Countdown Begins for the Güzelbahçe Campus

The countdown has begun for the new campus that Izmir University of Economics (IUE) will build in Güzelbahçe, with the aim of bringing Izmir a world-class, environmentally friendly, and state-of-the-art education hub. The first phase of the campus—where students from the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will initially study—is scheduled to be completed in July 2026. By undertaking the largest single campus investment ever made by a university in Turkey, IUE will offer its students a unique campus equipped with cutting-edge technology, distinguished by its environmentally friendly design and rich social spaces.

“THE FIRST PHASE WILL INCLUDE 5 BLOCKS”

Mahmut Özgener, Chair of the Board of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce and President of the Board of Trustees of IUE, stated that they continue on their path as a visionary university whose influence is growing across Turkey and which is preferred by successful students. Özgener said, “We have made very significant progress in a short time in the construction of our new campus in Güzelbahçe. We are excited; the time has now come for the seeds we have sown together for a bright future to sprout. In the first phase of our campus, which will consist of five blocks with 68,000 square meters of indoor space, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering will be located. When the first phase of our project is completed, we will have realized an investment worth 2.2 billion TL.”

“IT WILL PROVIDE ADVANTAGES FOR OUR STUDENTS”

Emphasizing that the new campus will offer many advantages to students, Özgener said, “With the vision of rising to first place among foundation universities and being ranked within the top 500 in all global university rankings, Izmir University of Economics is on the brink of a major leap forward. At our Güzelbahçe campus, clean energy technologies will be used, and buildings with optimized energy performance will be in place. On-campus transportation will be provided by electric vehicles. We will offer a learning environment enriched with flexible spaces that support interdisciplinary education, are focused on research and development, are open to a hybrid education approach, and encourage innovation. Our students will be able to easily shape their futures through personalized education tailored to their talents and needs. IUE academics and students will benefit from all the opportunities offered by a smart campus.”

“WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARD SOCIETY”

IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu stated that they are laying the foundation for a new and exciting future, saying, “We know that the future will be different from today. Many thinkers and scientists argue that ecological, digital, and social change will evolve into a disruptive transformation. Universities must first transform themselves in this process and then become one of the key catalysts of social transformation. Our curricula, research priorities, and the scope and scale of our responsibilities toward society will change and are already changing. The Güzelbahçe campus is a transformation project and perhaps the most important step in our vision of a university that produces creative and transformative solutions for sustainable living. Under the leadership of the President and the Board of Trustees, and with the support of our strong foundations, qualified academic and administrative staff, creative and innovative graduates and students, and all stakeholders in our city, I sincerely believe that we can achieve this change and transformation.”