Gaziantep University

Gaziantep University (Turkish: Gaziantep Üniversitesi) is a public university established on June 27, 1987, traces its origins to 1973 as an extension campus of the Middle East Technical University. Located in Gaziantep, Turkey, the university has 20 faculties and is recognized for its focus on scientific and technological research. The main campus is near Gaziantep's city center, with additional campuses in neighboring areas. English is the primary language of instruction, and the university ranked among the top 1,000 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020–2021.

History

Established in 1973, the Department of Mechanical Engineering and, in 1974, the Faculty of Engineering, where the medium of instruction is English, laid the foundation of Gaziantep University. The Faculty of Engineering began with the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1974, followed by the establishment of the Department of Food Engineering in 1977, the Department of Civil Engineering in 1981, and the Department of Engineering Physics in 1982.

Gaziantep University became an independent public university on June 27, 1987. The Faculty of Engineering, which was previously affiliated with Middle East Technical University, were incorporated into the newly established institution. Subsequently, additional faculties and schools were founded, including the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, the Faculty of Education in Adıyaman, the Vocational School of Higher Education in Kilis, and the Graduate Schools of Natural and Applied Sciences, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. The State Conservatory of Turkish Music also became part of the university.

Between 1990 and 2003, the university expanded significantly with the addition of several departments and schools, such as the Vocational School of Higher Education for Health Services in 1990, the Departments of Industrial Engineering and Textile Engineering in 1995 and vocational schools across Gaziantep, Kilis, Besni, Nizip, and Gölbaşı. The Muallim Rifat Education Faculty in Kilis was established in 1998, followed by the Education Faculty in Gaziantep in 2002, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Kilis in 2003.

Currently, Gaziantep University offers education through eight faculties, three higher schools, a conservatory, eight vocational schools, three graduate schools, and five service departments, including the Department of Physical Education and Sports, the Department of Turkish Language, the Higher School of Foreign Languages, the Department of Informatics, and the Department of Atatürk's Principles and the History of Turkish Renovation. These institutions provide courses in 107 undergraduate and graduate programs.

The university employs 624 academic staff, 424 teaching and research assistants, and 848 administrative staff. It serves 22,300 undergraduate students and 442 graduate students. Since its establishment, Gaziantep University has produced 22,242 graduates.

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Department of Engineering Physics

The Department of Engineering Physics offers professional training in engineering physics, encouraging students to engage in both applied and theoretical research. Undergraduate laboratories provide hands-on experience, and students gain insight into the industrial applications of physics through summer internships conducted during the second and third years of the undergraduate program.

The department awards Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Engineering Physics. Graduates of the program find employment in various fields, including telecommunications, hospitals, research and development laboratories, power stations, and educational institutions.

Notably, there are only five Engineering Physics Departments in Turkish universities, each focusing on distinct areas. These departments are located at Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Hacettepe University, Ankara University and Gaziantep University.

• Main branches
• Nuclear physics
• Solid-state physics
• Mathematical physics
• General physics
• High-energy nuclear physics
• Particle physics
• Chemical physics
• Optical physics
• Laser physics
• Plasma physics
• Computational physics
• Applied physics
• Astrophysics
• Condensed matter physics
• Atomic and molecular physics
• Department of Computer Engineering
• Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering aims to provide students with a comprehensive professional education, enabling them to engage in both applied and practical research. The department's laboratories are equipped to support practical courses, ensuring hands-on learning experiences. Students who complete the 4-year undergraduate program are awarded a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.

Established in 1977, the program offers students the opportunity to specialize in various areas, including telecommunications, solid-state electronics, quantum electronics, power systems, microwave and antenna technology, high voltage systems, and computer science. The department also offers advanced degree programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) qualifications.

Department of Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering (IE) is a discipline focused on the design and optimization of production systems, operations management, operations research (OR), ergonomics, automation, CAD/CAM, quality control, information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI), and systems simulation.

Research

Gaziantep University conducts research in a range of fields, including defense-related areas such as computer development, ballistics research, and inertial guidance systems. The university's academic programs, initially focused on physical sciences and engineering, have since expanded to include social sciences such as economics, linguistics, political science, and management, as well as medical and dental sciences, architecture, and other disciplines.

The location of the university in Southeast Anatolia provides opportunities for studying social issues in a real-life setting. Key research areas include environmental studies, energy research with an emphasis on solar and nuclear energy, materials science, construction, information and communication technology, ballistics research, and various social sciences.

In 2021, allegations of nepotism and favoritism surfaced in media reports, suggesting that among approximately 250 employees, including academic staff, fewer than ten different family names were represented. The university authorities did not provide further clarification on these claims.

Library

Gaziantep University libraries house resources covering a wide range of disciplines, including physical sciences, medical sciences, engineering, social sciences, economics, philosophy, linguistics, political science, and management. In addition to the main library facilities, some academic departments maintain their own specialized libraries to support research and education in their respective fields.

International outreach

In October 2019, the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey announced that Gaziantep University would establish a Faculty of Islamic Sciences in Azaz, a Faculty of Education in Afrin, and a Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences in Al-Bab, all located within Syria. Additionally, the university had previously opened a vocational school in Jarabulus in October 2018. These educational institutions operate within Syrian territory.

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