2012-2013 Academic Year Opens with a Ceremony

Bahçeşehir University (BAU) opened the 2012-2013 academic year with a simultaneous ceremony held at its Istanbul and Berlin campuses. The opening ceremony was attended by Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Şenay Yalçın and former French Prime Minister Édith Cresson, as well as many academics and students.

 

GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS
 

Speaking at the ceremony, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Şenay Yalçın stated that Bahçeşehir University has become a world university and gave students good news, saying: "As of the 2012-2013 academic year, double major and minor programs at Bahçeşehir University have been made free of charge for all students, with or without scholarships. In addition, the protection of earned scholarship rights has been ensured for programs involving internal lateral transfers within the university."

 

Stating that the Bahçeşehir University library budget has reached one million dollars, President Şenay Yalçın noted that the number of faculties has risen to 9, graduate schools to 4, research and application centers to 14, doctoral programs to 14, master's programs to 70, undergraduate programs to 41 and associate degree programs to 13. (Click here for the full text of Prof. Dr. Şenay Yalçın's speech.)

 

CRESSON: "TÜRKİYE CONTINUES ITS ENVIABLE GROWTH"
 

Speaking at the ceremony, former French Prime Minister Édith Cresson said: "Although countries with giant economies in Europe are shrinking, Türkiye continues its enviable growth. This growth, experienced in every field, continues in education as well." Responding positively to the BAU Chair of the Board of Trustees' request to open a school in Paris, Cresson emphasized that Türkiye has made significant progress in terms of democracy but that this is not enough.

 

Joining the ceremony via video conference from the campus in Berlin, the capital of Germany, Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Chair of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel emphasized that the foundations of a Turkish-German university have been laid and called on the German government to lift visas for students studying there. At the ceremony, also attended by former French Prime Minister Édith Cresson, Enver Yücel announced that they want to open another Bahçeşehir University campus in Paris, France.