Impact of Eurozone Crisis Discussed by Central Bank Vice Governor

Last week, the GE 441 FEASS Interdisciplinary Senior Project Course on the European Union hosted Prof. Turalay Kenç, vice governor of the Turkish Central Bank. Professor Kenç delivered a lecture at FEASS entitled "The European Debt Crisis and Its Impact on the Emerging Market Economies."

Prof. Kenç started his presentation by underlining the importance of the eurozone crisis, making reference to its continuing prominence on the agendas of international decision-making platforms. He reiterated former european Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet's statement that the European Union continues to be at the epicenter of the worst financial crisis since WWII. Prof. Kenç argued that weak growth rates throughout the union as well as governance problems in the monetary union were the main underlying reasons of this crisis. The lack of a supervisory and regulatory agency and an insurance fund also contributed to the crisis.

Prof. Kenç pointed out that financial systemic risk, namely balance sheet recession, an insolvency problem and a liquidity problem, is acute in the eurozone. He suggested that a fiscal union with an increasing growth rate and a primary surplus could remedy the insolvency problem.

In the last part of the symposium, Mr. Kenç focused on the impact of the eurozone crisis on the emerging market economies, with particular reference to Turkey as a special case. He noted that there are three channels through which emerging markets are affected by the European Union crisis
continue reading



Can Alkan Receives EC and EMBO Grants

Assistant Professor Can Alkan of the Department of Computer Engineering has been awarded both a 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Installation Grant and a European Commission Marie Curie Career Integration Grant. These grants, regarded as being among the most prestigious in the European Research Area, reflect the internationally competitive nature of research endeavors at Bilkent University and provide an invaluable impetus for scientific excellence.

The Marie Curie Career Integration Grant is given to experienced scientists returning to the European Union and associated states to initiate their research groups and laboratories. Those selected for the award receive 25,000 euros annually for four years. Similarly, the EMBO Installation Grant is designed to help new researchers set up their
continue reading

Murat Karayalçın Explores Turkey-EU Relations

On Friday, December 14, Murat Karayalçın, a former foreign minister of foreign affairs and former mayor of Ankara, visited campus to speak to the GE 441 FEASS Interdisciplinary Senior Project Course on the European Union. The lecture was entitled "Turkey-EU Relations through the Eyes of a Former Minister of Foreign Affairs."

Mr. Karayalçın started his remarks by describing how he initially perceived Turkey-EU relations at the time he started his career at the Ministry of Development (formerly the State Planning Organization). Quoting İsmet İnönü, he described the EU as a very prominent product of human intelligence. Mr. Karayalçın also expressed his belief that the organization was established
continue reading

Bilkent Theater Ends 2012 with "Passengers"

"Passengers" (Yolcular), a play written by Sam Bobrick, an American author, playwright, television writer and lyricist, has been adapted for the Turkish stage by students from the Department of Theater.

Erdal Küçükkömürcü, instructor in the Department of Theater, is directing the play. The actors portray 17 characters in eight short scenes that take place in a small-town bus station. The scenes, which flow into one another without stopping, are sometimes comedic, sometimes poignant, with everything coming together in the final scene.

The production had its first two performances on December 16 and 17. The remaining performances will take place on Tuesday, December 18 and Friday, December 21 at 8 p.m. in the FMPA Theater Hall.

YOLCULAR/PASSENGERS (Comedy/2 Acts)

Playwright: Sam Bobrick
Translation: Ekin Tunçay Turan
Director: Erdal Küçükkömürcü
Lighting: Yılmaz Ertekin
Cast: Zeynep Koltuk, Haluk Kaya, Tansel Aytekin, Ahmet Ayaz Yılmaz, İdil Talu, Ebru Tartıcı
Co-Directors: Ayşe Tılısbık, Musa Arslanali, Ünal Deniz

"Mobil Günler" to Take Place December 21-23

The world is becoming increasingly mobilized. "Mobil Günler," a three-day event organized by the Bilkent IEEE Student Branch, is intended to make people who use mobile services more informed about mobile technologies and to create awareness of the importance of the mobile developments of today and tomorrow. This event will offer seminars, workshops and tutorials presented by experts in the field, and will include sessions on application development for Android, iOS and Windows phones as well as discussion of the legal issues brought about by mobile technologies.

Mobil Günler will take place December 21-23 at EE and FADA Buildings, and will be open to the public free of charge. For further information and the registration form, you may visit mobilgunler.org.