Bilkent University

Private university in Ankara, Turkey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bilkent University

Bilkent University (Turkish: Bilkent Üniversitesi) is a private non-profit research university located in Ankara, Turkey. It was founded by İhsan Doğramacı, the first president of the Council of Higher Education and the head of the prominent Doğramacı family, with the aim of creating a center of excellence in higher education and research in 1984.[4] It has constantly been ranked among the top Turkish universities since its establishment.[5][6] In 2011, it was ranked 112th in the world by The World University Rankings.[7] Bilkent University was modeled after Harvard University and was the first non-profit private university established in the country. The name Bilkent is an abbreviation of bilim kenti, meaning "city of science" in Turkish.

Quick Facts Type, Established ...
Bilkent University
Bilkent Üniversitesi
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TypePrivate research university
EstablishedOctober 20, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-10-20)
Founderİhsan Doğramacı
Endowment$300 million[1] (2011)
PresidentAli Doğramacı
RectorKürşat Aydoğan[2]
Academic staff
1,000[3]
Students13,000[3]
Location,
39°52′04.80″N 32°44′55.32″E
CampusUrban, 5,000 acres (20 km2)[3]
LanguageEnglish
Colors   Red & blue
NicknameBilkent Judges
(American Football)
MascotBilkent Fox
Websitew3.bilkent.edu.tr
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History

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Statue of Bilkent's founder, İhsan Doğramacı, in the main campus square

Preparations for the establishment of the university began in 1967, with the purchase of a tract of land to the west of Ankara. In the late 1970s the foundations of the buildings which now house administrative offices, the faculty of engineering, and the library, were laid. Construction of residences for academic staff, cafes, student dormitories, and various academic buildings followed rapidly.[4]

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Bilkent University's Main Campus Square

Campus

The university occupies three campuses. They are located about 12 km west of the center of Ankara, and cover a total area of more than 300 hectares.[8]

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Bilkent University Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
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Bilkent University Main Campus
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Bilkent University Faculty of Science
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Bilkent University Concert Hall

Library

The university library houses a large collection of books with annual acquisitions valued at over 3 million U.S. dollars. As of 2017, Bilkent University Library is the largest university library of Turkey, and it is the only university library to rank in the top 10 libraries in the country.[9]

In addition to books, the collection includes periodical subscriptions, microforms, access to numerous online databases and electronic journals. Sheet music and sound recordings are available in the music rooms. The library also hosts a number of private collections and an exhibition hall.[10]

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Bilkent University Main Library

Academics

The university offers 33 undergraduate majors, together with 32 graduate programs spanning 22 different fields.

Faculties

  • Faculty of Applied Sciences
  • Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
  • Faculty of Business Administration
  • Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Humanities and Letters
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Music and Performing Arts
  • Faculty of Science

Schools

  • Graduate School of Education
  • School of Applied Languages
  • School of Applied Technology and Management
  • Vocational School of Computer Technology and Office Management
  • Vocational School of Tourism and Hotel Services

Rankings

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Quick Facts University rankings, Global – Overall ...
University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[11]801–900 (2020)
QS World[12]=502 (2024)
THE World[13]601–800 (2024)
USNWR Global[14]=684 (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Emerging Europe and Central Asia[15]20 (2022)
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The Times Higher Education World University Rankings[16] consistently ranks Bilkent University as one of the top universities in Turkey.

More information Year, Turkey ...
YearTurkeyIn AsiaIn the World
2010-11 1st14th112th
2011-12 1st21st201-225th
2012-13 2nd27th226-250th
2013-14 4th31st226-250th
2014-15 5th25th201-225th
2015-16 3rd45th351-400th
2016-17 3rd46th351-400th
2017-18 3rd54th401-500th
2018-19 3rd82nd501-600th
2019-20 3rdn/a501-600th
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Bilkent, as a university with less than 50 years of history, is also ranked as one of the most prestigious younger universities in the world:[17]

More information Year, Turkey ...
YearTurkeyIn the world
2012 1st32nd
2013 2nd39th
2014 1st31st
2015 2nd28th
2016 3rd76th
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THE powered by Thomson Reuters ranked Bilkent in the category BRICS & Emerging Economies[18] as follows:

More information Year, Turkey ...
YearTurkeyIn the world
2014 4th12th
2015 5th19th
2016 3rd41st
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Bilkent University is particularly noted for the quality of its Faculty of Engineering. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings rank Bilkent among the top 100 universities for Engineering and Technology,[19] as follows:

More information Year, Turkey ...
YearTurkeyIn the world
2013-14 1st98th
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The Faculty of Business Administration of Bilkent University was the first business school in Turkey to be accredited by AACSB; less than 5% of the business schools around the world have received this accreditation.[20] The business school has been ranked by Eduniversal among the best business schools of the Eurasia region for international influence.[21]

According to the QS World University Rankings of 2012 and 2013 the university ranks in the 151–200 range in the subject of "Economics & Econometrics".[22]

Student life

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Bilkent University Odeon Outdoor Concert Hall
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A student from the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, performing in the Bilkent University Library Art Gallery.

Sports

Students can participate in many sports courses and be trained by university staff, mostly for free. The university presents many individuals and teams in different sports in varsity competitions. The most well-known sport teams of the university are the Bilkent Goats and the Bilkent Judges, the ultimate team and the football team, respectively.

Student unions and clubs

The board and the departmental members of the Bilkent Student Union are chosen annually among all registered university students. The Student Union is the main sponsor and the organizer of Mayfest, the traditional Bilkent University summer festival. Various student clubs organize regular activities every day on and off the campus, mostly open to everyone. All students are allowed to join, or participate in the events and activities of any club they wish to. Student union and club activities are coordinated under the supervision of Student Events Center of Bilkent.

Recreation

Bilkent University is host to numerous events regarding music and the performing arts. The university also sponsors frequent lectures, art exhibitions, and literary evenings throughout the academic year. During the first week of may, each year Mayfest is held. Mayfest is a well-known festival among the youth of Ankara, consisting of a large number of activities, as well as open-air concerts where renowned Turkish pop and rock bands and singers take the stage every night throughout the week.

Affiliations

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Centers

  • National Research Center for Magnetic Resonance (UMRAM)[23]
  • Bilkent University Center for European Union Affairs
  • Ahmed Adnan Saygun Center for Music Research and Education
  • Bilkent Center for Advanced Studies (BICAS)
  • Center for Mind, Language & Culture
  • Center for Brain Research
  • Center for Environmental Sciences
  • Center for International Economics
  • Center for Russian Studies
  • Center for Studies in Society and Politics
  • Center for Turkish Language and Speech Processing
  • Center for Turkish Politics and History
  • Center for Research in Transitional Societies (CRTS)
  • Center for Turkish Literature
  • Communications and Spectrum Management Research Center (ISYAM)
  • Genetics and Biotechnology Research and Development Center (BILGEN)
  • Halil Inalcık Center of Ottoman Studies
  • Nanotechnology Research Center (NANOTAM)[24]
  • National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM)[25]
  • Bilkent University Computational Electromagnetics Research Center (BiLCEM) [26]

Cyberpark

Bilkent Cyberpark, founded in 2002, is the fastest growing techno park in Turkey serving with 240 technology-based companies, one micro nano chip factory, five research centers, and 4,00 personnel.

Institutes

  • Institute of Economic and Social Sciences
  • Institute of Engineering and Science
  • Institute of Fine Arts
  • Institute of Music and Performing Arts
  • Institute of World Systems, Economies and Strategic Research
  • Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology

Notable people

Faculty

Alumni

See also

References

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