DATE

28 May 2025

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Research-Oriented University Models in Higher Education

The webinar series “Research-Oriented University Models in Higher Education” brings together leading scholars, practitioners, and policy experts to explore the structures, strategies, and innovations that define research-focused institutions worldwide. As higher education landscapes continue to evolve under the pressures of globalization, technological advancement, and societal demand for knowledge production, research-oriented universities play a critical role in shaping academic excellence, driving innovation, and contributing to economic and social development. This series aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of diverse models, best practices, and emerging trends, fostering dialogue regarding how institutions can strengthen their research missions while responding to local and global challenges.

Professor M. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz Rector of Kadir Has University, Türkiye

Professor M. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz, Trabzon in 1963, has served as the rector of Kadir Has University (KHAS) in Istanbul since 2018. A distinguished physicist, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Istanbul University (1989), followed by a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1992), and a Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from Kansas State University (1999). Her academic career spans prestigious institutions, including Istanbul Technical University (ITU), where she became an associate professor in 2006, and Sabancı University, where she played the role of Vice President overseeing education and international relations (2011–2018). She was a visiting associate professor at MIT (2007–2009) and contributed to research at the Feza Gürsey Institute. Her research focuses on nanoscale materials, including the mechanical, thermodynamic, and electronic properties of metal nanowires and surface-molecule interactions. Recognized for her scholarly impact, she received the Turkish Physical Association’s Honor Award (2019) and the TÜBA Coursebook Translation Award (2010), and was the sole female recipient of Turkey’s Ministry of Education physics scholarship in 1991. As a rector, she championed innovative education models at KHAS, emphasizing interdisciplinary learning and global readiness, while continuing to review physics journals and advise TUBITAK research projects.

Click here to register: https://forms.gle/hGRGiQqdoTQaptey8