Istinye University and QNB have signed a comprehensive cooperation protocol aimed at contributing to students’ career development, supporting them in gaining sectoral experience, and enabling them to take strong steps into the professional world. This strategic partnership will provide students with internship programs, project-based work, specialized training, and direct interaction opportunities with industry professionals, helping them better prepare for the business world.
The cooperation protocol was signed in the presence of Rector Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş, QNB Cash Management and Foreign Trade Director Rahşan Tiken Kavas, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Hatice Gülen, Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan, and Prof. Dr. Bestami Özkaya, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Prof. Dr. Mehmet Alper Tunga, Vice Dean Assoc. Prof. Saliha Karadayı Usta, QNB Cash Management and Foreign Trade Officer Burcu Korutürk, ISU Connectom President Assoc. Prof. Okan Yaşar, and Deputy Secretary General İlkay Sancaktar.
“Universities have a responsibility to lead society today”
In his speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Erkan İbiş emphasized the significance and impact of the collaboration:
“I would like to thank both our university team and QNB for their efforts in making this cooperation possible. This is the result of a valuable vision that will enhance the collaboration, networking, and educational processes of both our institutions. Regardless of the circumstances, education remains a central pillar of society. Today, universities must lead in areas such as societal collaboration, R&D, technology, and data. Therefore, partnerships with companies are highly valuable. We are pleased that our university is included in joint projects, experience-sharing initiatives, and social responsibility processes that offer our students practical opportunities in the field.”
“We value teaching and learning in this partnership”
QNB Cash Management and Foreign Trade Director Rahşan Tiken Kavas stated:
“I personally value lifelong learning, continuous reading, and engaging with education. Through this collaboration with Istinye University, we will not only share our sectoral experience with students but also gain the opportunity to update ourselves based on their current knowledge and needs. This partnership is very valuable to us because it emphasizes both teaching and learning.”
QNB’s first-ever university collaboration will be with Istinye University
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hatice Gülen remarked:
“I’ve learned that this is QNB’s first university collaboration, and it is an honor that it began with İstinye University. This opens the door to further collaborations in the future. We are planning joint projects, including those at the graduate and postgraduate levels. There are many projects in areas like management, digitalization, data, and artificial intelligence. This partnership will support both research and education initiatives. I hope it brings success to both institutions.”
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan added:
“This agreement is a powerful step not just for our Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, but for all faculties. Today, institutions aim to promote social welfare and development. From what I’ve observed, QNB is highly sensitive to these values. It is an important stakeholder in fields like education, environmental issues, gender equality, and social responsibility. Collaborating with our other academic units based on QNB’s sectoral expertise will be highly productive.”
“ISU Connectom prioritizes health, technology, education, and entrepreneurship”
Assoc. Prof. Okan Yaşar, President of ISU Connectom, stated:
“I hope this will be beneficial for both parties. As ISU Connectom, we prioritize collaborations that make a difference in health, technology, education, and entrepreneurship. That’s why this protocol with QNB is particularly valuable to us.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Alper Tunga, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, who played a key role in the process, emphasized that the “branded courses” initiated within the faculty will continue more efficiently with QNB’s senior executives:
“The rapid signing of this protocol between two large institutions with ambitious R&D goals reflects the eagerness on both sides. We are grateful for everyone’s efforts. We will be preparing through curriculum and course planning. By combining the expertise of both institutions, we aim to actively launch this project in the fall semester and bring it to our students.”
The signing ceremony concluded with the official signing of the protocol and a commemorative photo session.
