Istinye University has achieved a significant milestone that will strengthen cooperation between the European Union and Turkey in the fields of economy, trade, and sustainability. The university’s project titled “CoEUGREENTRADE: Center of Excellence for EU-Turkey Integration: Trade, Industry and Sustainability” has been selected for funding by the European Commission under the prestigious “Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence” program.
This distinguished title, granted to a limited number of institutions across Europe, is recognized as a mark of academic excellence, strong research capacity, and active engagement in policy-making.
The project is co-led by Prof. Dr. Hatice Gülen, Faculty Member of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Vice Rector, along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Oğuz Demir. Project team members Prof. Dr. Ayselin Yıldız, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saliha Karadayı Usta, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayfer Ustabaş, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Elif Çiçekli will coordinate the academic modules and research groups.
“Our Academic and Strategic Cooperation with the European Union is Growing Stronger”
Prof. Dr. Hatice Gülen highlighted the significance of this international recognition with the following remarks:
“Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence are among the most prestigious programs of the European Union supporting multidisciplinary education, research, and policy development capacity in higher education. With this distinguished support, Istinye University has become one of the few higher education institutions in Turkey to hold this title. Our university continues to strengthen its academic and strategic cooperation with the European Union. This development not only confirms Istinye University’s capacity to produce multidisciplinary academic excellence at a European level, but also reinforces Turkey’s active role in the EU’s integrated green transition process.
The CoEUGREENTRADE project aims to implement knowledge production and capacity-building activities within a comprehensive framework in line with the EU’s sustainable growth and green transformation goals. I extend my gratitude to all our academics who contributed to this achievement.”
Key missions of the project include:
Development of six new undergraduate and postgraduate academic modules focused on EU integration, trade policies, and industrial sustainability,
Special training programs for executives and professionals to enhance the capacity of private sector and public institutions to comply with EU regulations,
Conducting academic research on the economic and regulatory impacts of the EU Green Deal, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and EU–Turkey trade relations,
Organizing six roundtable meetings and six online international conferences to bring together policymakers, academics, and industry representatives at national and international levels,
Building international academic and institutional partnerships with universities, think tanks, and trade organizations in Europe.
A Vision Aligned with Sustainability Goals
The project demonstrates strong alignment with the European Union’s Sustainable Growth Strategies, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and Turkey’s Green Deal Action Plan. In doing so, it contributes to building a qualified academic and institutional framework that will support Turkey’s economic and industrial integration with EU sustainability standards.
