Dear Stakeholders, Students, and Alumni,
As the first and largest Faculty of Civil Engineering at Türkiye, with a rich heritage dating back to history of Istanbul Technical University since 1773, we are committed to carrying the knowledge accumulated over the years into the future. We view 2025 as a foundation-laying process in which we will strengthen our scientific knowledge and social responsibility. This E-Newsletter goes beyond showcasing the outputs that demonstrate the core strength of our Faculty and presents the strategic roadmap we have set for 2026 and beyond. With 3,059 undergraduate students and 282 faculty members, our Faculty will steadfastly pursue its vision of being a leader in Türkiye and worldwide. Our current achievements are the driving force behind our transformation efforts for 2026 and beyond.
As the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, we will focus on three key strategic areas with a vision of shaping the living spaces of the future and utilizing and developing advanced technologies. By 2026, we aim to make our Faculty a center for solutions to global issues such as the Green Deal, Zero Waste, and Smart Cities in the fields of Civil Engineering, Surveying (Geomatics) Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. Our primary priority is to transform the scientific outputs of our 268 ongoing projects into commercially viable innovations that have an impact on the international stage. The current budget of over 1,248,422,000.05 TL allocated for these projects will form the basis for next-generation research infrastructure in 2026. We will accelerate technology transfer in collaboration with the industry by strengthening laboratory investments that include next-generation Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence applications. Our understanding of excellence in education will focus not only on the transfer of technical knowledge but also on training engineers who possess ethical values and social responsibility.
In our main fields of study, Construction, Surveying, and Environmental Engineering, we will update our graduate programs by 2026 to train engineers with the competencies required by the industry and enhance our global competitiveness through our international joint degree programs. By activating our strong alumni network, we will strengthen our graduates' ties with our Faculty and increase continuous professional development (CPD) training for them. Our Faculty will continue to mobilize its scientific depth for our national security and social resilience. Specifically, by systematizing the accumulated knowledge from damage assessment studies in which our academics have participated in post-earthquake efforts, we aim to establish scientific centers recognized as national references in the field of urban resilience and disaster risk management by 2026. In line with the approach of the Dean of Research, we will continuously increase our scientific impact by communicating scientific knowledge effectively with society and external stakeholders and sharing it in plain language. As the ITU Faculty of Civil Engineering, every step we take in 2026 and beyond will reflect our mission of scientific rigor, commitment to ethical values, and service to society. With our strong sense of belonging and innovative spirit, we commit to playing a pioneering role in projects that will shape the future of Türkiye and the world. I thank all our stakeholders who support us on this visionary journey and hope that together we will build a brighter future.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Vedat UYAK
DEAN