Boğaziçi University

Boğaziçi University
Boğaziçi Üniversitesi
Former names
Robert College (1863-1970)
Type Public
Established 1863
President Gülay Barbarosoğlu[1]
Administrative staff
1,007[2]
Students 12,315[3]
Undergraduates 9,428[3]
Postgraduates 2,040[3]
847[3]
Location Istanbul, Turkey
Campus 6 Campuses: total 1.699 square kilometres (420 acres)[3]
Colors Light blue and dark blue         
Affiliations

EUA

IAU
UNIMED
Utrecht Network
Website boun.edu.tr Boğaziçi University

Boğaziçi University (also known as Bosphorus University, Turkish: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, "Boğaziçi" literally meaning Bosphorus in Turkish) is a major research university located on the European side of the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Turkey. It has four faculties and two schools offering undergraduate degrees, and six institutes offering graduate degrees. Founded in 1863, it is the first American higher education institution founded outside the United States, having strong ties to the American educational system through Robert College. Boğaziçi University consistently ranks highest in Turkey, having the most number of applicants via the YGS-LYS Turkish university entrance examinations. This allows Boğaziçi University to attract many of the highest scoring students;[4] as well as having the most preferred applied science, education, engineering, and social science programs in Turkey.[5][6] The language of instruction is English. Boğaziçi University is the only Turkish university among first 200 universities worldwide according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2013-2014.[7]

The university was founded in 1863 as Robert College. It was the first American higher education institution established outside the United States. Though under entirely Turkish administration today, the University still maintains strong ties to the American educational system and a substantial number of foreign (mostly American) faculty and students.


For many years Boğaziçi University has consistently attracted the most number of applicants via the central Turkish university entrance examinations (YGS-LYS akin to GMAT or GRE), while maintaining a low acceptance rate (classified as "most selective").[8]

The university has well developed applied science, education, engineering, and social science programs.[9][10] The language of instruction is English. Boğaziçi University is the only Turkish university among first-ranked 200 universities worldwide according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2013-2014.[11] Boğaziçi University also provides a liberal educational atmosphere and a program of extracurricular activities and sports.

History

In 1863, Robert College was founded in Bebek by Christopher Robert, a wealthy American and a philanthropist, and Cyrus Hamlin, a missionary devoted to education. Six years after its foundation, with the permission (Ottoman Turkish: irade) of the Ottoman Sultan, the first campus (at present, it is the South Campus of Boğaziçi University) was built in Bebek at the ridge of Rumelia Fortress, very close to a Bektashi tekke, whose leaders maintained an excellent relationship with the Congregational and Presbyterian founders of Robert College, according to Dr Friedrich Schrader, a German lecturer at Robert College during the 1890s.[12] The first building of the school was named "Hamlin Hall" in memory of Cyrus Hamlin. Few years after the foundation of Robert College, in 1878, Christopher Robert died. According to the article, A Millionaire's Will, published in New York Times (November 27, 1878), Robert left a great portion of his wealth to the College.[13]

A College Catalog was compiled in 1878–1879, giving general information and an outline of the courses of study. Defining the aims of the College the catalog stated: "The object of the College is to give to its students, without distinction of race or religion, a thorough educational equal in all respects to that obtained at a first-class American college and based upon the same general principles."

Robert College 1880

After Hamlin, Robert College was administrated by George Washburn (1877–1903)[14] and Caleb Gates (1903–1932). Though founded at the time of the Ottoman Empire as an institution of higher learning serving the Christian minorities of the Empire as well as foreigners living in Istanbul, the school adopted a strictly secular educational model in accordance with the republican principles of Turkey in 1923. Robert College, in the past had junior high school, high school, and university sections under the names Robert Academy, Robert Yüksek and American College for Girls. Since 1971, the school has functioned only as a "high school"[15] (more comparable to the French lycée in academic rigor) on its Arnavutköy campus (formerly the campus of American College for Girls), yet it retains the title of College. The Bebek campus and academic staff were turned over to the Republic of Turkey for use as Boğaziçi University, the renamed continuation of Robert College's university section, as a public university.

"Through the education of succeeding generations of students, Robert College has assisted the economic and social progress in the Near East. It has also brought direct benefits to several generations of Americans—faculty members, trustees, students, contributors, and other friends of the College. Their close association with the heroic and hospitable people of Turkey has led to a greater appreciation of Turkish life and culture and the strong foundations on which the Republic of Turkey, our close friend and partner in peace, has been built. I send my cordial congratulations to the officers and friends of Robert College on the century of service you are so deservedly celebrating."
John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, Message for the Centennial Celebrations of Robert College, 1963[16]

Campus

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Boğaziçi University operates on six campuses in Istanbul. Four of these campuses (South Campus, North Campus, Hisar Campus and Uçaksavar Campus) are adjacent and are locates on a hill in the affluent district of Bebek on the European side of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus (hence, the name). The Kandilli Campus is right across from the shore, located on the Asian side of Istanbul (in Çengelköy) and hosts the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI). The newest campus is in Kilyos on the Black Sea costs and hosts a private beach. South Campus is the most popular campus among students and the visitors alike. [17]

Departments offering bachelor's degrees

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Boğaziçi University

Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Engineering

School of Applied Disciplines

The School of Foreign Languages

Institutes offering graduate programs

Graduate Studies in Sciences and Engineering

Atatürk Institute for Modern Turkish History

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Institute of Environmental Sciences

Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute

Graduate Studies in Social Sciences

Vocational School of Hotel Management

  • Tourism Administration Program (Secondary education)

Other Units

Independent centers

Istanbul Center for Mathematical Sciences (IMBM) (South Campus)

Student clubs

  • ADK (Kemalist Ideology Club)
  • Aviation Club
  • Ballet Club
  • Ballroom Dancing Society
  • Bridge Club
  • BUDS (Bogazici University Debating Society)
  • BUMATEK (Bogazici University Machinery and Technology Club)
  • BUSAS (Water Sports Club)
  • BUSOS (Bogazici University Social Services)
  • BUSUIK (Bogazici University Politics and International Relations Club)
  • BUYAK (Bogazici University Operations Research Club)
  • BUHAK (Bogazici University Air Club) (Paragliding)
  • Chess Club
  • Cinema Club
  • IT Club (Compec)

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

References

  1. Governance Boğaziçi University
  2. Statistics Boğaziçi University
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sayılarla Boğaziçi Universitesi 2010 Boğaziçi University
  4. İlk 1000 Universielere göre dağılım Boğaziçi University
  5. Belgeler OSYM
  6. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=w7xwCgrf4qgC&pg=PA184&lpg=PA184&dq=first+american+higher+education+robert+college&source=bl&ots=9axhld_JFi&sig=xu52q8a_ewQF4Sd_-HbiDROaPnk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FKl1UeDTItOw4QSPo4DwBw&ved=0CGwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=first%20american%20higher%20education%20robert%20college&f=false
  7. World Rankins 2013 Times Higher Education
  8. İlk 1000 Universielere göre dağılım Boğaziçi University
  9. Belgeler OSYM
  10. Higher Education Management and Development. Compendium for Managers - Google Books
  11. World Rankins 2013 Times Higher Education
  12. Friedrich Schrader in: Robert College, Nord und Süd, November 1919, S. 165–169 (Article in German language)
  13. "Christopher Robert's Will" (PDF). The New York Times. 27 November 1878. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  14. "George Washburn". Dictionary of American Biography (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1936. GALE|BT2310001134. Retrieved 2012-02-26. Gale Biography In Context. (subscription required)
  15. "About Robert College". Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  16. "Story of Robert College" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
  17. Main campus Boğaziçi University
  18. "Media Kit -> Project Summary Document" (PDF). Around-n-Over (PDF file linked from "http://www.around-n-over.org/media/mediakit.htm"). 22 Aug 2012. Retrieved 7 Dec 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
  19. "The Ocean Rowing Society - Circumnavigation of the Globe under Human Power". The Ocean Rowing Society. Retrieved 3 Mar 2014.
  20. "Guinness World Records - First Person to Row Three Oceans". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 7 Dec 2013.
  21. "Murat Ulker". Forbes. Retrieved 24 January 2015.

External links

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Coordinates: 41°05′01″N 29°03′02″E / 41.083556°N 29.050598°E / 41.083556; 29.050598

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