A historical day for Izmir

01 NOVEMBER 2024

The Foundation Laying Ceremony for Izmir University of Economics Güzelbahçe Campus was held with great excitement and a large attendance at the site where the campus will be built. The opening speeches of the ceremony were delivered by Izmir Governor Dr. Süleyman Elban, Izmir Chamber of Commerce Chairman and IUE Board of Trustees President Mahmut Özgener, Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu, Güzelbahçe Mayor Mustafa Günay, and Former Mayor Mustafa İnce.

LARGE ATTENDANCE

The ceremony was attended by Izmir MPs Ednan Arslan and Ümit Özlale, Güzelbahçe District Governor Bülent Bayraktar, Former Izmir MPs Bedri Serter and Necip Nasır, Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor Fahri Mutlu Tosun, Izmir Regional Court of Justice Commission President İdris Kizir, Izmir Tınaztepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Güvençer, Yaşar University Rector Prof. Dr. Levent Kandiller, Izmir Kavram Vocational School Director Prof. Dr. Derman Küçükaltan, Nationalist Movement Party Izmir Provincial Chairman Veysel Şahin, Aegean Exporters' Association Coordinator President Jak Eskinazi, IZTO Assembly President Selami Özpoyraz, EBSO Assembly President İbrahim Gökçüoğlu, ITB Assembly President Ömer Gökhan Tuncer, IZTO Vice Presidents Cemal Elmasoğlu and Emre Kızılgüneşler, EBSO Vice President Hakan Ürün, ITB Vice Presidents Bülent Uçak and Ercan Korkmaz, Izmir Union of Tradesmen and Craftsmen President Yalçın Ata, IZTO Treasurer Mahmut Erkoç, IZTO Board Members Abdullah Salkım, İsmail Kahraman, Jülide Tutan, Mehmet Şahin Çakan, Nuray Eyigele İşleyen, Serdar Gökhan Arıkan, IZTO Assembly Vice Presidents Mehmet Tahir Özdemir and Nevzat Artkıy, IZTO Assembly Clerk Member Ali Yaramışlı, Project Architect Kerim Miskavi, District Mayors, Provincial Directors, EBSO and ITB Board Members, IZTO, EBSO and ITB Assembly, Disciplinary Board, and High Advisory Board Members, District Chamber and Exchange Presidents, Izmir University of Economics Board of Trustees Members, Izmir Chamber of Commerce Education and Health Foundation Founding Members, Board of Directors and Supervisory Board Members, academics, and project jury members.

STUDENT-FRIENDLY CAMPUS

Stating that IUE has achieved a special status in the city, Izmir Governor Dr. Süleyman Elban said, “I had the chance to see the project at a meeting we attended. The area is designed entirely according to human conditions, a student-friendly campus. It has been designed as a special campus that includes all elements of environmentalism. The goal of Izmir University of Economics should now be to be among the top 500 in the world. I hope the campus will train successful people. Congratulations."

ENRICHING THE RESEARCH SIDE

Highlighting that universities around the world are undergoing a conceptual change, IUE Board of Trustees President Mahmut Özgener stated, “There is a trend towards sustainable and innovative universities that provide universal contemporary knowledge to young minds, expand their horizons, stimulate their imaginations, and prepare them for life, besides giving them a profession. Izmir University of Economics, which has set its strategies with the vision of rising to the first place among foundation universities and being among the top 500 universities worldwide, is on the verge of a leap, taking its goals to a higher level. We needed a new campus environment that would further enrich the research side of our University, direct it towards new discoveries, and develop ways to eliminate problems before they even arise.”

THE LARGEST INVESTMENT BY THE UNIVERSITY AT ONE TIME

President Özgener continued as follows: “We designed the design of the Güzelbahçe Campus, which we believe will make a great contribution to taking our University, which has been advancing with the goal of ‘sustainable academic success’ since the first day it was founded, to the next level to be learning-oriented in education and to provide equipment that will enable students to gain knowledge and experience. When we fully realize the Güzelbahçe Campus, we will have made the largest investment ever made by a university at one time in our country, with an investment of 2 billion liras. On our campus, which will have a closed area of 130 thousand square meters, we have created spaces to meet the needs of each faculty and ensured the integration of all faculties with common areas.”

CAMPUS FEATURES

Explaining the features of the campus in detail, President Özgener said, “In our campus designed in accordance with the climatic conditions of the Aegean Region, clean energy technologies will be used and buildings with optimized energy performances will be included. Additionally, we will provide intra-campus transportation with electric vehicles. We believe that the campus, which will create a rich living space with its social, sports, and cultural features, will also significantly contribute to strengthening the sense of belonging. We will offer a learning environment adorned with flexible spaces supporting interdisciplinary education and training, focused on research and development, open to hybrid education. Students will be able to shape their future easily with personalized education tailored to their talents and needs. The academics will have new laboratories, research centers, and will be able to utilize all the facilities of a smart campus together with their students. I sincerely hope we can all be together at the opening of our campus, which we plan to complete within 3 years.”

WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO SOCIETY

Stating that they laid the foundation for a new and exciting future, IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu said, “We know that the future will be different from today. Many thinkers and scientists suggest that ecological, digital and social change will evolve into a destructive transformation. In this process, universities must first transform themselves and then become one of the important catalysts of social transformation. Our curricula, research priorities, and the size and scope of our responsibilities towards society will change. 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. I sincerely believe that we can achieve this change and transformation with the support of our strong genes, qualified academic and administrative staff, creative and innovative graduates and students, and all stakeholders in our city, under the leadership of our President and Board of Trustees.”