who face similar challenges. Having written his master’s and doctoral theses on this subject and taken part in various projects, Demirel said: “My greatest goal is to find a solution to this problem and contribute to science.”
Thanks to the postgraduate education they received at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), İrem Cabbaroğlu, Melike Demirbağ Kaplan, İsmail Karabaş, and Uğur Turan opened up to the world, transcending continents with their achievements and becoming a source of pride for Turkey. The inspiring life stories of these IUE alumni have taken them from Izmir to Germany, New York, and many other parts of the world, establishing them as exemplary professionals.
Students from the Department of Genetics and Bioengineering at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) have become the top choices of world-renowned universities thanks to their outstanding achievements. Ece Beril Dağdelen, who became a sought-after candidate by European universities immediately after graduating this year, was accepted into Imperial College London in the UK for her master’s degree, while Yaren Derbent was accepted into Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.
After graduating from the Department of English Translation and Interpreting at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), Aybüke Cihan (25) chose South Korea for her master’s studies and quickly gained popularity with her achievements. Pursuing her education in the field of ‘linguistics’ with a scholarship, Cihan won first place in the Korean Speaking Contest organized by The Korea Times newspaper. Cihan, who made a speech on the cultural similarities between Turkey and South Korea, recorded it on video, and submitted it for the competition. Standing out with her command of the Korean language and her effective speaking skills, she outperformed all other contestants.
Can Arıkan and Cenker Karagöz, who graduated from Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Faculty of Business, Department of Political Science and International Relations this year, have been awarded the ‘Jean Monnet’ scholarship, given to a select number of young individuals by the European Union. Arıkan and Karagöz will pursue master's degrees for one year at Spain’s and the Netherlands’ most prestigious universities. Of the successful students, Arıkan will specialize in sustainability management at Esade University, while Karagöz will specialize in sustainability science, policy, and society at Maastricht University.
Zeynep İrem Yörü and Hasan Can Özdemir, who graduated from Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Faculty of Law this year, have been awarded the ‘Jean Monnet’ scholarship, granted by the European Union to a select number of young people. Yörü and Özdemir will go to the Netherlands, considered one of the best countries for legal education, to pursue master's degrees for one year. Of the young lawyers, Yörü will study technology law at Tilburg University, while Özdemir will focus on international public law and human rights at Utrecht University.
Izmir University of Economics (IUE) successfully implemented the ‘Mentorship Project’ (Peer Mentors), which has been continuously carried out for 9 years and serves as a model for Turkey to accelerate the adaptation process of young people who are new to the campus. As part of the project, 191 mentor students, selected among IUE students in their second, third, and fourth years, were paired with 2 thousand 600 students starting university this year. The mentor students will assist their peers throughout the semester, support the introduction of departments, and provide information about campus facilities.
Burak Köse, a graduate of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), has been accepted for a master's degree at the University of Manchester, which ranks among the top 50 universities in the world. Köse, who was selected from thousands of successful students worldwide and earned the opportunity to study in England, said, “I want to continue my career as an industrial researcher in an international company. I believe that the education I will receive in England on aerospace again, will significantly contribute to achieving this goal.”
Selin Özaşık, a graduate of the Department of Architecture at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), was selected to join the London office of the renowned company Populous, known for designing world-famous stadiums that are heart of football. A true football and sports enthusiast, Özaşık began working with the team involved in designing and renovating the stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup planned to be held in Saudi Arabia.
Süleyman Gürel, who graduated with a dual degree from the Faculty of Business Administration, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), achieved his long-desired goal of pursuing a career abroad and went to Europe. Gürel, who started working at the Dutch office of Grant Thornton, one of the world's largest companies in financial auditing, is successfully continuing his career as an auditor.
