The Advisory Board of Istanbul Ticaret University Faculty of Business convened with the participation of experienced executives from the business world. The meeting addressed the vision of the “Next-Generation Faculty of Business,” the integration of artificial intelligence into business processes, and the competencies required of future graduates.
The Faculty of Business Advisory Board Meeting was held on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, at 19:00 at Istanbul Ticaret University’s Eminönü Ahi Çelebi Campus.
At the meeting, faculty administrators, academic staff, a student representative, and representatives of the business world came together, bringing academic expertise and industry experience to the same table. Opinions were exchanged within the framework of a six-point agenda previously shared with the Board members. Following the meeting, it was also deemed appropriate for the Advisory Board members to review the documents concerning the Faculty and provide feedback online.
The meeting was organized to evaluate the Faculty’s current activities, jointly consider areas for future development, and benefit from the experience and expectations of the business world. In the face of a changing business environment, digitalization, and emerging professions, the central question of the meeting was how the Faculty should position itself and what knowledge, skills, and experience it should equip its graduates with.
The agenda consisted of six main areas: the Faculty’s future vision; educational programmes and the competencies required of future graduates; students’ career preparation; university-industry and alumni collaborations; internationalization and the student experience; and the Faculty’s priority areas for development. The meeting also aimed to contribute to incorporating external stakeholder feedback into the Faculty’s quality assurance, strategic planning, and accreditation activities.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rahmi Deniz Özbay, Dean of Istanbul Ticaret University Faculty of Business. Representing the Faculty, the meeting was attended by Dr. Tuğrul Arık, Vice Dean and Chair of the Faculty Quality Commission; Dr. Nihan Yavuz Aksakal, Faculty Quality Ambassador; Beyzanur Kasırga, Faculty Student Representative; and Enes Malik Bayraktar, departmental secretary.
Representing the business world, the meeting was attended by Gözde Dizdar, Chair of the Board of Directors of Governance and Development (GD Global); Metin Çetinkaya, Chair of the Board of Directors of Çetinkaya Tekstil; and Ömer Özdinç, General Manager of SER Danışmanlık.
The participants comprised Faculty administrators, academic staff, a student representative, and industry representatives.
During the meeting, which proceeded according to the agenda under the chairmanship of Dean Prof. Dr. Rahmi Deniz Özbay, Advisory Board members and Faculty representatives shared their views and recommendations. It was proposed that the Faculty position itself around close engagement with the business world, an application-oriented approach, and international experience. It was also suggested that the Faculty’s connection with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce be transformed into a resource that provides students with access to companies, industry knowledge, and practical experience.
Under the heading of artificial intelligence, it was emphasized that students should understand not only how to use AI tools but also how artificial intelligence can be integrated into business processes such as accounting, human resources, marketing, and operations. The importance of soft skills, including communication, teamwork, responsibility, and task follow-up, was also highlighted.
It was discussed that students should become familiar with businesses from their second year onward, structure their elective courses and internships around a specific business function and industry, and benefit from the participation of industry experts in educational processes. The possibility of transforming the Advisory Board into a structure that provides continuous contributions was also raised. While greater focus on specific countries and fields was recommended in terms of internationalization, the views shared at the meeting are expected to contribute to the Faculty’s development planning for the coming period.
