Prof. Ekmel Özbay’s Descartes Science Award Recognized by TÜBİTAK

In December 2005, Prof. Ekmel Özbay, Director of the Bilkent Nanotechnology Research Center, became the first Turkish researcher to win the European Union's prestigious Descartes Science Award. In recognition of this achievement, Prof. Özbay received a special plaque from the Turkish Scientific and Technological Council's (TÜBİTAK) acting president, Prof. Nuket Yetiş, at a ceremony that took place at TÜBİTAK's Feza Gürsey Conference Hall on December 28, 2005. (Continued)

Prof. Orhan Güvenen Appointed to the UIS Governing Board

Prof. Orhan Güvenen, Chair of the Department of Accounting Information Systems and Director of the Institute of World Systems, Economies and Strategic Research, has been elected by the UNESCO General Conference and appointed by the UNESCO Director General to be a member of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS).

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics is the statistical branch of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO). It was established in 1999 in order to reform UNESCO's statistical capacities.

The institute aims to gather a wide range of high-quality statistical
information to help member states analyze the effectiveness of their programs and make informed policy decisions, and to interpret and report on the global situation with regard to education, science and technology, culture and communication.

We would like to congratulate Prof. Güvenen on his appointment.


Bilkent’s Journal of Turkish Literature Brings Out Second Issue

The second issue of The Journal of Turkish Literature has recently been published. The Journal, inaugurated a year ago, is an annual publication and the first and only scholarly journal in English devoted in its entirety to Turkish literature.

The current issue contains several important studies. Its main feature is a 60-page article, "The Poet and the Patron: A Sociological Treatise Upon the Patrimonial State and the Arts" by Prof. Halil İnalcık, known around the world as the doyen of Ottoman historians. (Continued)

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Former President Süleyman Demirel Visits Bilkent

On Wednesday, December 21, 2005, former President Süleyman Demirel came to Bilkent to give a guest lecture in Prof. Metin Heper's Political Science 601 class. President Demirel was accompanied by Rector Ali Doğramacı. The visit also included a luncheon hosted by Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the University İhsan Doğramacı. In addition to President Demirel, guests included Ekrem Ceyhun, who served as a minister in Demirel cabinets, Başkent University Rector Mehmet Haberal, Prof. Ali Doğramacı, Prof. Heper and the POLS 601 students.

During the 2003 and 2004 fall semesters, Prof. Heper's Ph.D. students
also had the opportunity to meet President Demirel, at his office in downtown Ankara. In fall 2004, Prof. Heper and his Ph.D students met with former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit as well.

The Diploma Supplement

As of 2005, Bilkent University began issuing "Diploma Supplements" along with its diplomas. A Diploma Supplement will be awarded to each graduate, except graduates of doctoral programs, free of charge. The supplement provides a standardized description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies that were successfully completed by the graduate.

The use of Diploma Supplements by institutions and employers provides “the advantage of improved transparency and flexibility of the higher education degree systems, for fostering employability and facilitating academic recognition for further studies.” [From the Berlin Communiqué of Ministers responsible for Higher Education, September 2003 (Bologna Process).]

For more information on the Diploma Supplement and a sample Diploma Supplement, please see the following web site:
http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/diploma_supp/
 

Fine Arts Faculty Member Receives State Sculpture Award

Assistant Professor Ercan Sağlam of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Department of Fine Arts, has won an award in the 66th State Competition in Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics and Printmaking. For his bronze works named "Untitled," he received one of the three State Sculpture Success Awards given this year.

The competition is one of Turkey's most important artistic activities, and has been held annually since 1939. The exhibition of works from this year's competition was on display until January 20 in the galleries of the State Museum of Painting and Sculpture.