Eastern Mediterranean University

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU)
Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi (DAÜ)
Motto "For your international career"
Type State
Established 1979
Students approx. 18000
Location Famagusta (Turkish: Gazimağusa), Northern Cyprus
Website http://www.emu.edu.tr

The Eastern Mediterranean University (Turkish: Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi), located in Northern Cyprus, was established in 1979 under the leadership of Onay Fadıl Demirciler (then Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education) [1] as a higher-education institution of technology for Turkish Cypriots. In 1986, it was converted to a state university. The campus is located within the city of Famagusta.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences main entrance.

The university has 141 programs (11 Faculties and 5 Schools) offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as a research infrastructure. The medium of instructions are in Turkish and English. However, English Preparatory School is available for students who need to improve their English.[2] The university offers variety of sports and social activities. Academic Programs of EMU are broad and include Physical and Social Sciences with considerable research studies via Research Advisory Board.

History and status

Mechanical Engineering, one of the oldest buildings on campus.

The university's initial establishment was called Institute of Technology, for that reason traditionally Engineering fields considered as its founding departments. In 1984, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programs were extended to four-year programs. In the following year, governments of Turkish Republic and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus mutually agreed on opening a university called "Eastern Mediterranean University". Members of the Turkish Republic Council of Higher Education visited the Institute of Higher Technology with the aim of transforming it into a university.

In 1986, following the TRNC Assembly's approval of the Statute establishing the North Cyprus Education Foundation and Eastern Mediterranean University (18/86), the Institute of Higher Technology was converted into a state university assuming the name of Eastern Mediterranean University. During the same year, Faculties of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics and School of Computing and Technology were inaugurated. In 1990, Faculty of Architecture and School of Tourism and Hospitality started offering education. The establishment of Faculty of Law took place in 1996. Faculty of Communication was inaugurated in 1997 and Faculty of Education in 1999. School of Applied Sciences started offering education in 2007 and in 2010, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Justice were established. With the inauguration of Pharmacy Faculty in 2011, the number of Faculties offering education reached 9 and schools to 4.

The faculty of engineering comprises: Civil, Computer, Electrical & Electronic, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, the main undergraduate programs in these departments (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, Computer and Industrial engineering) been accredited on October 10, 2009 in its undergraduate programs by the ABET, which accredits university programs that are similar to an American university. The mentioned departments also offer other undergraduate degrees such as Mechatronics, Information Systems and management engineering.[3]

University is a full member of the European University Association[4] and the International Association of Universities. The university established its accreditation for Turkish students under the Council of Higher Education[5] and Turkish Cypriot higher education organisation, but retains its independent structure via its non-profit foundation.[6]

Faculties and schools

EMU offers a wide range of undergraduate programmes. Master's and Doctoral Level Graduate Programs: The Eastern Mediterranean University Institute of Graduate Studies and Research currently runs 13 Doctoral level, 20 Master's level graduate programs with a thesis requirement, and 5 Master's level graduate programs with a non-thesis requirement. The minimum course requirement in the Master's level program with thesis is 7 courses (21 credit hours), seminar course and a graduation thesis.

Library

Aerial view of the library in fall 2007.

The university's library is one of the largest on the island, collection reached more than 120,000 books, and offers free access to hundreds of information databases and sources to the users.

The library also provides inter-library loan system thus making it easy for research activities. Collections on Physical Sciences considerably sufficient for undergraduates and beginning post-graduates.

The strong areas of material, library owns, can be counted as follows: Considerable collection on Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, English Literature, basic related Engineering literature and small amount of Theoretical Physics. Engineering sections divided into specialized areas of relevant existing departments in the university. Sections on international relations, communication studies, philosophy and law are expanding rapidly compare to initial established materials.

Visual and reference materials sections are separate and served in the second floor. The university also collects all postgraduate works in the library.

Large lecture hall in the entrance is utilized for conferences and special events. It is usual to see music recitals there, too. Classical Music listening room has been active since 1998, and its collection increasing.

There are European and American corners[7] in the library. Those corners contain material about history and people of America. European corner mostly presents information about EU and its structure.

Campus life

An aerial view of the indoor facility

The expansion of the University during the 90s was not only building and pure educational oriented. It has given an important investment on sports facilities and social activities.

Sports

Tennis courts, basketball courts and astro-turf football pitches are all in daily use. Outdoor athletics stadium further provides a full-sized tartan running track, whilst the Lala Mustafa Pasha indoor sports centre with its 3,500 person capacity, serves as the venue for major sporting and cultural events such as (basketball, volleyball, handball, boxing, wrestling,[8] karate etc.), a small stadium (which is the home of American Football EMUCROWS), tennis fields. The students can join these activities and train with professional instructors. The university gives scholarships to successful athletes.

Social activities

University owns a radio station on 106.5 FM called Radio EMU broadcasting to whole island.[9] It is run by students of the Communications department.

Allegations of administrative misconduct

A North Cypriot Newspaper, Cyprus Today, published two articles in 2008, featuring allegations of mobbing and bullying at the school, particularly against foreign faculty.

In the first article, the newspaper quoted the allegations of an ex-faculty member who claimed that he was forced to resign after he was harassed, professionally sabotaged, and the victim of false allegations (of which he was later exonerated after appealing to international organizations). The article also provided the reaction of the school: School administration denied the allegations and stated that the allegations were 'Utterly false and that no such thing has occurred and nothing can be substantiated'. A spokesman for the Worker's union said they were not aware of that particular faculty member's situation, but had experienced similar problems concerning other faculty members.[10]

In the second article, the newspaper reported about the penalizing of a British Faculty member, who was removed from the position of department chair for undisclosed reasons. The faculty member declined to comment, saying: "I don't want to comment because I feel that I have to work here for some time and don't want to cause any problems. I don't want anything I have to say to be misconstrued by anyone. I just want to carry on with my work" University administration also declined to comment, but the faculty member replacing the department chair said: "There are different versions: One side is that he is a victim. The other version is that the circumstances could have led to expulsion."[11]

Supreme Court ruling on rector's dismissal

On 9 September 2009, Eastern Mediterranean University's rector was dismissed by the University Senate. The university's board of trusties has unanimously ratified the decision on 11 September.[12] No reason was ever given publicly for the dismissal, as the rector was replaced by Prof. Dr. Abdullah Y. Öztoprak. The rector's dismissal was finally declared illegal by the Supreme Administrative Court on 14 July 2010.[13] On 13 March 2011, The Upper Supreme Administrative Court rejected the decision of lower Supreme Administrative Court and decided that the rector of Eastern Mediterranean University is Prof. Dr. Abdullah Y. Öztoprak.[14]

Affiliations

The university is a member of the Caucasus University Association.[15]

References

  1. ↑ ONAY FADIL DEMİRCİLER. DOĞU AKDENİZ ÜNİVERSİTESİ’NİN, BİR DÖNEMİN VE BİR YAŞAMIN ÖYKÜSÜ by Ahmet Tolgay and Filiz Besim
  2. ↑ "Turkish Universities – Bilgi University, Eastern Mediterranean University, Marmara University, Yeditepe University – Directory of International and English Schools in Turkey". Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  3. ↑ "Substantially Equivalent Programs" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  4. ↑ Archived 6 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ "Structure Of Education System In Turkey". Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Vakıf Yöneticiler Kurulu Çalışma Esasları ve Sekreteryasının Kuruluş Tüzüğü (Turkish)
  7. ↑ "American Corners". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  8. ↑ "EMU Wrestling Team". Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  9. ↑ "RadioStationWorld – Cyprus – Radio Station Websites". Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  10. ↑ Dan Gibson, "EMU 'rife with bullying' by senior staff, claims ex-lecturer," Cyprus Today 31 May 2008, (p. 11)
  11. ↑ Dan Gibson, "EMU demotes distinguished UK academic," Cyprus Today 21 June 2008, (page 3)
  12. ↑ "Eastern Mediterranean University Prof. Taneri has been dismissed!". 11 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  13. ↑ ""Horizon of the Supreme Administrative Court of Taner won its lawsuit" Kibris Portasi July 14, 2010". Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  14. ↑ Haber Kıbrıs March 13, 2011 http://haberkibris.com/0a69b606-2011_03_18.html Haber Kıbrıs March 13, 2011 Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ Tüm Uyeler. kunib.com

External links

Coordinates: 35°08′45″N 33°54′25″E / 35.145716°N 33.907079°E / 35.145716; 33.907079

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