İstanbul Kültür University (İKÜ) Head of the Board of Trustees Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver published a message about the IKU agenda which has changed with the New Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).

My Dear Kültür Family,

If I summarized the COVID-19 days in a few sentences after so many years, how would I begin? Sometimes I think about this question. Briefly; I can say, “It was a time when only certain thing was uncertainty.” Management in corona days; like a journey full of question marks and exclamations. When will the school start, how will the return to work be? How will the corporate culture, organizational climate, and educational atmosphere be affected and changed? Thousands of questions, thousands of answers, dozens of scenarios and emotional weight is very dominant, a big responsibility…

My Dear Kültür Family,

Due to our governance principles and philosophy, maintaining hope and trust is always our priority. However, besides our truths, the crisis also has facts that cannot be ignored. This period deeply affected the balance of all sectors in the country and the world. As Kültür family, we felt the pressure of the crisis at various levels and we continue to feel it. In our institutional history, we had experiences that we have never experienced before. For nearly 25 years, our university, which has been standing with its own resources, transferring what it earns from education to education and human resources, has applied for a Short Work Allowance to ensure economic sustainability for the first time. Keeping our employees' health and safety strong, physically, mentally and economically sound has always been our priority, especially during the darkest times of the crisis.

We have also seen that decision-making processes in the upper management, academic and administrative levels have reached sharper levels than ever before. As of April, we observed the signals of the economic contraction in the country and the world at the very beginning of the road. Measures and action plans that we developed to minimize costs, budget constraints, changing priorities, uncertainties that make assumptions difficult, and even times when trying to manage risk became a risk. So much so that 12 scenarios related to education planning have emerged in the process that is expected to be announced by YÖK only in the title of the fall semester. In the title of academic, economic, social, health and safety, each scenario has its own dilemmas, expansions and, of course, undesirable consequences. At this point, I would like to state that it is not easy for us to make, implement and announce some decisions.

My Dear Kültür Family,

In times of crisis, every question may not have a clear answer. In the environment of chaos, being 100% sure when making some decisions turns into a luxury. At this point, we focused on being consistent and agile in our decisions with a structure that supports governance, transparent communication and participation.

With Pandemic, we all give an individual, professional and institutional exam. In the short and medium term, the crisis will continue to make its presence felt at various levels, with different side effects. We may have to go through different tests ranging from health and safety to economic and social policies. At this point, it is time to stand with mutual trust and understanding. In the recovery period, we will need more than ever to understand each other in good faith and common sense.

Hope to overcome these days with health…

Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver
İKÜ Head of The Board of Trustees

Webinars titled "Ethical Codes for Academic Staff" and "Ethical Codes for Students" were held by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences on Monday, 27 July at 16:00. Our Dean, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Ali ŞEN, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Paksoy, one of our faculty members of Business Administration Assist. Prof. Dr. Murat Taha Bilişik, Res. Assist. Yüksel one of our faculty members of the International Trade and Finance Department, Res. Assist. Mustafa Bekmezci and Res. Assist. Yeşim Akbinar Dikici were speakers in the webinar. One of our academicians from International Trade and Finance Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kaya took part as a moderator.

To watch the registration of the "Ethical Codes for Academic Staff" webinar…

To watch the registration of the "Ethical Codes for Students" webinar…

Istanbul Kültür University Alumni and Members Association (İKÜMED) organized a webinar titled “Analogue Graduate in Digital World”, where Vocational School Electronic Technology Program graduates of 2007, Eskişehir Tepebaşı Municipality IT Manager, Technology Author & Project Consultant Suat Yalnızoğlu speaker. The event, where Ömür Kınay, the teacher of Communication and Design Department of IKU 2009 graduates, served as a moderator on the @ikumezun Instagram account on Tuesday, July 21 at 16.00. Our graduate, who attended the event as a speaker, said that he left Istanbul University Public Administration Department in 2004 and preferred Istanbul Kültür University, lived a fun and full student life, and it was a privilege to study at İKÜ.

Our graduate, in the interview published in the first issue of IKUMED newsletter, reminded him saying  “Reading at IKU gave direction to my life”, “When I was a student in 2005, IKU's possibilities, opportunities, and being in Istanbul helped us in many issues. My university life was long and different. I have been a student at 4 different universities: public, private and foundation universities. As someone who has tested many education methods such as distance education, open education and master's degree, I can compare very easily. I am currently studying in open education, I like to read and receive education with the logic of “lifelong education”. In other words, I have a diploma from 4 different universities and 4 different education methods. I'm running to the fifth right now. I can say that I had a great education at IKU. ” used expressions.

Stating that the campus and the opportunities at the school are very good; since I read electronics, the hardware in many companies is not as good as IKU today. ” he spoke.

Stating that he is still meeting with his university teachers, our graduate said, “I can say that they have opened many doors to us. I worked at the Police Department before entering the municipality. I was able to take my position there thanks to my teacher at IKU. He was Cahit Karakuş. "There is a very nice project in Eskişehir, apply there," he said. I came and started work. IKU can leave a mark in your career even after graduation. Of course, if you set a correct target. I can even say that IKU offers a lot to student candidates who are thinking of choosing now. ” said.

The third guest of the “Alumni Interviews” organized by Istanbul Kültür University Alumni and Members Association (İKÜMED) was Kemal Koçak, who worked as a Psychotherapist at the Bakırköy Municipality Health Affairs Directorate, one of our 2013 graduates in the Psychology Department. Ömür Kınay, one of our 2009 graduates and teachers of the Department of Communication and Design, undertook the title of “Motivation, Using Time and Success” on the theme of “Students with Special Needs and University Choices” at 16:00 on Tuesday, July 28. In the event, the facilities of IKU were built according to students with disabilities and the facilities provided to students with disabilities were mentioned. In the event, which raised awareness for individuals with disabilities, attention was drawn to the impact of training at IKU on business life.

Stating that he visited all foundation universities as a disabled person while he was making a university choice in 2008, and he said that IKU stands out among other universities in terms of physical accessibility, “In the years when I joined the university, foundation universities were not developed that much. At that time, of course, our first target was public universities. However, when I realized that it would not be physically sufficient, I started to visit the foundation universities one by one. When I visited all foundation universities in Istanbul, I saw that IKU is very advantageous in this sense. At first, I was unhappy with not being able to go to public university, but I am just saying this as a label. As a student, I realized that these things were not so after I got inside and started reading. The education I received, the dialogue I established with my teachers and the family culture helped me a lot. Fortunately, I have such a reason and I'm glad I came here.” he spoke.

Our teacher, Ömür Kınay, who was a moderator at the event, told her story as follows: “Since I used a wheelchair, I was directly eliminating public universities. I came here in August 2005 on preference-promotion days. Since my cousins are also graduates of Kültür College, IKU was always on my mind. Handicapped ramp, handicapped toilet etc. I saw when I visited the campus. Even basic things like, were not found at other foundation universities. I had received full scholarships from 3 foundation universities, but Istanbul Kültür University was the exact location and it came to the fore here. There are units you can forward when you see something missing at IKU. There are certain standards, but besides these, your opinion is also very important. I have been in Culture for 15 years with my working life since 2005.”

Speaking about the establishment of the Disabled Student Unit in IKU and the facilities created for disabled people, our teacher expressed that, “We have valuable academics in our unit, especially our Rector Assistant Prof. Dr.  Nihal Sarıer. All problems are laid on the table and solutions are produced as soon as possible. For example, it is a great advantage to have a platform lift going down to the dining hall. A card system was created for students with disabilities, employees and even visitors. The Information Systems and Technologies Department made a definition to the cards and only our cards can open those doors. Thus, even if a disabled visitor arrives, we give our guests a special card and only he can enter the toilets with that card until he leaves the university.” 

One of the academics of IKU Vocational School of Medical Documentation and Secretariat Program, Lecturer Emin Aksan’s article titled “Evaluation of the Content of Turkish News Reflected on the Internet Regarding Gender Inequality in Health” was published in the 2nd issue of the Journal of Health and Social Welfare Research.

IKU Vocational School will organize a webinar titled “The Future of the Air Conditioning Sector and Opportunities for Entrepreneurs”, where business opportunities for new graduates will be discussed specifically for the air conditioning sector. The event, where General Filter Havak A.Ş. General Manager Ahmet H. Gökşin will be a speaker, will be held on Tuesday, August 4 at 21:00 via the Adobe Connect Virtual Classroom Application.

Within the scope of “Meetings with Graduates” organized by IKU Department of Architecture; The videos of Dicle Hökenek on Tuesday, August 4 and Betül Boy Zafer on Wednesday, August 5 will be published on the @ikumimarlikbolumu Instagram account.

The third guest of the "Interviews with Faculty Members" series organized by the Department of Architecture will be Assist. Prof. N. Ömer Saatçıoğlu. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Usta will moderate the interview, which will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2020, at 21:00 on @ikumimarlikbolumu Instagram account.

Selva Kaya and Canan Ganiç will be the second guests of the "Meeting with Graduates" organized by IKU Architecture Club. The conversation to be held on Friday, August 7, 2020, at 21:00, with the moderation of Architecture Club President Yasemin Yücel and Student Representative of the Faculty of Architecture, Aslıhan Demir, will be published through the @ikumimarlikkulubuu Instagram account.

Can you describe yourself briefly? Who is Murat Tekin and Nahide Tekin with 2-3 sentences?

We started our academic life in 1991 at the Engineering Faculty of Istanbul University, where we received our undergraduate education at the Faculty of Science, Physics Department. Completing our specialization training in Istanbul University Oncology Institute Radiation Oncology Physics, we continued our academic life at Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine and Ege University Faculty of Medicine with our studies in radiation oncology physics. Our articles have been published in the head and neck, eye, lung, brachytherapy treatments in external and intracavitary treatments in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine.

Our dear daughter started her university life after her graduation of Kültür Science High School of Kültür Family, which has a 60-year educational background that attracts attention with the success of her graduates.

Our four books, two of which were published in the second edition, were published by Istanbul Kültür University Publishing House. Nahide Tekin is among the authors of the physics lab books series published by Istanbul Kültür University Publishing House for our students with her academic staff in Physics Department.

Since 2016, we have been giving “Introduction to Computer” courses to all students of our university who are in their academic plans with the task given by IKU Rector Erhan Güzel and with the decision taken by our senate.

How did your participation process to the Kültür Family develop?

Prof. Dr. Çetin Bolcal, the former deputy rector of Istanbul Kültür University and our former Secretary General Asst. Prof. Metin Bolcal, who we worked with at Istanbul University Faculty of Engineering, were instrumental in meeting with the Kültür Family. Since 1998, we have joined the Kültür Family, which has a successful college history, a dynamic and exciting structure that we are honoured to be a member of. Our Çetin Bolcal teacher played an important role in our family by not supporting his support in Kültür Family throughout our professional life.

We have been separated from our working environment and colleagues for a long time. What are your thoughts on the new norm these days when our campuses start to move?

In this process, we worked with our students and colleagues separately, but much more closely, every day, regardless of the time. A successful process was managed with the strong infrastructure of our university and the experience of distance education among the leading universities. A new world has now new normally been created. In addition to protecting our personal health, we need to pay attention to masks, distance and hygiene to protect the health of all our colleagues and students. When we wear a mask , we should not forget, we protect the person in front of us. A safe environment will be provided by applying this chain very seriously, strictly and not flexibly by everyone.

Distance education during and after the outbreak will retain its importance. In all programs, within the framework of YÖK regulations, 40% of the courses in the first stage and the creation of new distance education programs are expected to be on the agenda. The epidemic will accelerate the digital transformation in education. Distance education needs to focus on content quality. However, very good measurement and evaluation support should be provided including legal processes.

R & D will be important in technological product development, software, artificial intelligence technologies, digital skills and automation. The skills of the graduates should be strengthened by adding the required skills to the curriculum according to the technological level in the job market by making protocols with the technology producing organizations.

In the new world order after the epidemic, there has to be a simpler, uncomplicated process for the students.

The fact that 4 basic courses have already been offered in our university by distance education and the CATS experience that has lasted for years has contributed positively to the process in terms of our institution and student experience.

We are happy to work in a modern and principled institution and wish you healthy days.

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