Document of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Academic Freedom

As emphasized in the Magna Charta Universitatum, a document that was originally signed in 1988 by 388 rectors from all over Europe and beyond, there is an inseparable link between the values of equality, diversity and inclusion, and academic freedom. The purpose of this document is to declare the commitment of Izmir University of Economics to both the values of equality and diversity and the principle of academic freedom, which is a prerequisite for the University to achieve its mission.

Respecting equality, diversity, inclusion, differences, and human dignity are the basic ethical values of Izmir University of Economics. The academic and administrative staff, and students of Izmir University of Economics are committed to fostering an inclusive, fair and pluralistic learning, working and living environment. The University, in line with this understanding, declares that it rejects all forms of discrimination, and that it maintains the responsibility to contribute to the creation and preservation of an academic culture based on ethical values.

Academic freedom, which we define as the mission of Izmir University of Economics, is essential to inspiring individuals who question and think critically, and contribute to science with original research. The production, sharing and application of knowledge depend on the free expression of varying perspectives. Academic freedom is the lifeblood of any university, which is a learning and research environment free from discrimination, and it remains the prerequisite for fulfilling its responsibilities towards society. Creating a barrier-free and liberal learning and research culture for the academic staff and students is an integral part of the University's mission, based on excellence and innovation. Therefore, we are strongly committed to academic freedom, which is a universal principle in all of our teaching and research activities.

The idea that academics who produce scientific knowledge, and students and graduates who use this knowledge in their social and professional relations carry out a joint activity, is the root of understanding education at Izmir University of Economics. Within this context, we adopt a student and research-oriented educational philosophy; and consider our students as participants in the production of scientific knowledge, instead of seeing them only as younger generations to whom we transfer knowledge. With the awareness that the university is the home of critiquing, questioning, innovative perspectives, individual autonomy, and freedom of thought in the historical development process, we shape all educational activities with a participatory and inclusive perspective.

Within the framework of this educational approach, we have adopted the concept of creating diversity in our courses. Through core courses, students become acquainted with the perspectives, concepts and basic questions of the majors they have chosen. Specialized major courses and elective courses help students develop their own research approaches and perspectives. In this way, we enable our students to comprehend unique and specific issues thoroughly, to gain the ability to solve real-life problems, and to approach the world and their careers utilizing unique and critical frameworks, based on a general perspective gained in their departmental courses. In this context, we take into account the rapid developments in scientific and technological fields as well as the changes in societies, while anticipating changing needs in the field of education, and conducting research and educational activities in ways that nurture each other.

Another focal point of the education at Izmir University of Economics is the fact that, through a transdisciplinary approach, students expand their expertise and while gaining depth of knowledge in their major courses. The general education courses we have created for this purpose enable students to acquire certain intellectual skills so that they can grasp the depth of human knowledge and continue their lives as responsible global citizens. While these courses complement the education that students receive in their departments, they also raise awareness about daily life. Through general education courses, we encourage students to think about how they can serve humanity through the education they receive in the fields of science and art.

While students become acquainted with using English, which is the medium of instruction at the University, in their daily and professional lives, they can freely choose courses from other departments depending on their interests, and learn a second foreign language at the same time. We aim to broaden the communication skills of students to a wider area through second foreign language courses. We enable students to actively participate in the learning process by using advanced educational technologies and participatory education techniques. Thus, we believe that our graduates are able to develop integrated business relationships with the global society.

The compulsory internship program has been an integral part of the student experience at Izmir University of Economics since the day it was founded. Our aim is for students to gain work experience while participating in academic processes as well as encountering real life challenges as early as possible. Through internships, we directly contribute to the process of shaping our graduates' future plans.

With all of these components, the education at Izmir University of Economics enables students to move beyond gaining a profession, and toward developing as innovative, critical, free, and responsible individuals who can contribute to society. To realize such an ideal. we support education and training processes with rich distance education opportunities. As such, we organize events enabling both face-to-face and remote participation. In this way, we not only maintain the University's aim of contributing to society, but also develop international collaborations. We shape our understanding of education with critical and inclusive processes, in line with our goal of producing graduates who adopt the ideal of lifelong learning by approaching the ecosystem with a holistic perspective, and by taking care to reflect the effective communication between nature and individuals in educational processes.

We aim to carry out research and development activities in an inclusive way at Izmir University of Economics. This inclusivity is multifaceted in terms of time and space. From a spatial perspective, all components of the University conduct research on issues of local interest and development, as well as studies that have a global impact. From a temporal perspective, we carry out a wide range of research projects, from entrepreneurial activities that have an impact in the short term through commercial and social impacts, to long-term studies that shed light on the basic sciences.

At Izmir University of Economics, we conduct rigorous research and development activities at three critical levels:

(i) Establishing laboratories and research centers for infrastructure development and keeping necessary equipment and software current;

(ii) Helping academics to benefit from national and international funds to support their research and development ideas, as well as using university research funds effectively in this direction;

(iii) Training undergraduate and graduate students with research potential within the scope of supporting individuals and providing training and funding opportunities for the development of academics.

In this context, as Izmir University of Economics, we support all of our members in transforming their research for national and international publications, entrepreneurial initiatives, artistic activities, design registrations, as well as utility models and patents.

At Izmir University of Economics, we conduct research and development activities at local, national and global levels to interact with the society we live in. We follow a social contribution policy in which priorities are established by first analyzing the basic needs of the society, and then creating the longest-lasting solutions to social problems, while broadly disseminating these solutions. We, as the University, assume a transformer and transforming role as an institution, aiming to develop students who take the initiative to meet the needs of the society, ask questions, seek answers, find solutions, and come together with a collective consciousness.

In line with our experiential learning-based education policy, we include social responsibility and volunteering courses in associate, undergraduate, and graduate education programs to contribute to the formation of a habitable society on a global scale. We provide resources to different units, projects, academic studies, and volunteer activities by seeking support from internal and external stakeholders in the design, coordination, and measurement processes of the courses. In our multidimensional education model, we aim for students to be egalitarian and sensitive individuals who can solve problems by producing socially responsible research and application projects.

We also care about our graduates becoming active individuals and creative forces that will change and transform the society through their career choices. We focus on the social, cultural, and intellectual development of society by establishing collaborations with university-public, university-industry, as well as university-non-governmental organizations. We serve society and support the philosophy of lifelong learning with the knowledge we produce in our research and application centers, the training programs we offer as well as the social activities we develop.

At Izmir University of Economics, we adopt a universal understanding of quality in both education and scientific research, and we take great care in being an outstanding educational institution integrated into a global society. To this end, we act with a holistic internationalization perspective that covers the fields of education, research, and social contribution. We meticulously carry out student, academic and administrative staff mobility in order to create a multicultural education and research environment; we also strive for the development of international research activities and collaborations.

In terms of our understanding of an education centered on universal values, it is extremely important that the medium of instruction at the University is English and that second foreign language courses offer students a learning experience that reaches well beyond the borders of Turkey. In addition, efforts to be included in the European Higher Education Area and other international collaborations ensure that our students graduate with global knowledge, skills, and competencies.

We reward those with international publications, support those who participate in international academic events, and encourage our lecturers to gain experience abroad, enabling them to carry out research activities at an international level. We know that it is vital to cooperate with international institutions and organizations to contribute to the solution of global issues, and we maintain our determination to contribute to the initiatives of lecturers to create an international research network. Behind this attitude lies our belief that students should receive a universal university education.

The University’s mission is “to raise innovative and qualified individuals who are inquisitive, equipped with leadership attributes, acquire entrepreneurial capabilities and critical thinking skills, and contribute to science with unique research.” Our quality policy, which we have created to achieve this goal, is based on the values of participation, innovation, responsible and effective use of resources, and perfectionism. The quality assurance system of the University was established with a holistic perspective. Education, research-development, social contribution and management processes are carried out in coordination, monitored, with relevant improvements being made. Strategic goals as well as performance indicators and targets have been determined primarily to monitor all processes soundly within the framework of understanding of continuous improvement.

It is among our priorities to ensure the participation of all university components in both decision-making mechanisms and implementation processes. Necessary mechanisms have been established to ensure that a quality culture is embedded in all components of the university, as well as to ensure the participation of all academic and administrative personnel in the quality processes. One of the most important mechanisms ensuring participation is the solicitation of opinions of internal and external stakeholders. In this direction, the improvement of processes has been made both inclusive and continuous.

The primary aim of the IUE quality assurance system is to assure the processes that:

• Implement our student and research-oriented education philosophy and enable students to be participants in the production of scientific knowledge.
• Enable all academic staff and students to conduct innovative research that results in global impact and a benefit society, while in a university environment where individual autonomy and freedom of thought are supported;
• Enable us to reach the goal of raising students who take the initiative to meet the needs of the society, ask questions, seek answers, find solutions and come together with a collective consciousness.

The Izmir University of Economics management policy is based on innovative and continuous improvement principles, taking into account the participation of all stakeholders in education, research-development, internationalization and social contribution activities in order to develop and disseminate science in the light of universal values.

Accordingly, the basic principles of our management policy are:

• Having a participatory management approach;
• Using technology effectively in line with current developments;
• Supporting university-industry cooperation;
• Encouraging the development of creativity and entrepreneurship;
• Maintaining and developing qualified manpower;
• Ensuring accessibility to management levels with effective communication channels;
• Implementing practices that protect the rights of disadvantaged individuals and groups;
• Attaching importance to gender equality;
• Being aware of environmental problems such as climate change;
• Managing corporate change with a participatory and transparent approach.

The IUE Human Resources policies have been prepared to reach the targets determined to be aligned with the strategic plan prepared to realize the mission and vision of the University. By adopting a “people-oriented” approach in all relevant processes, to increase “efficiency and quality”, in accordance with the strategic plan and corporate goals, the aim is to achieve the goals of the University by increasing the competencies, job satisfaction, motivation and loyalty of IUE employees.

The primary aims of the Human Resources policies are:

• Employing highly qualified, competent and well-equipped employees by conducting a needs analysis in order for the University to achieve its goals and sustainable success,
• Being a preferred University to work at by increasing the satisfaction and loyalty of employees with the corporate culture,
• Organizing trainings and offering educational opportunities that increase the professional knowledge, competencies, and skills of University employees;
• Exhibiting an approach, in all human resources processes, based on equal opportunity and free from all forms of discrimination including language, religion, race, gender,
• Establishing a merit-based, fair and equitable performance evaluation system for all employees of the University.
• Carrying out the career planning practices in the University in line with the knowledge, skills and performance evaluation results of the employees.
• Establishing effective communication and cooperation with students and all external stakeholders working in human resources processes at the University.
• Improving human resources practices continuously in order to maintain and develop qualified human resources policies and practices in line with the goals and needs of the University.