Education
With its vision of being a leading research university in the world and its innovation-based studies, Sabancı University has been contributing to the development of self-confident individuals who are sensitive to the needs of society, focused on creating solutions and open to continuous improvement for 21 years. With its research activities, it supports the strategy of “solving particular global and regional problems and training people to solve them”. It contributes to many areas of sustainability, such as sourcing, operational efficiency, gender equality and climate, thanks to the collaborations it established. Sabancı University maintains its leadership among Turkish universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) and QS rankings, which list the best universities in the world, and is among the universities to receive students with the highest scores.
Among the top universities in the world for graduate employability Sabancı University was included the top 250 universities in the world in the “Global Employability University Ranking and Survey-2021” published by Times Higher Education, the London‑based global higher education ranking institution.
During the pandemic, Sabancı University continued its contributions to society and science by focusing all its research power, infrastructure and opportunities on combating COVID-19. Thanks to its strong technological infrastructure, Sabancı University has adapted very quickly to the distance education system and is cited as a prime example of online education practices among the universities in Türkiye.
The Composite Technologies Center of Excellence, operating in cooperation with Kordsa and Sabancı University, has worked on the design, analysis and prototype production of medical devices and components used in the treatment of COVID-19, and personal protective equipment for frontline health workers. Ten tons of next-generation disinfectants, developed by Sabancı University and providing hygiene for up to three months on surfaces where it is applied, were donated to the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) also provides active support to vaccine and serum development studies by offering its infrastructure.
In addition, as shared in the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Foundation Higher Education Institutions 2020 Report, it has the highest total research project budget among all of the foundation universities in Türkiye. Sabancı University has 10 different centers and forums contributing to scientific development and supporting social research and development. As of the end of November 2021, the number of active research projects with external funding is 295, and the total budget of these projects is TL 453 million.56 Sabancı University, Enerjisa Enerji and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) joined forces and established SENTRUM Coordination Office in the Sabancı University Creative Technologies Workshop in order to start the studies towards the development of a “Green Destination Model” and expansion of energy efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainable tourism practices in tourism businesses. The office aims to disseminate knowledge in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Since 2007, the Foundation has supported 183 projects carried out by non‑governmental organizations. Having provided 51,000 scholarships over the last 47 years, the Sabancı Foundation encourages success with awards in the fields of education, the arts and sport. In 2021, the Sabancı Foundation also embarked on a new substantial impact project to support young women who are not in education employment, or training (NEET). The multi‑stakeholder project, which will be long‑term and has the potential to be rolled out throughout Türkiye, will be implemented by Sabancı Foundation and UNDP in cooperation with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security with the financial support of the Sabancı Foundation.
For energy savings, lighting system motion sensors are used in all the building corridors (including dormitories) and WCs, dormitory study rooms and break rooms, and the classrooms in the School of Languages building. Air conditioning system motion sensors are used in all the meeting rooms and classrooms. Heating, cooling and ventilation systems equipment was renewed and more efficient equipment was introduced. With the renovation and improvement works in automation systems, savings in heating, cooling and ventilation, energy conservation is achieved. Studies are underway to make the campus carbon‑neutral at the earliest date possible. Practices to reduce water consumption are carried out throughout Sabancı University. Water‑saving armatures are used and revisions are ongoing in existing armatures. The lake in the campus fills with rain in winter, and this water is used for garden irrigation in the summer. Water from the regular municipality network line is not used for any garden irrigation purposes. Sabancı University has brought international environmental standards to its campus by obtaining the ISO14001 Environmental Management System certificate.
