As part of the cooperation agreement signed between IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding and Istanbul Technical University; An Academic Cooperation Protocol was signed between Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (AİÇÜ) and Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) to promote, develop, and support mutual cooperation and a spirit of collaboration in all areas of education and teaching. Through this academic collaboration, İTÜ’s 250 years of academic knowledge and experience will be transferred to AİÇÜ.
Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (AİÇÜ) Rector Prof. Dr. Abdulhalik Karabulut, Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kumral and Prof. Dr. Lütfiye Durak Ata, hosted ITU Deputy Secretary General Dr. Ümit Karadoğan, ICA İçtaş Altyapı Board Chairman Serhat Soğukpınar and his delegation, as well as IC Foundation Director Dr. Meral Dinçer. During the visit, AİÇÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Karabulut and İTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Koyuncu signed a protocol that will facilitate cooperation in all educational, scientific, and administrative matters.
Expressing his satisfaction at signing a cooperation protocol with ITU—which, with its deep-rooted history, holds the distinction of being Turkey’s first technical university—Prof. Dr. Abdulhalik Karabulut stated that they are bringing ITU’s 250 years of accumulated experience together with their own faculty, students, and administrative staff.
“OUR ACADEMICS WILL CONDUCT JOINT RESEARCH”
Prof. Dr. Karabulut said, “Under the signed protocol, joint research activities will be carried out among our faculty members, leading to collaborative work in scientific, educational, and administrative fields. In addition to faculty, administrative staff, and student exchanges, joint curriculum activities such as summer schools and diploma programs will be organized; graduate students will receive joint academic advising for their theses; and language training, in-service courses, workshops, meetings, congresses, conferences, and symposia.” “Furthermore, under the signed protocol, research projects and studies will be carried out; academic and scientific publications will be produced; scientific and technical field trips will be organized; participation in joint domestic and international fair events will be facilitated; and joint initiatives in the fields of culture, arts, and sports—including collaborative projects, competitions, and festivals—will be organized,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Karabulut expressed his gratitude to Mr. İbrahim Çeçen—an education advocate and business leader who has brought honor to our university—and to ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Koyuncu for making this collaboration possible.
“AN IMPORTANT COOPERATION AGREEMENT AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 250TH ANNIVERSARY”
Noting that ITU, founded in 1773, possesses world-class standards and has carried its historical and cultural heritage into today’s scientific world, Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu stated, “We have collaborated with many institutions and organizations to date, and we will continue to do so. One such partnership was established in 2023—as we celebrated both the 100th anniversary of our Republic and ITU’s 250th anniversary—with IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding, a key partner from the business world. As part of our partnership, which we have named the “IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding Silver Sponsorship,” a protocol was signed with Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University in the field of education and research. “I would like to thank AİÇÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Abdulhalik Karabulut, Serhat Soğukpınar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICA İçtaş Altyapı—a group company of IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding—and Dr. Meral Dinçer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICA İçtaş Altyapı (an IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding group company), and the entire IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding family, and I hope this protocol will be beneficial to both universities,” he said.
“INTER-UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIONS WILL SET AN EXAMPLE”
Also attending the protocol signing ceremony, Serhat Soğukpınar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICA İçtaş Altyapı—a group company of IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding—stated, “The joint projects and initiatives undertaken by AİÇÜ and İTÜ will make a significant contribution to our country’s education system and will serve as a model for other universities. As a holding company, we are very happy and proud to have contributed to and witnessed this partnership.”
DELEGATIONS TOURED THE AİÇÜ CAMPUS
Following the signing ceremony, AİÇÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Karabulut, İTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu, ICA İçtaş Altyapı Board Chairman Serhat Soğukpınar, and their accompanying delegation toured the Central Research and Application Laboratory (MARLAB), the Center for Accessible Living, the Culture and Congress Center, and the Library. A joint consultation meeting with the ITU delegation was held in the Rectorate Senate Hall. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on potential joint projects that could be undertaken in the short and medium term. The meeting was attended by the ITU team, AİÇÜ Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Faruk Kaya and Prof. Dr. Önder Şimşek, AİÇÜ Secretary General Muhammet Nuri Kılıç, the Technology Transfer Office team, the Career Planning and Alumni Tracking Application and Research Center team, the Central Research and Application Laboratory team, and the Scientific Research Projects Coordination team. Following the meeting, Prof. Dr. Karabulut, Prof. Dr. Koyuncu, Soğukpınar, and their delegation visited the Student Life Center, the faculties, and the IC Foundation Building.
