Sakarya University prepares for new strategic planning period

SAU 2nd Advisory Board Meeting

Sakarya University held its 2nd Advisory Board Meeting, where the strategic goals included in the university’s 2030 vision were discussed.

The meeting was attended by the following figures:Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye and 27th Term Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, former Minister of Transport Ahmet Arslan, former Minister of Transport Cahit Turhan, Rahmi Doğan, AK Party Sakarya MP Ali İnci, Sakarya University Rector Hamza Al, Gebze Technical University Rector Hacı Ali Mantar, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Rector Faruk Yiğit, General Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Karacabey, former TCDD General Manager Ömer Yıldız, former TCDD General Manager Ali İhsan Uygun, retired Air Brigadier General Yusuf Erge, TÜRKSAT Deputy General Manager Selman Demirel, TÜRASAŞ Sakarya Regional Director Yunus Ekşi, Sakarya Regional Forestry Director Metin Topçu, Sakarya Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Asım Baş, Sakarya University Chief Advisor to the Rector Metin Yerebakan, Sinan Ülker, AK Party Sakarya Provincial Chairman Yunus Tever, MHP Sakarya Provincial Chairman Oğuz Alkaş, SATSO Chairman Akgün Altuğ, Kent Council Chairman Hayrettin Zengin, as well as faculty deans, coordinators, institute directors, and academics.

Sakarya University, 2nd Advisory Board Meeting

TÜBİTAK and TÜSEB projects

Speaking at the opening session, Chief Advisor to the Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Yerebakan stated that Sakarya University is preparing for a new strategic planning period and emphasized that the university’s roadmap will be shaped through consultation and collective wisdom.

Rector Prof. Dr. Hamza Al said in his presentation that gaining the status of a research university marked an important milestone for Sakarya University.

Prof. Al noted that significant progress has been achieved in the fields of qualified academic publications, TÜBİTAK and TÜSEB projects, accreditation, and student projects.

Topics discussed during the meeting included governance, research excellence, global rankings, university-industry cooperation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and smart campus applications.

SAU, 2nd Advisory Board Meeting.

In his speech, Binali Yıldırım emphasized that institutional structures at universities should become sustainable independently of individuals. He stated that Sakarya University had earned the title of research university through a significant achievement and underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between the university and industry.

The meeting also evaluated recommendations regarding digital transformation, data security, shared research infrastructures, and technology development initiatives. Participants discussed strengthening university-industry collaboration, establishing joint innovation platforms, and increasing cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.

SAU, 2nd Advisory Board Meeting