Our Department's Advisory Board met online on November 13, 2025. In the meeting, which was opened by our Head of Department Prof. Dr. Aykut Ekinci, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Safa Ünal gave an evaluation regarding the 2024-2025 Academic Year and departmental activities. Following a presentation on the updated texts of the Program Learning Outcomes and Program Educational Objectives, which were revised with the recommendations previously submitted by the Advisory Board and other stakeholders, an information session was held regarding the newly added courses to the curriculum. Meetings held through the student club and within the scope of departmental career counseling were evaluated, and ideas were exchanged on potential collaborations with industry representatives.
Additionally, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul Çam informed our Advisory Board about the program accreditation application our department is currently pursuing. Furthermore, mutual ideas were exchanged regarding potential internship opportunities.
On November 12, 2025, within the scope of the Economic Policy course conducted by our department faculty member Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Haydaroğlu, we hosted retired faculty member Prof. Dr. Kemal Yıldırım. Our esteemed professor interpreted macroeconomic models through a historical perspective, taking our students on a historical journey through the general trajectory of economic science, starting from Adam Smith. He stated that the economist strives to understand the world through models and explained that these models are updated according to the conditions of the period, but essentially, they are derivatives of the same core models.
He expressed that whether an economy is functioning well can be easily understood through four main indicators: productivity, unemployment, inflation, and equity in income distribution; and that the source of long-term development stems from growth, especially from increases in productivity. At this point, he emphasized the importance of institutions such as education, health, and social infrastructure for economic development, and their crucial role in fostering new ideas. Furthermore, he pointed out that the market has a characteristic that does not tolerate intervention, and the state should only assume a regulatory role by intervening in markets that are not functioning properly.
We once again thank our esteemed professor, Prof. Dr. Kemal Yıldırım, for this lecture which broadened the horizons of our department students.
A visit was made by our Head of Department to Mr. Mustafa Öztürk, President of the Bilecik Chamber of Certified Public Accountants and a member of our advisory board, on November 6, 2025. Mutual cooperation opportunities and exchange of ideas took place. During the visit, which was also attended by the Chamber Secretary Ahmet Can, a consensus was reached on including Economics Department students in the training programs organized by the Chamber. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Chamber's management and members in activities organized to enhance our students' careers was discussed. On this occasion, we wish the new Chamber management success in their duties.
Department of Economics
On October 23, 2025, we gathered with our Student Advisory Board, composed of representatives from each undergraduate year, in the Department of Economics Meeting Room. During the meeting, which was attended by department faculty members and members of our accreditation commission, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul Çam and Asst. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Safa Ünal, and İsmail Tansel Us, who serves as the student representative on the department's advisory board, students were informed about the Program Accreditation process our department is undergoing and the Institutional Accreditation Program process our university is involved in.
Students were given a presentation about the channels through which they can access accurate information regarding departmental processes, as well as the new interface and menus of our department website. The artificial intelligence-based advisor service, which we launched as a new application, was also introduced.
Consultations were held regarding the purpose and function of establishing the Advisory Board, and feedback was received from our students. We wish this board, which we designed as a more effective mechanism for interaction and exchange of ideas between the department and students, success and extend our best wishes to our students.
Our orientation program, prepared for our newly registered students (1st-year students, those registered via horizontal transfer or DGS) in our department, was held on October 7, 2025, with the kind participation of our students and academic staff.
The program, featuring our Department of Economics faculty members Asst. Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul Çam and Asst. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Safa Ünal as speakers, first provided a brief introduction to what the science of Economics is, what it studies, and its methods. Recommendations were offered regarding what Economics graduates do, what career opportunities are available, and how students can develop themselves starting from the first year.
In the second part of the orientation program, which was conducted in two segments, our Head of Department Prof. Dr. Aykut Ekinci, our Vice Heads of Department Asst. Prof. Dr. Havva Nesrin Tiryaki and Asst. Prof. Dr. Serkan Varsak, along with one of our department faculty members Prof. Dr. Mevlüdiye Şimşek, met with the students and offered advice.
In the following part of the program, detailed information was provided on topics such as career planning, internship opportunities, double major, minor, and exchange programs, and student clubs. Furthermore, a presentation was given on the academic calendar and links deemed useful for students, as well as university processes like exams, attendance, grade objections, make-up exams, and late registration. Key subjects closely concerning students were also covered, including letter grades, the distribution of compulsory and elective courses in the curriculum, the course selection system, course registration, rules for taking courses from higher semesters, and taking courses in summer school. Student registration advisors Res. Asst. Bilal Orhan (Career Advisor), Res. Asst. Nakşıdil Alparslan, and Res. Asst. Oğuzhan Ata met with our students and shared their experiences regarding key information.
We concluded the orientation program by informing our students about the artificial intelligence-based advisor chatbot prepared for our department students.
As the Department of Economics, we congratulate our newly joined students on this new phase of their lives and wish them a successful academic year.
Note: Students who could not attend the orientation program, please click here for the relevant presentation file.
We gathered with our graduates on the occasion of the graduation day celebrations held on June 27, 2025. In the focus group meeting we held with our students who were graduating in 2025, we discussed the Economics Department program learning outcomes in detail. We addressed our students' career goals and the difficulties and issues they encountered in the Economics undergraduate program throughout their academic lives. We listened to the suggestions of the students, who are internal stakeholders and primary beneficiaries of the program, for resolving these issues. In the meeting, which was attended by the department's academic staff and student advisors, we exchanged information and views with the students regarding advising, career counseling, and defined processes. On this occasion, we thank our graduates who participated in the meeting and shared their valuable ideas with us.
We gathered with our students at the graduation ceremony held on June 27, 2025, at our university stadium. The ceremony saw wide participation from our students, their parents, our faculty members, and staff. We congratulate our department graduates and wish them success in their lives.
The "Career Days with FEAS Graduates" Event, organized by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of our University, started on Wednesday, May 14. The event, which aimed to bring together guests who graduated from various departments of the faculty with current students, concluded on May 16 with the session attended by graduates of the Department of Economics.
The opening speeches of the program were delivered by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, and the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Prof. Dr. İsa İpçioğlu. While the Business Administration Department session was held on the first day of the event, the sessions for the Finance, Management Information Systems, and Political Science and Public Administration departments followed on the second day. On the third day, the Economics Department session took place, featuring our department graduates: Cihan Örs, Manager of Support Services at Bilecik Municipality; Osman Çalış, Algorithmic Transactions Specialist at Osmanlı Yatırım; Tugay Koska, Tax Inspector; and Sıla Kaplan, Management Reporting Specialist at Türkiye İş Bankası, as speakers.
In the meeting moderated by our Vice Head of Department and faculty member, Asst. Prof. Dr. Serkan Varsak, our department graduates shared their experiences by narrating their career journeys to the students. We had the chance to meet with our graduates again and benefit from their experiences in the meeting, which saw a high participation rate from our department faculty members and students. We, as the Department of Economics, thank all participating stakeholders.
An important seminar was held on Tuesday, April 15, in the Conference Hall of our University's Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, within the scope of the project “Individual Financial Self-Efficacy”, implemented in cooperation with our University and the Bilecik Provincial Police Department.
The program was attended by the Governor of Bilecik, Mr. Şefik Aygöl, Bilecik Deputy Mayor Yaşar Külhan, our Rector Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, the Provincial Protocol, our academics, our students, and members of the police organization and their spouses.
In the presentation given by one of our Department of Economics faculty members, Dr. Serkan Varsak, attention was drawn to issues individuals should consider in their ability to balance income and expenses, savings habits, budget planning, debt management, and financial decision-making processes. Participants were also informed about methods for coping with economic challenges encountered in daily life.
The event served as an excellent example of the strong communication and social responsibility established between the university and the police organization and was welcomed with satisfaction by the participants.
Our Department of Economics Advisory Board held its first meeting of 2025 in our department's meeting room on January 29, 2025. While the agenda of the meeting consisted of the ongoing draft work for program educational objectives and program learning outcomes, our Advisory Board exchanged ideas regarding the Economics Department's undergraduate curriculum and the operation of our undergraduate and graduate programs. Views were discussed concerning the competencies that would be beneficial for our students' career development after graduation. Topics covered included field experiences, internship opportunities, and how students can gain experience related to the market and sectors while their education is still ongoing. The meeting, during which ideas were exchanged regarding newly developing fields, career opportunities, and how the undergraduate program can prepare students for these career goals, was completed productively. We thank all participating stakeholders for sharing their valuable insights with us.
The seminars organized by our Department of Economics aimed at enhancing the careers of our students and graduates and providing information on new developments in the field are continuing. The Artificial Intelligence and Economy Seminar, held on January 8, 2025, took place in our Faculty's conference hall with the participation of our students, graduates, and staff.
The meeting, which was opened by one of our department faculty members, Prof. Dr. Mevlüdiye Şimşek, featured Prof. Dr. Müfit Akyüz, a retired faculty member and former head of the Department of Economics at Marmara University, as the speaker. He delivered an insightful presentation on developments in artificial intelligence and technology and the innovations these developments bring to the field of economics. The meeting concluded with our Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Aykut Ekinci, presenting a certificate of appreciation to our speaker. We extend our sincere thanks once again to all our stakeholders who participated, both as a speaker and as attendees.
The seminar, entitled "Preparation for Business Life," was held on October 18, 2024, with the objective of providing guidance to students pursuing careers in diverse fields of economics. The event, which was organized by the Department of Economics, provided students with information regarding the issues they should consider when entering the business world and the opportunities they may encounter in their professional lives.
The seminar was organized by the Department of Economics' Career Advisor and Res. Asst. Bilal Orhan. In his opening remarks, he indicated that additional events will be held in the near future to facilitate the career development of our students and that new initiatives will be introduced in response to student needs.
In the seminar, our esteemed professors, Assoc. Prof. Resül YAZICI and Assoc. Prof. Hüseyin TEZER, shared their professional biographies and experiences in their respective fields of expertise. Subsequently, the students engaged in a discussion of the presentations on the importance of a curriculum vitae, the preparation process for interviews, and the value of sector experiences.
We would like to express our gratitude to all students and esteemed professors who participated in the event. Further details regarding forthcoming events will be made available on our website.
