Dean’s Message
Prof. Şuhnaz Yılmaz Özbağcı
As the College of Administrative Sciences and Economics, we aim to prepare our students for a globalizing world with a well-rounded and high-quality education. With our research activities, we strive to extend the frontiers of science and to educate prominent leaders for a sustainable future. Toward this goal, one of our top priorities is to encourage and enhance interdisciplinary work and interactions among economics, business administration and international relations in our education and research programs…
Koç University College of Administrative Sciences and Economics
Mission
The principle mission of the College of Administrative Sciences and Economics is to conduct research that contributes to scientific development on an international scale and cultivate Türkiye’s most competent graduates, well-rounded adults who are internationally qualified; who can think creatively, independently and objectively; and who are confident leaders. Concurrently, research conducted at Koç University contributes to scientific development on an international scale and bolsters technological, economic and social development. Koç University consistently strives to advance knowledge through its efforts and to serve progress in Türkiye as well as sustainable development globally by becoming an institutional model of excellence
Our Core Values
are Excellence, Integrity, Fairness, Civility, Creativity and Globalism / Cosmopolitanism.
Vision
The vision of the College of Administrative Sciences and Economics is to provide a world-class education, achieve academic excellence in research, and benefit society locally and globally. Our graduates take leadership in economic and social progress as critical thinkers and creative individuals. They are dedicated to the highest ethical standards, social inclusion and values of participatory democracy.
International Partnerships and Accreditation
The Koç University College of Administrative Sciences and Economics and Graduate School of Business have been granted accreditation by the global accreditation institution AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Having previously attained AMBA and EQUIS accreditations, Koç University has become the first and only academic institution in Türkiye to have the “Triple Crown” of the three most prestigious accreditations in this field.
International Advisory Board
Professor Holli A. Semetko – Professor Leonard Lane – Professor Thomas Bieger – Şükrü Dinçer
Awards
“The Outstanding Achievement Award” at the 18th Kadir Has Awards was given to Prof. Dr. Ziya Öniş from the Department of International Relations in recognition for his original and ground-breaking work on the developmental state and global political economy, the political economy of development, the interface of globalization and democracy, comparative political economy of emerging powers, Turkish politics and European politics, as well as his role as well as his contributions as a teacher and educator, Professor Ziya Öniş was deemed worthy by the Kadir Has Awards Selection Committee for the “Outstanding Achievement Award” of 2023. Wholehearted congratulations to Prof. Ziya Öniş for this outstanding accomplishment and best wishes for his continued success.
In the project “Affective Polarization and Democratic Attitudes” Assoc. Prof. Selim Erdem Aytaç from the Department of International Relations will examine the effects of antipathy, distrust, and negative emotions that individuals hold towards the supporters of opposing political parties. Focusing on how such processes of affective polarization affect people’s democratic attitudes, the project will generate comparable observational and experimental data from multiple countries. With this project, Dr. Aytaç aims to establish the causal relationship between affective polarization and changes in democratic attitudes through novel empirical approaches, and also to identify reliable and generalizable experimental interventions to reduce affective polarization in multiple contexts. Wholehearted congratulations to Assoc. Prof. Selim Erdem Aytaç for this outstanding accomplishment and best wishes for his continued success.
Mezunlarımız
In 1998, I was placed among the top 30 students in the Turkish university admission exam and I was enrolled as a full scholarship student at the Department of Economics, which was my first choice. This has been one of the milestones in my life. My years at Koç University were very productive for me. Despite not knowing any English, I was able to learn advanced level English in only one year thanks to Koç University’s ELC – English preparation program. Following the preparatory class, our bachelor classes have begun. During this time, I realized that Koç University differentiated itself from the other universities via the existence of a close communication between the students and academicians. Our teachers made us feel valued and class participation was always encouraged. Our teachers always kept their doors open for us. When I decided to pursue Economics as an academician, I received immense support from my teachers. As a result of my PhD applications during my senior year, I was accepted to prestigious schools in the United States of America, such as MIT, Harvard and Stanford and I preferred MIT. I completed my PhD at the Department of Economics at MIT. I am currently working as a Professor at the University of Chicago. Son sınıfta yaptığım doktora başvurularım sonucunda MIT, Harvard ve Stanford gibi Amerika’nın en iyi üniversitelerinden tam burslu kabul aldım ve MIT’yi tercih ettim. MIT’ nin Ekonomi Bölümü’ nde doktoramı tamamladıktan sonra University of Chicago’ da görev yapmaya başladım.
Ufuk Akçiğit
Economics I 2003
Professor of Economics, University of Chicago
Even though our academic competence and qualifications play a great role in our success in life, our social capabilities are just as important. By means of social activities I participated in at Koç University, I was able to improve myself, take initiatives and handle professional situations even as a student. These were experiences which made my university years better for me but they were also unique opportunities that got me ready for life, widened my social circle and taught me how to be better at human relations. Most importantly, they showed me that being part of a community and working as a team for success are what bring you to real success. With its distinctive and unique education, Koç University taught me to improve myself and to keep up with innovation as well as giving me the ability to harmonize social and academic skills which are needed for success at our period. While doing all this, Koç University made us into individuals who are able to leave their mark and distinguish themselves in their communities.
