Suat Günsel

Dr. Suat Irfan Günsel
Born	3 August 1952 Beşiktepe Village, Paphos, Cyprus
Nationality	Turkish Cypriot
Education	Educational Psychology
Alma mater	Middle East Technical University
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Known for	Founder & Owner of Near East University
Net worth	US$1.1 billion (2015)[1]
Children	Irfan S. Günsel, Cemre Günsel, Aziz Günsel

Suat İrfan Günsel (born 3 August 1952) is a Turkish Cypriot entrepreneur, businessman^[2] and founder of the Near East University. In 2011, Forbes ranked him as the second richest person in Cyprus and the 1,140th richest person in the world with a net worth of $1 billion.^[1][3][4][5]

Personal and business life

Günsel, the Founding Rector of the Near East University, is married with three children. In 2013, he founded the University of Kyrenia.^[1]

Honorary doctorates

Günsel has received honorary doctorates from the following universities:

• 2010 Komrat University,^[6] Moldova
• 2010 Azerbaijan State University,^[7] Azerbaijan
• 2011 Izhevsk International Eastern European University of Republic of Udmurtia,^[8] Udmurt Republic
• 2011 Odlar Yurdu University,^[9] Azerbaijan
• 2013 Crimean Engineering-pedagogical University,^[10] Crimea

Awards and prizes

Some awards and prizes given to Günsel are as follows;

• August 2009, awarded with the "Honorary Medal of Gagauzian Land" and honoured with the "Title of Notable Person" at the II. World Gagauzians Conference by the President of Gagauzia, His Excellency Mihail Formuzal.^[11]
• December 2009, honoured with Golden Honour Medal by Gagauzia Autonomous Republic for his contributions to educational sector of Gagauzia Autonomous Republic.^[12]
• March 2010, awarded with "Outstanding Success" by the National Assembly of TRNC for his contributions and investments made for educational systems and health sectors of TRNC.^[13]
• October 2010, awarded for his contributions to Turkish speaking countries' culture and education with "Türksoy Golden Medal of Honour" in accordance with the decision taken at the conference of Organization of Common Directorate of International Turkish Culture and Arts by the Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture of Member Countries of TÜRKSOY (The International Organization of Turkic Culture).^[14]
• November 2010, appointed the "Plenary Ambassador of TRNC" through the common decision of the President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu and the National Assembly of TRNC.
• November 2010, awarded with the "Golden Honorary Plaquet" by the Centre of Islam, History, Art and Culture for his contributions to Islamic Conference Organization.^[15]
• February 2011, honoured with a "Medal of Commemoration" for 60th anniversary of invention of Avtomat Kalashnikova 47 (AK 47), one of the most important patents of 20th century, by the legendary designer of this gun, General Mihail Kalashnikov.^[16]
• July 2011, awarded with "Friendship Order", the highest order of the state given to foreigners, by the President of Azerbaijan, His Excellency İlham Aliyev, for his outstanding contributions to develop the relations between TRNC and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and for his contributions to Azerbaijan Diaspora.^[17]
• On 7 November 2011, Günsel was awarded with the Honorary Medal in celebrations organised to commemorate the 20th anniversary of establishment of Autonomous Gagauzian Republic.^[18]
• On 1 December 2011, conferred an honorary PhD in education upon the decision of Senate of Odlar Yurdu University of Azerbaijan^[19]
• On 1 June 2013, At the first Turkey Achievement Awards Ceremony organized by Turkey Life Magazine "Award of International Quality in Education" has been presented to Dr.Suat İ.Günsel due to his international contributions to education.^[20]
• October 2013, Special Gold Medal of 20th Anniversary of TURKSOY was decorated to Günsel, the Founding Rector of Near East University Cyprus, at 31st Term Meeting of the Permanent Council of TURKSOY for his outstanding contributions to cultural and educational issues of Turkic world.^[21][22]
• On 2 July 2013,The 2013 Socrates Award that was awarded Günsel by Oxford Europe Business Assembly (EBA) at the award ceremony of Swiss Summit of Leaders held in Montreaux, Switzerland.^[23]

References

1. Forbes. "Suat Gunsel". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
2. Sabah. "Suat Günsel". Retrieved 10 September 2012.
3. Finans Haber. "Forbes'un KKTC'li milyarderi". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
4. Hurriyet. "Lefkoşa'daki çöplüğe üniversite kurdu 18 yılda dünya zenginler ligine girdi". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
5. Kibris Gazetesi. "Yaratılan değer, halkımızın onurudur". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
6. Star Kibris. "Günsel'e Moldova'dan fahri doktora". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
7. Star Kibris Gazetesi. "Suat Günsel'e Azerbaycan'dan ödül". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
8. Kibris Postasi. "Rusya Federasyonu'ndan Suat Günsel'e fahri doktora". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
9. Kıbrıs Postası. "YDÜ Kurucu Rektörü Dr. Suat Günsel'e Bakü'de Fahri Doktora ünvanı verildi". Retrieved 1 December 2011.
10. Kıbrıs Postası. "Kırım Devlet Üniversitesi Senatosu Günsel'e Fahri Doktora verdi". Retrieved 27 May 2013.
11. Star Kibris. "Gagauzya'dan Suat Günsel'e Şeref Madalyası". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
12. Volkan Gazetesi. "Suat Günsel'e altın şeref madalyası". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
13. Kibris Gazetesi. "Üstün Hizmet Ödülü". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
14. Avrupa Gazetesi. "Dr. Suat Günsel'e "En Yüksek Altın Onur Madalyası"". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
15. Haber Havadis. "Günsel'e Altın Plaket". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
16. Kibris Postasi. "Kalaşnikov'dan Suat Günsel'e madalya". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
17. Kibris Postasi. "Günsel'e Azerbaycan Cumhurbaşkanı Aliyev'den en yüksek devlet nişanı". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
18. Kibris Postasi. "Gagauzya 20. yıl şeref madalyası YDÜ Kurucu Rektörü Günsel'e verildi". Retrieved 8 November 2011.
19. Kibris Postasi. "YDÜ Kurucu Rektörü Dr. Suat Günsel'e Bakü'de Fahri Doktora ünvanı verildi". Retrieved 1 December 2011.
20. NEU Duyuru-Haber. "Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi Türkiye'de ve Avrupa'da Ödüle Doymuyor".
21. NEU Duyuru-Haber. "Dr. Suat İ. Günsel To Be Awarded With Gold Medal".
22. http://arsiv.duyuru.neu.edu.tr/?p=57644
23. NEU Duyuru. "Dr. Suat Günsel, the Founding Rector of Near East University, received the 2013 Socrates Award".