Bilkent 28th in Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings

Bilkent University has recently been ranked 28th in the 2013 inaugural Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings.

Like the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (published in October every year), the Asia University Rankings are based on 13 separate performance indicators that examine each university's strengths vis-à-vis its core missions and teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. All data are collected, analyzed and verified by global data provider Thomson Reuters.

Other universities from Turkey on the list are METU (22), Koç (31), Boğaziçi (37) and İTÜ (38).

Bilkent University also ranked among the top 400 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2011-12, and ranked 32nd in the inaugural Times Higher Education "100 Under 50" table of the world's best "young" universities in 2012.

For the full list of Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings:
www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings.

Spring Fest 2013: April 29-May 4

Spring Fest 2013 will take place Monday, April 29 through Saturday, May 4. The evening concert, arranged by the Spring Fest Organization Committee, will be held at the Odeon on May 3. Tickets will be required. Note that the concert is for Bilkent University students, personnel and alumni only.

Student ID cards must be presented when purchasing tickets. Each student may purchase only one ticket, and it is not possible to buy group tickets. Please remember that at the entrance to the concert, students will need to show their IDs with their tickets. Tickets are unnumbered, and there will be no ticket returns.

Ticket sales will begin Thursday, April 18, taking place between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the following locations:

- Main Campus - Speed-Kıraç entrance

- Main Campus - B Building entrance

- East Campus - Catering Center

- East Campus - Coffee Break

Concert Date & Time:

Friday, May 3 at 9 p.m.

Performer: Murat Boz

Ticket Price: 15 TL

Digital TV Broadcasts to Start With Frequency Plans Prepared at Bilkent

Photograph by Aydın Ramazanoğlu

Turkey will end analog television broadcasting in 2015. After that date all TV broadcasts will be in digital format. Digital broadcasting will allow for more channels and better picture quality over the air. Frequency plans for digital television broadcasting as well as all FM radio broadcasting have been prepared by the Communications and Spectrum Management Research Center (İSYAM) of Bilkent University in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Radio and TV (RTÜK) and Gate Elektronik A.Ş. under a contractual arrangement known as the KARTEF project.

A ceremony to mark the completion of the project was held on Thursday, April 11 in EE-01. The chair of RTÜK, Prof. Davut Dursun, and Deputy Chair Taha Yücel (a Bilkent graduate) were among the attendees. Prof. Dursun thanked Bilkent for the technical success of the preparation of the frequency plans and called KARTEF "an excellent example of university-industry-public sector collaboration." Frequencies designated in the plans will be auctioned this week (April 16-18) to eligible broadcasters, according to Prof. Dursun, after which licenses for frequency use will be distributed.

Rector Abdullah Atalar, who spoke at the ceremony, highlighted Bilkent's exemplary contributions to the field of communications and information theory. He also congratulated İSYAM Director Prof. Ayhan Altıntaş and other engineers for their hard work.

Following the ceremony, a photo session and presentation of plaques took place.

TDP Collecting Items for "Parcels for Life"

The "Parcel for Life" (HIBPO) project was initiated in Eskişehir to assist children, teenagers and women living in penal institutions by providing them with basic personal care and health products and also cleaning materials. Bilkent University students are now participating in this project, as one of the volunteer activities organized through TDP (Social Awareness Projects).

As well as providing needed items, Parcel for Life also aims to eliminate prejudice, increase society's acceptance of those who are imprisoned and give the latter a chance for a new beginning.

The Bilkent volunteers are looking for support and a special boost from Ankara residents. They welcome all donations of personal care and cleaning products such as soap, shampoo, diapers, toothpaste and cleanser.

Contact information: Kaan Yiğitsoy (506) 991-2427

Sena Arıdıcı (555) 463-6215

Info: bilkent@hibpo.org

Packages may be sent to this address: Bilkent University Main Campus, Dean of Students, TDP Office 06800 Çankaya, Ankara