Kocaeli University

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Kocaeli University
Kocaeli Üniversitesi
Established: 1992
Type: State university
Rector: Prof. Dr. Sezer Ş. Komsuoğlu
Staff: 2.900
Undergraduates: 50.043
Postgraduates: 2.055
Location: Kocaeli, Turkey
Website: http://www.kocaeli.edu.tr

Kocaeli University (KOU) is a state university in Kocaeli, Turkey. The first step for the Kocaeli University was the Academy of Engineering and Architecture of Kocaeli founded in 1976. Electrical and mechanical engineering departments, basic sciences and department of modern languages were the departments of the academy. The Academy was develop as a faculty and became a part of Yıldız University with in 1982.

On July 1992, the Turkish Government has decided to build twenty-two universities nationwide including Kocaeli University . Before the 1999 İzmit earthquake, which can be regarded as the turning point for the rebirth of the university, Kocaeli University had approximately 20.000 students, 1150 educational staff and a campus of 650,000 square meter. Kocaeli University had lost nearly 75% of its physical structure and its prior expansion site Arslanbey Campus compensated its losses rapidly and moved to Umuttepe Campus 2004.

Entrance of Umuttepe Campus in winter.
Entrance of Umuttepe Campus in winter.

Kocaeli University's central Umuttepe Campus is located just outside of Izmit in the region of Kocaeli, the most heavily industrialized region of Turkey. Most of its faculties are in this campus, except the biggest Faculty of Engineering which is located in Veziroglu Campus after the earthquake, Faculty of Fine Arts, and Faculty of Architecture and Design. Some departments of Engineering Faculty have been moved to Umuttepe Campus. It is expected that remaning deparments will be moved to Umuttepe at least by 2010.

Istanbul is only 90km away and its secondary international was developed on a site 50km distant from Izmit, making the University much more accessible in recent years. Since Kocaeli is a near neighbour of Istanbul, a large number of its students come from Istanbul.

The University has established a department of international relations which monitors Bologna developments closely and oversees KOU's participation in the Erasmus and Leonardo Da Vinci student mobility schemes. With the European University Association membership, KOU is also aiming for more of an internationally recognized academia.

University, being a technical and engineering focused institution, has extensive education in social sciences and arts as well. Some steps toward certification by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) are being taken by Faculty of Engineering, such as adaptation of course content in engineering majors.

[edit] Faculties

  • Faculty of Arts and Science
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Technical Education
  • Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Fine Arts
  • Faculty of Communication
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Architecture and Design
  • Faculty of Dentistry

[edit] Faculty of Engineering

There are variety of majors offered at faculty. M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees are offered in most of the engineering fields as well as graduate degrees in interdisciplinary engineering programs. Departments existing effective 2006 are:

Languages