IUE welcomes the new semester
Izmir University of Economics (IUE), which continues its successful journey in education as the first Foundation University in the Aegean Region, welcomed its 25th academic semester with approximately 12,500 students. Angela Li Rosi, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Turkey, who was a guest at the University to give the opening lecture for the new semester, said, “The education period begins with new hopes. School is a place of healing, a starting point for wonderful opportunities. You will contribute to the world and be good role models for future generations.”
The Izmir University of Economics 2025-2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony, which was the scene of great excitement and enthusiasm, took place with intense participation. The ceremony, which was also broadcast live on the University's YouTube account, was attended by Mahmut Özgener, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) and President of the IUE Board of Trustees, Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu, IZTO Assembly President Selami Özpoyraz, members of the board of trustees, academics, administrative staff and students. As part of this year's academic opening ceremony, an ‘Academic Appointment Ceremony’ was held for 73 faculty members who were promoted to professor, associate professor, and assistant professor positions. An ‘Academic Achievement Award’ was also presented to 54 academics who produced groundbreaking scientific works in national and international fields.
“WE ARE EXTENDING EDUCATION TO ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY”
Mahmut Özgener, President of the IUE Board of Trustees, who delivered the opening speech of the academic year, stated that as a University, they are developing projects to extend qualified and goal-oriented education to individuals of all ages and all segments of society, saying: “We must analyze the rapidly changing realpolitik of the world and the codes of the great transformation experienced in every field very well. Universities are at the forefront of the institutions that can best make this analysis and guide decision-makers correctly. When planning the future in the world and in Turkey, we must also prepare the youth for the coming decades in line with these goals. In its history of nearly a quarter of a century, our University has always been careful to be different, to constantly develop, and to grow smartly with initiatives that nurture our innovative corporate culture. We prioritized institutionalization, ensured the harmonious functioning of our University's academic and administrative bodies, and improved our academic staff in terms of quality and quantity.”
“IT WILL BE A LASTING LEGACY”
Emphasizing the importance of the new campus project under construction in Güzelbahçe, Özgener continued as follows: “We aim to complete the first phase of the campus in July 2026 and move the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Faculty of Engineering there. Life will begin on Güzelbahçe campus around this time next year, and we will rapidly complete the other units of our campus. Güzelbahçe is the largest campus investment made by a university at one time in Turkey. This is not just a campus, but a lasting legacy that we will leave to the future. But the most valuable legacy we will leave to the future is the well-educated youth. For this, we must produce more, work harder, dream more, and pursue our dreams.”
98-99 PERCENT OCCUPANCY FOR 6 YEARS
IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu stated that the University has achieved 98-99 percent occupancy for 6 consecutive years. Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu pointed out that the number of students who entered the University with high rankings has increased by 400 percent compared to 2018, and that they have now reached a brand value on a national scale.
“58 PERCENT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE ACCREDITED”
Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu said, “We have prepared our 2025-2028 strategic plan in a participatory manner to develop our capacity to create future scenarios, foresee risks and opportunities, or in other words, risk-based strategic decision-making. We set goals for the future. One of these goals was to achieve full accreditation for our University and increase program accreditations. This year, we successfully passed the evaluation of the Council of Higher Education Quality (YOKAK) and reached our goal of 5-year full accreditation. 58 percent of our undergraduate programs are accredited. I can easily say that we are training the leaders who will shape the future. This increases my hope for the future.”
SHE EXPLAINED THE POWER OF EDUCATION
Angela Li Rosi, the Turkey Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the guest of honor at the ceremony, gave messages to the youth in her opening lecture titled ‘The Power of Education: Inclusivity, Solidarity, and Shared Futures’. Angela Li Rosi emphasized the importance of education for being active members of society, social recovery, and securing a safe tomorrow, and drew attention to the large number of young people worldwide who have difficulty accessing the right to education.
“THERE ARE 122.1 MILLION FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE”
Stating that Turkey is one of the countries leading the world, especially with its support for the education of refugee youth, Angela Li Rosi said, “Education is a journey of knowledge and hope. Every young person is very valuable to us. Higher education means more than individual success. Higher education prepares you for leadership, innovation, and building bridges across differences, and we hope it contributes to making the world a better place for everyone. Worldwide, there are 122.1 million forcibly displaced people. Also, while 39 percent of young people worldwide have the opportunity to attend university, only 9 percent of refugee youth can go to university. In Turkey, the university enrollment rate among refugee youth is 12 percent. It is important that this rate in Turkey is above the global average. It should be remembered that the more we open the door to education, the more we provide an opportunity for social peace and a better tomorrow.”
