Istanbul Şehir University

Istanbul Şehir University (Turkish: İstanbul Şehir Üniversitesi, literally City University of Istanbul) was a private, non-profit university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was established in 2008 by the Bilim ve Sanat Vakfı (BiSaV or BSV, English: Foundation for Science and Arts).[1] The university started its education in the academic year of 2010–11 at its campus in Altunizade, Üsküdar, following a ceremony held on October 5, 2010 that was attended by then State President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu.[2] The university was closed down on June 30, 2020, after it faced financial difficulties stemming from a legal land dispute, which in turn was fueled by a bitter political feud.[3]

Not to be confused with Istanbul University.

Istanbul Şehir University
İstanbul Şehir Üniversitesi
MottoResearch, Understand, and Share.
TypeFoundation university
ActiveMay 31, 2008–June 30, 2020
PresidentProf. Dr. Ömer Dinçer (as the President of the Board of Trustees)
RectorProf. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan (called President)
Academic staff
504
Administrative staff
254
Students7080 (as of the academic year 2019-2020): 5069 undergraduate students, 859 postgraduate students, 47 doctoral students, and 1105 vocational students
Undergraduates5069
Postgraduates859
47
Location
Kartal and Üsküdar
,
Istanbul
,
Turkey

41°01′32.34″N 029°02′43.62″E
CampusAltunizade Campus, (Üsküdar), and Dragos Campus (Kartal)
LanguageEnglish and Turkish
FounderBilim ve Sanat Vakfı (Foundation for Science and Arts)
ColorsBondi Blue  
AffiliationsBilim ve Sanat Vakfı (Foundation for Science and Arts)
Websitewww.sehir.edu.tr

Organization

The university had, as of (2016), six faculties, three graduate institutes, a vocational high school, four research centers, and a language school, organized as follows:

  • College of Humanities and Social Sciences[4]
    • Political Science and International Relations (in English)
    • Political Science and International Relations (in Turkish)
    • Sociology (in English)
    • Psychology (in English)
    • Psychology (in Turkish)
    • History (in English)
    • Turkish Language and Literature (mainly in Turkish, but few courses are in English)
    • Philosophy (in English)
  • College of Engineering and Natural Sciences[5]
    • Computer Science & Engineering (in English)[6]
      • CS Faculty Members
    • Electrical Engineering (in English)
    • Industrial Engineering (in English)
    • Industrial Engineering (in Turkish)
  • School of Management and Administrative Sciences[7]
    • Management (in English)
    • International Trade and Management (in English)
    • Entrepreneurship (in Turkish)
    • Management Information Systems (in Turkish)
    • Economics (in English)
  • College of Communications[8]
    • Cinema and Television (in English)
    • Cinema and Television (in Turkish)
    • Public Relations (in Turkish)
  • School of Law (mainly in Turkish, but few courses are in English)[9]
  • School of Islamic Studies (in Turkish, English, and Arabic)[10]
  • Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences[11]
    • Cultural Studies (in English)
    • Political Science and International Relations (in English)
    • Modern Turkish Studies (in English)
    • History (in English)
    • Sociology (in English)
    • Public Law (in Turkish)
    • Private Law (in Turkish)
    • Clinical Psychology (in Turkish)
    • Urban Studies (in Turkish)
    • Cinema and Television (in Turkish)
  • Graduate School of Business[12]
    • Business Non-Thesis Graduate Program (in Turkish)
    • Executive MBA (in Turkish)
    • Executive MBA (in English)
  • Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences[13]
    • Electronics and Computer Engineering (in English)
    • Industrial and Systems Engineering (in English)
    • Cybersecurity Engineering (in Turkish)
    • Data Science (in English)
  • Vocational High School (all in Turkish)
    • School of Justice
    • Computer Programming
    • Child Development
    • Photography and Videography
    • Graphic Design
  • Research Centers
    • Center for Urban Studies
    • Center for Higher Education Studies
    • Center for Modern Turkish Studies
    • Technology Transfer Office
  • School of Languages[14]
    • Sehir English Preparatory Program (SEPP)
    • Turkish for International Students
    • the School offers also language courses in: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, Persian, Russian, Spanish, (Ottoman) Turkish, ...

Campus

Istanbul Şehir University had three campuses, West Campus, East Campus, and South Campus, all of which were located in Altunizade, Üsküdar. Later, during the academic year 2017–18, Istanbul Şehir University moved to its main campus in Dragos, Kartal, where construction was long delayed due to environmental concerns.[15]

The Dragos campus had a number of facilities and amenities including an on-campus dorm, a library, a soccer field, a student center with numerous restaurants, and a large outdoor rec area.

Financial crisis and closure

In November 2019, the university faced financial trouble and was unable to pay the salaries of faculty members and the scholarships of students despite its revenue of millions of dollars. The reason was a freeze on its assets imposed by a court order, after a year-long trial, on request for an arrestment of funds by the state-owned Halkbank, which had concerns regarding the pay back of a US$70 million credit.[16] A real estate, which belonged to the state-owned monopoly company Tekel, was transferred free of charge to the university as campus ground, and became subject of security for a credit from the Halkbank. The real estate lost its security status when the Council of State ruled at the last instance in favor of the Chamber of Architects branch of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) overturning the court's decision in the case.[17] It was claimed by university representatives that the measure was of a political rather than technical nature due to the political fallout between Erdoğan and Ahmet Davutoğlu, the latter being a co-founder of the university.[16]

By mid December 2019, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) ruled for a temporary handover of Istanbul Şehir University to Marmara University, which was the "guarantor university" of the former. It was stated that the university was unable to continue its educational activities due to its financial situation. The operation license for education of the university was then suspended.[17]

With the Presidential decree no. 2708 issued on June 30, 2020, the official authorization of Istanbul Şehir University was revoked.[18][3] The Council of Higher Education (YÖK), after a general meeting on June 30, 2020, later announced that the students of Istanbul Şehir University were to be transferred to Marmara University.[19]

References
  1. "Why a New University-Welcome to Istanbul Şehir University". Istanbul Şehir University. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  2. "Istanbul Şehir University opens to great governmental fanfare". Hürriyet Daily News. October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  3. "Erdogan shuts down Turkish university linked to rival Davutoglu". Middle East Eye. Middle East Eye. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  4. "College of Humanities and Social Sciences". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  5. "College of Engineering and Natural Sciences". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  6. "Department of Computer Science & Engineering". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  7. "School of Management and Administrative Sciences". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  8. "College of Communications". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  9. "School of Law". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  10. "School of Islamic Studies". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  11. "Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  12. "Graduate School of Business". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  13. "Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  14. "School of Languages". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  15. "Campus". Istanbul Şehir University. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  16. Soylu, Ragıp (November 20, 2019). "An elite university in Turkey pays the price for Erdogan, Davutoglu feud". Middle East Eye. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. "Şehir Üniversitesi, Marmara Üniversitesi'ne devredildi!". Sözcü (in Turkish). December 19, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  18. "İstanbul Şehir Üniversitesi resmen kapandı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  19. "Students of İstanbul Şehir University to be transferred to Marmara University". Bianet. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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