Izmir University of Economics (IUE), which was established on 14 April 2001 as the first Foundation University of the Aegean Region, is celebrating its 19th year in the education sector. Mahmut Özgener, President of IUE Board of Trustees, pointed that they accomplished many important tasks under the guidance of wisdom, science, and technology in a very short time. “We became the kind of institution which generates ideas, creates values for our country and city in the past 19 years that are full of accomplishments. Our graduates, who are doing their own business or keeping managerial positions in over 50 countries, are our biggest source of pride. We will continue to be the pioneer of innovations with the youth who never disappoint us,” said President Özgener.”
The ceremony for the establishment anniversary of the University, which had been celebrated with great enthusiasm, excitement, and a large crowd every year, could not be held this year due to coronavirus outbreak. Indicating that they, as the IUE community, feel resentment about not being able to attend the establishment ceremony together, President Mahmut Özgener stated that they would come out of the coronavirus process even stronger by making a wisdom and strength collaboration with the business world. President Özgener pointed that the University made the biggest investment in the technological infrastructure which proved to be right during the distance education process.
‘SMART CAMPUS’ SERVES THOUSANDS
Stating that they own the “Learning Management System”, used by a limited number of universities nationwide, President Özgener said, “The system, which is being used by an average of 11 thousand people every day, including the academics, works flawless. The system we use is being used at leading universities worldwide such as Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Manchester University. We use our distance education platform not for our students only, but for our graduates and members of Izmir Chamber of Commerce as well. We held an interactive seminar in order to talk to companies about how they should be managing the crisis and the measures they need to take during this economic period caused by Covid-19 outbreak. We also started to organize informative online seminars for our graduates. The ‘Smart Campus’ serves thousands of people.”
OUR SUCCESS IS STRENGTHENED
President Özgener stated that they were extremely proud of the successes of the IUE academics and students. “In a survey conducted by the University Research Laboratory, we qualified for “A Plus” rating as a result of a satisfaction survey conducted among 35 thousand 715 students studying at 188 universities nationwide. The University got crowned with the successes of the academics and students. Prof. Seda Dural Çetinkaya, Head of IUE Department of Psychology, has been deemed worthy of the “Distinguished Young Scientist Award” of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) in the field of psychology. The project on early detection of cardiac arrhythmia of Prof. Türker İnce, Head of IUE Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, has been granted an international award.”
OUR SOURCE OF PRIDE
Özgener continued his speech as: “The study of Assoc. Prof. Zeynep Fırtına Karagonlar, Head of IUE Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, on treatment of lung cancer received an award at the “Those Who Make a Mark on Oncology” Summit. Mertcan Güler, fourth year student at the Department of International Trade and Finance, got a job offer from the US Federal Reserve Bank (FED) as a student still. Ecem Çelik, a senior at IUE Department of Cinema and Digital Media, received awards at international festivals for her short film about a story of a little Syrian girl. Hilal Karakaş, fourth year student at IUE Department of Fashion and Textile Design, has been awarded the special jury award at the House-wear and Beachwear Design Contest held by Denizli Exporters Association. There are many more success stories like this. Our academics and students are our source of pride.”
WE EXIST EVERYWHERE RELATED TO PRODUCTION
IUE Rector, Prof. Murat Aşkar pointed that the University contributed to the city in every area from its art and culture to its economy and cuisine. Prof. Aşkar said, “The number of students in our university which started in 2001 with 288 students, reached 10 thousand now. We successfully made it among the most preferred universities nationwide. We produced 16 thousand 200 graduates so far. As an institution that bears "economics" in its name, we never get satisfied with providing education and knowledge only; we exist everywhere related to economics and production by generating knowledge through researches, and we stand out in every area trade is developed. We see the qualified companies, high technology bases, logistics and export centers in the city, briefly the entire city as a part of our campus. As our students continue their studies, they become a part of business life with Campus Izmir.”
