Our University's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Workshop Has Been Completed

3 March 2025

Our University’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Workshop Has Been Completed

The 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Workshop, which determined the roadmap that will shape the future of our university, was held at Cemile Sultan Grove. In the workshop, which also included contributions from Prof. Dr. Erol Arcaklıoğlu, Member of the Higher Education Council (YÖK) Executive Board, and Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya, Member of the Higher Education Quality Board (YÖKAK), the core components of the strategic plan were evaluated.

The 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Workshop, organized under the coordination of the Strategy Development and Quality Coordination Office to determine Istanbul Ticaret University’s goals for the next five years, was held at Cemile Sultan Grove on February 27-28, 2025. On the first day of the two-day workshop, the Opening Program and Values Workshop Sessions were held. The workshop was attended by Prof. Dr. Erol Arcaklıoğlu, Member of the Higher Education Council (YÖK) Executive Board; Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya, Member of the Higher Education Quality Board (YÖKAK) and Rector’s Advisor; Dr. Erhan Erken, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) Assembly and Member of the Board of Trustees; Dr. İsrafil Kuralay, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Rector Prof. Dr. Necip Şimşek; members of the Board of Trustees; as well as our university’s academic and administrative staff, managers, and representatives of internal and external stakeholders.

COMMON INTELLIGENCE FOR PLANNING THE FUTURE

In his opening speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Necip Şimşek stated that strategic planning means not only setting long-term goals, but also adapting to changing conditions, evaluating opportunities, and being prepared for risks. Prof. Dr. Şimşek emphasized the importance of structuring in areas such as quality accreditation, internationalization, digital transformation and educational technologies, artificial intelligence, big data and Industry 4.0 integration, social contribution and social responsibility, data-driven management and governance, sustainability, specialization in specific fields or areas, career and lifelong learning, R&D and innovation.

THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL NOT REMAIN ON SHELVES, IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED

Dr. Kuralay also stated in his speech that the outcomes of the workshop would determine the university’s roadmap for the coming period. Dr. Kuralay emphasized that the strategic plan would not simply be prepared as a report and shelved, stating that the plan would be regularly monitored and concrete steps would be taken to implement it. Dr. Kuralay also highlighted the strong support provided by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) to the university, stating that the university should not be considered limited to its existing campuses, and that other ITO facilities such as the World Trade Center and Technopark are also available for the university’s use. Dr. Kuralay also noted that the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce’s support for the University will continue to increase.

UNIVERSITY AND INDUSTRY INTEGRATION WILL BE STRENGTHENED

Dr. Erhan Erken, Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Assembly, also stated that the university should not be considered solely as a structure for the business world. Emphasizing that scientific research and academic studies are among the cornerstones of the university, Dr. Erken highlighted the importance of the Strategic Plan Study by giving examples of activities carried out during his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND ACCREDITATION PROCESS

Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya, Member of the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) and Advisor to the Rector, stated that strategic planning and quality processes must be integrated with each other. He noted that the university should aim for sustainable growth by adopting the planning, implementation, and evaluation cycle in its quality management processes. He also noted that Istanbul Ticaret University’s strategic plan would contribute to the institutional accreditation process.

UNIVERSITIES ARE THE PIONEERS OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

YÖK Executive Board Member Prof. Dr. Arcaklıoğlu stated in his speech that YÖK’s fundamental goals are to develop qualified human resources, achieve academic excellence, and strengthen university-sector cooperation. He added that, in line with these goals, they are working on models that take into account the expectations of the labor market and increase graduate employment. Highlighting the importance of recently launched AI-based programs, Prof. Dr. Arcaklıoğlu stated that new programs will also be created in the fields of health, agriculture, and green transformation. Prof. Dr. Arcaklıoğlu stated that the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan published by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) highlights digitalization, employment-focused education models, university-sector cooperation, and internationalization. He added that Istanbul Commerce University can continue its development in line with these topics and establish strong academic and sectoral partnerships.

FIRST DAY: A VALUES STUDY WAS CONDUCTED

On the first day of the workshop, activities aimed at identifying the core values of our university were carried out under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya and Prof. Dr. Dr. Yasin Şehitoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Yıldız Technical University. These values, which will strengthen the institutional identity, were addressed in a way that will form the foundation for the university’s roadmap in the coming years.

SECOND DAY: MISSION, VISION, AND STRATEGIC ANALYSES

On the second day of the workshop, our university’s mission and vision were reevaluated. Subsequently, a PESTLE analysis was conducted to analyze the external environment using SWOT analysis in workshop sessions on our university’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. These analyses examined the university’s areas of development and opportunities in greater detail.

KEY MESSAGES FROM THE CLOSING REMARKS

Delivering the closing remarks of the workshop, Rector Prof. Dr. Necip Şimşek stated that the broad participation in the strategic planning process demonstrates the university’s commitment to the future. Prof. Dr. Şimşek noted that the opinions and suggestions gathered during the workshop will be incorporated into the draft strategic plan, finalized under the coordination of the Strategy Development and Quality Coordination Office in collaboration with the relevant academic and administrative units, and presented to the university’s highest decision-making bodies. Prof. Dr. Şimşek also emphasized that a monitoring mechanism will be established to enhance the plan’s effectiveness and that strategic objectives will be regularly tracked. Prof. Dr. Şimşek highlighted that Istanbul Commerce University will continue to strengthen its strong institutional culture with sustainable growth.

Click here for the Closing Speech of the Istanbul Commerce University 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Workshop

THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN A SHORT TIME

Istanbul Ticaret University’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan is expected to be finalized and implemented shortly.