In line with its vision of quality assurance and continuous improvement in education, our university continues to strengthen its academic programmes and have them accredited in accordance with national standards. In this context, following comprehensive evaluations conducted by the Social Sciences, Humanities and Basic Sciences Accreditation and Rating Association - the Department of Business Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences has been accredited for a period of 3 years, whilst the Department of Economics has been accredited for 4 years, marking a significant achievement.

This success, achieved through systematic and meticulous work carried out under the guidance of our University’s Quality Coordination Office, stands out as a concrete reflection of our quality-focused approach to education. These accreditations certify the quality of the relevant departments’ teaching and learning activities, their academic competence and institutional infrastructure in line with national standards. At the same time, the quality of the education provided to our students is now guaranteed through an independent evaluation process.

In his statement on the matter, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, said: “This success achieved in the accreditation processes is an indication of our university’s quality-focused approach and sustainable development goals. I would like to thank all our staff for their efforts.”

Our University, which embraces quality as one of the fundamental elements of its institutional culture, regards accreditation efforts as a key tool for sustainable academic development; it is resolutely continuing its work to expand the quality assurance system across all academic units and to further elevate educational standards.

Whilst the quality assurance initiatives meticulously carried out by our University’s Quality Coordination Office continue to yield tangible results, two further departments have been awarded accreditation following comprehensive evaluations conducted by the Association for the Accreditation and Rating of Social, Human and Basic Sciences . Consequently, the number of accredited programmes at Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University has reached five, marking a significant milestone in our university’s journey towards quality.

As part of the successfully completed accreditation processes, the Department of Accounting and Financial Management and the Department of Finance and Banking, both within the Faculty of Applied Sciences, have been accredited for a period of four years. This significant achievement stands out as a concrete demonstration of the university’s commitment to educational quality, its approach to continuous improvement, and its strong academic infrastructure. Through the accreditation processes, the alignment of educational programmes with national standards has been confirmed, whilst the quality of the education our students receive has been validated by independent bodies.

Operating with a quality-focused management philosophy, our University continues to view accreditation efforts not merely as a goal but also as a vital tool for sustainable academic development. It is our aim that the quality assurance activities carried out at our University will be crowned with further successes in the coming period and that more programmes will complete the accreditation process.

n his statement on the matter, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, said: “This achievement is a tangible result of the quality improvement initiatives we have been carrying out in a planned and sustainable manner at our university. We view accreditation processes as a strategic tool for continuously improving the quality of our education and teaching. I would like to thank all academic and administrative staff who contributed to this process.”

The accreditation initiatives being carried out at our university, which aims to continuously enhance academic quality in line with national and international standards, continue to represent a significant milestone in terms of institutional development. These processes are of great importance both in ensuring the quality of education and teaching and in strengthening the academic opportunities offered to our students.

The ‘Sustainable Tourism Planning Consultancy for Gedikkaya Hill and İn Cave’ project, prepared by our university under the Bursa Eskişehir Bilecik Development Agency (BEBKA) Technical Support Project, aims to integrate the region’s historical and cultural heritage into tourism.

Led by our university’s academic staff member Prof. Dr. Deniz Sarı, the project aims to reassess the archaeological, cultural and natural heritage values of Gedikkaya Hill and İn Cave in İnhisar, whilst preserving them in line with sustainable tourism principles. The site, which offers continuous evidence of ritual use dating from the Epipalaeolithic Period—approximately 16,500 years ago—through to the Classical Age, constitutes one of the region’s most significant cultural landscapes with its multi-layered historical past.

The project seeks to develop a holistic planning approach that balances the preservation and utilisation of this rich heritage, enabling public access without compromising the archaeological site status of Gedikkaya Hill. As part of the study, the proposed ‘living excavation site’ model for the In Cave is designed to integrate scientific research processes with the visitor experience. The project will also highlight the site’s regional tourism potential, strengthening its integration with cultural tourism routes.

This comprehensive consultancy and planning initiative aims to provide local and international visitors with a high-quality, safe and educational experience; whilst placing great importance on the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations, and on supporting regional development by contributing to the growth of local economic activities.

Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, which ranks among the first 70 state universities in Turkey to receive institutional accreditation,University, which ranks among the first 70 state universities in Turkey to receive institutional accreditation,is proud to announce with great satisfaction thetwo-year Conditional Accreditation decision granted by the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK). This decision is a concrete demonstration of our university's commitment to quality assurance processes, our institutional development journey, and our sustainable improvement efforts.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our academic and administrative staff, as well as our Quality Coordination Office, for their dedicated work and their approach that embraces a culture of quality, which contributed to this significant achievement. Our students, who were at the heart of this process, have added meaning to this success both through their feedback and their trust in our university; we owe them a special thank you.

We also thank all external stakeholders working in collaboration with our university, our alumni, industry representatives, and local authorities for their support, evaluations, and partnerships. Their contributions are of great importance for the development of our institutional quality assurance and our ability to serve society more effectively.

This decision by the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) has provided us with significant motivation to address our shortcomings, strengthen our strengths, and move steadily towards our goal of becoming a more competitive higher education institution in line with national and international standards.

In his assessment of the matter, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, stated, "The accreditation decision granted by the Higher Education Quality Council is an important indicator of our university's quality-focused management approach and institutional development goals. We continue to develop our education and training, research, social contribution, and management processes with continuous improvement mindset. I believe that with the contribution of all our stakeholders, we will complete our shortcomings in a short time and achieve our goal of full accreditation. I would like to thank our academic and administrative staff, our students, and our stakeholders for their efforts in this process." he said.

Our university will steadfastly continue its commitment to quality assurance processes and, with the support of all stakeholders, will continue to carry a stronger institutional structure into the future. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this process once again and share our belief that we will successfully complete the Conditional Accreditation period and achieve our goal of full  accreditation together.

Our university's Centre for Women's Studies, Research and Application organised a programme to mark International Women's Day on 8 March. The programme, held in the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, attracted significant interest from academics and students.

In her opening speech, Centre Director Associate Professor Dilara Uslu highlighted the historical significance of International Women's Day, noting that although it is often perceived as a day of celebration, it is fundamentally an important day that reminds us of women's labour, the struggle for rights, and the quest for social equality. Continuing her speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uslu touched upon the historical background of the day, stating that the deaths of female workers who went on strike against harsh working conditions in 1857 as a result of a fire at their factory led to this day becoming a day commemorating working women, and that it was recognised as International Women's Day by the United Nations on 16 December 1975.

Dr Nur Manolya Şen Çatalkaya, a lecturer at Anadolu University who was a guest on the programme, emphasised in her presentation that widowhood in old age cannot be considered merely a socio-demographic variable, but rather an important factor that reveals lifelong disadvantages and social inequalities. Referring to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute for 2024 in her presentation, Dr. Çatalkaya stated that the fertility rate has remained below the population replacement threshold of 2.1 for the past ten years and was calculated at 1.51 in 2024.

The programme concluded with the presentation of a certificate to Dr. Nur Manolya Şen Çatalkaya.

A programme was held at the Şeyh Edebali Culture and Congress Centre as part of the 12 March National Anthem Adoption and Mehmet Akif Ersoy Commemoration Day.

The programme, held on Thursday, 12 March, was attended by Bilecik Governor Faik Oktay Sözer, Gendarmerie Training Commander Brigadier General Yusuf Aslan, Bilecik Mayor Melek Mızrak Subaşı, Chief Public Prosecutor, our Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Yurdakul, and our Secretary General Muhammet Büyük.

The programme included a moment of silence and the national anthem, a speech highlighting the significance of the day, a theatre performance prepared by Refik Arslan Öztürk Science High School, an oratorio, a poetry recital, and an awards ceremony.

The ‘Bilecik University Press’, established within our university, has officially commenced its activities. Aiming to disseminate the scientific and cultural knowledge produced at the university to wider audiences, the press will make a significant contribution to the institutionalisation of academic publishing activities.

The publishing house, which aims to transform the research, studies and academic work carried out at our university into permanent scientific resources, will enable the publication of books, supplementary textbooks, lecture notes and similar academic and cultural content. Works published within this scope will be made available to readers online and under an open access policy. Thanks to the open access approach, researchers, students, and all relevant stakeholders will be able to easily access the scientific knowledge produced at our university. Thus, the aim is to increase the visibility of academic work, disseminate scientific knowledge, and strengthen interdisciplinary interaction.

The newly established Bilecik University Press serves as an important platform that will contribute to making our university's scientific production capacity more visible at the national and international levels. It is expected that the works published through the press will bring our university's academic expertise to the international scientific community and make studies conducted in different disciplines more visible in global academic networks. In this respect, the publishing house is expected to make important contributions to our university's internationalisation policies and support the global circulation of academic knowledge.

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, made the following statement regarding the launch of the Bilecik University Press:

"Universities are not only institutions that carry out education and training activities, but also centres where scientific knowledge is produced and shared with society. With the establishment of Bilecik University Press within our university, we aim to publish academic studies in a more systematic manner and to reach wider audiences with our scientific output. I believe that our publishing house, which will operate with an open access approach, will make significant contributions to the national and international academic visibility of our university."

Bilecik University Press aims to contribute to the dissemination of academic knowledge, the wider dissemination of research outputs, and the strengthening of our university's scientific reputation by supporting our university's scientific production capacity.

A handover ceremony was held for Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bülbül, who was appointed as Dean of our Faculty of Dentistry. The ceremony, held on Tuesday, 10 March, was attended by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, along with our Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Nazile Ural, Prof. Dr. Murat Yurdakul, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kurban, and our Secretary General Muhammet Büyük.

Speaking at the ceremony, our Rector Prof. Dr. Kaplancıklı thanked Prof. Dr. Ali İrfan Güzel for his contributions to the development of the Faculty of Dentistry and his dedicated work during his tenure as Dean. Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Kaplancıklı, also wished Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bülbül success in his new role and expressed his hope that his work would be beneficial for our university and faculty.

Road construction and asphalting works carried out to improve the transport infrastructure at our University's Central Campus have been completed. Within the framework of our University's current capabilities, the works planned with the principle of using limited resources in the most efficient and appropriate manner have made campus transport safer and more comfortable.

As part of the works carried out on the routes covering our university's new development area, sub-base construction and hot mix asphalt application have been completed on a total of 877 metres of road routes. With these applications, the campus transportation infrastructure has been made more durable and sustainable.

In line with the works, the main road with a central reservation for two-way traffic, the side road of the Vocational School of Culinary Arts Building, the connecting road between the University Mosque and the Dining Hall Building, and the entrance road to the new development area have been renewed with hot asphalt paving. Thanks to the improvements made, the traffic flow within the campus has been made more orderly and controlled.

These works, which have been put into practice, strengthen the physical infrastructure of our university; they improve the transportation opportunities of students, academic and administrative staff within the campus and contribute directly to daily campus life.

Commenting on the matter, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, emphasised the importance of the work carried out for the physical development of the university, stating:

With the road construction and asphalting work carried out at our university's Central Campus, we are making campus transportation safer, more orderly and more comfortable. In this process, we are taking care to use our university's limited resources in the most appropriate and efficient manner. The work carried out on routes covering new development areas, in particular, facilitates the movement of our students and staff within the campus. We are continuing our investments in strengthening the physical infrastructure in a planned, prioritised and sustainable manner. We are determined to continue creating a transport infrastructure that is in line with the developing structure of our university.

The results of the 6th round of applications for the University Student Clubs Cooperation and Support Programme (ÜNİDES), run by the General Directorate of Youth Services of the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the aim of contributing to the personal, social, cultural and sporting development of young people, have been announced.

Seventeen projects submitted by our university's student clubs under the University Student Clubs Support Programme (ÜNİDES) have been awarded funding, marking a significant achievement.

In the 6th term, during which a total of 6,659 applications were made at state and foundation universities across Turkey and 1,378 projects were awarded funding following review by the evaluation committee, 17 student club projects prepared with the coordination and support of our University Student Clubs Coordination Office were awarded funding. With this success, our University has gained significant momentum, ranking 16th in the list of accepted projects. The work carried out by our students contributes significantly to both their academic development and their social and cultural interactions.

We wholeheartedly congratulate all our students and club advisors who have earned support for their successful projects and wish them every success in implementing their projects.

The ‘Executive Coaching Training’ programme, carried out under the partnership protocol signed between our university and Parkcam A.Ş., a subsidiary of the Ciner Group, has been successfully completed. This training programme was implemented as an important step towards developing university-industry cooperation and strengthening institutional capacity.

The coaching module, which was part of the 60-hour training programme, included comprehensive theoretical and practical work aimed at developing managers' leadership, communication and strategic thinking skills. During the training, contemporary coaching models such as GROW, CLEAR, OSKAR and FUEL, as well as Transactional Analysis and Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBT) approaches, were discussed in detail; practical studies were conducted to enable participants to use effective coaching approaches in management processes.

The programme also included interactive applications on topics such as the ‘10-80-10 Rule’, ‘Corridor Coaching’ and ‘Future Design’, one of the cornerstones of the programme, with the aim of contributing to the dissemination of a coaching culture within organisations and the more effective implementation of delegation processes. The training programme, coordinated by our University's Centre for Continuing Education, Application and Research, was completed with the presentation of certificates to participants by the Centre Director, Associate Professor Halilibrahim Ertürk, and trainer Lecturer Dr Emir Kudubeş.

This programme has made a significant contribution to strengthening the institutional cooperation between our university and Parkcam A.Ş. and transferring knowledge and experience to the industry.

Another Master's Programme Has Been Launched at Our University: Interdisciplinary Data Science and Analytics Master's Programme with Thesis

Our university has taken another significant academic step towards cultivating the qualified human resources required for digital transformation. The Interdisciplinary Data Science and Analytics Master's Programme with Thesis has been launched with the approval of the Higher Education Council (YÖK).

The programme aims to provide advanced knowledge and application skills in areas such as data management, machine learning, data mining, optimisation, and data visualisation by bringing together statistics, mathematics, and computer science in a holistic approach. The programme aims to train qualified data scientists who can analyse large and complex data sets, develop data-driven strategies, and produce solutions for different sectors.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, highlighted the role of universities in the data age, stating:

‘Today, data is not merely a technological element, but a strategic power. With the launch of our Interdisciplinary Data Science and Analytics Master's Programme with Thesis, we aim to train the qualified data experts our country needs. I hope this programme, which will strengthen our university's scientific capacity, will be beneficial.’

The programme, which stands out for its interdisciplinary structure, is expected to contribute to our University's academic competitiveness and support efforts to fill the shortage of specialists required in the public and private sectors.

As a result of the planned and dedicated efforts of our University Student Clubs Coordination Office and the coordinated process management carried out with the Bilecik Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, a total of 74 project applications were submitted by our student clubs under the University Student Communities Cooperation and Support Programme (ÜNİDES) run by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. With this record number of applications, our university achieved significant success by ranking 15th among 192 universities.

The strong communication and cooperation established with the Bilecik Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports during the application process, along with information meetings on the procedures and principles of the programme, technical guidance and coordination support, contributed to our clubs' effective and accurate execution of the process. This cooperation is a concrete example of constructive interaction between universities and public institutions.

The UNİDES programme aims to support projects by university student societies in the social, cultural, scientific and sporting fields, to increase the active participation of young people and to strengthen inter-university cooperation. The 74 applications submitted within this scope demonstrate that our students have gained significant experience in teamwork, project writing skills and social responsibility awareness, while also reflecting the dynamic and productive student structure of our university.

The Student Clubs Coordination Office, which encourages our students' active participation in scientific, cultural, artistic, and social fields, contributes to the emergence of high-quality work by guiding our clubs in the project development and application processes. The keen interest and high motivation shown by our clubs during this process demonstrate that the project culture at our university is growing stronger.

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı, made the following statement on the subject:

"The fact that our student clubs have reached a record level with 74 project applications is a concrete demonstration of the productivity and project awareness that has developed at our university. We are extremely pleased that our students stand out not only for their academic achievements but also for the projects they develop in social, cultural, and scientific fields. I congratulate our Student Clubs Coordination Office and all club members who have contributed their efforts, and I believe that these successes will continue to grow."

Şeyh Edebali University participated in the transnational kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ KA210-VET project ‘ECO-STONE – Eco-friendly and Sustainable Practices in the Natural Stone Industry’, which aims to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in the natural stone sector.

The project's kick-off meeting was held on 28–29 January 2026 in Cehegín, Murcia (Spain), hosted by the project coordinator CTM (Marble, Stone and Materials Technology Centre). Representatives from all partner institutions involved in the project attended the meeting. Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University was represented at the meeting by Associate Professor Dr Emre Dandıl, a faculty member of the Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.

International and Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The ECO-STONE project is being carried out within the framework of an international and multidisciplinary collaboration that brings together the goals of sustainability, environmentally friendly production and digital transformation in the natural stone sector. The project partners consist of the following institutions:

CTM – Marble, Stone and Materials Technology Centre (Spain) – Project Coordinator

Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University (Turkey) – Academic Partner

Bilecik Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Turkey) – Sectoral Partner

Romania Green Building Council – RoGBC (Romania) – Sustainability Partner

Rosal Stones S.A. (Spain) – Industry Partner

Thanks to this structure, the project aims to produce both theoretical and practical outputs based on collaboration between academia and industry.

Project Roadmap Reviewed at Kick-off Meeting

During the sessions held at the CTM centre on the first day of the meeting, the project's objectives, activity plan, timeline and expected outputs were discussed in detail. Partner organisations introduced their areas of expertise and shared the contributions they would make to the project process.

The meetings focused particularly on technical approaches to reducing environmental impacts in the natural stone sector, energy efficiency and sustainable production processes, the development of green and digital skills in vocational education, and blended learning models supported by digital technologies.

Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University will play an active role in the project in the areas of digital education content, online learning modules, and technological infrastructure development.

Field Trip and Technical Conference Held

On the second day of the meeting, a field trip and technical conference were organised in the Hellín (Albacete) region, hosted by project partner Rosal Stones S.A. During the field visit to Rosal Stones' natural stone quarry, sustainable stone extraction and processing techniques, environmentally conscious production practices, and examples of natural stone use in modern architecture were examined on-site.

On the same day, the technical conference entitled ‘Building with Stone Today (Construir en Piedra Hoy)’ addressed sustainability in the natural stone sector, ecological production processes, environmental impacts and future approaches, accompanied by academic and sectoral presentations.

The Academic Role of Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University in the Project

Through the ECO-STONE project, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University aims to combine its academic knowledge with sectoral applications, develop innovative education models supported by digital technologies, and strengthen international collaborations in the areas of green transformation and sustainability.

The educational materials and digital outputs to be developed within the scope of the project will create lasting and sustainable impacts in both the vocational education field and the natural stone sector.

Investments in Educational Infrastructure Continue at Our University

Our university continues to make planned and determined investments in physical facilities that support educational activities. In this context, in line with the Senate Decision dated 30 January 2025 and the favourable opinion of the Higher Education Council, the Osmaneli Vocational School Culinary Arts Programme has been transferred to the Vocational School located on the main campus; the physical infrastructure required for the programme has been completed in a short time as a result of the intensive efforts of our Rectorate and made available to our students.

The new education building, designed with a focus on practical application, is a single-storey prefabricated panel structure with a total area of 613 square metres. The building houses a 183-square-metre practical kitchen, as well as a dishwashing area and pantry; it also has three classrooms and three staff rooms. The practical kitchen is fully equipped with all professional kitchen appliances, such as ovens, stoves, extractor hoods, and similar items, in line with the educational requirements of the Culinary Arts Programme. This aims to provide students with practical training in an environment that meets industry standards.

Within the scope of the Vocational School's Culinary Arts Programme, students gain skills in effectively applying food preparation and cooking techniques, working in accordance with food safety and hygiene rules, planning menus and creating menus tailored to different nutritional needs, developing a creative and aesthetic presentation approach, and consciously planning their career goals. With this investment, our University continues to prepare its students for professional life in the best possible way, in line with its strong physical infrastructure and application-oriented education approach.

Visiting the new education building with our Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Nazile Ural, Prof. Dr. Murat Yurdakul, and Secretary General Muhammet Büyük, our Rector Prof. Dr. Zafer Asım Kaplancıklı emphasised that all investments implemented at the University focus on providing students with a high-quality, contemporary, and application-based education. stating that this new physical space created for the Culinary Arts Programme will significantly contribute to the development of students' professional knowledge and skills. Prof. Dr. Kaplancıklı also stated that the university is determined to continue strengthening its physical infrastructure and continuously advancing the quality of education.

Special Logo Designs from Our University for the 700th Anniversary of Seyh Edebali

The year 2026 has been included in the commemoration and celebration programmes of UNESCO, as it marks the 700th anniversary of the passing of Seyh Edebali, who had a significant influence on the formation of ethics, wisdom and statehood in Anatolia. Within this meaningful framework, our university has created two special logo designs to visually perpetuate the universal legacy of Seyh Edebali, whose name it bears.

The logos reflect a historical, cultural, and spiritual symbol prepared to commemorate and commemorate the 700th anniversary of Seyh Edebali's passing. The logos, which will be used in academic events and cultural programmes throughout 2026, as decided by our University Senate, will contribute to passing on Seyh Edebali's universal intellectual and moral legacy to younger generations.

As Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, we aim to keep alive the universal message of the great thinker Şeyh Edebali about humanity and society and to be a source of inspiration for future generations with these special designs.