Sabanci University (Coordinator Organization)

Sabanci University is a non-profit private University located in Tuzla Istanbul. Established in 1994, it welcomed its first students in October 1999. University currently consists of 3 faculties; Engineering and Natural Sciences, Art and Social Sciences and Management Sciences and it offers 13 licence, 13 minor and 39 post graduate academic programs. Currently, in total 3426 undergraduate (42% of which receive scholarships to study) and 926 postgraduate students study at Sabancı University. The university accommodates 368 faculty members and 323 administrative staff in total.

Sabancı University adopts interdisciplinary approach and divisionless university understanding as the basis of its and organizational structure. This organizational model allows different faculties to interact and collaborate in contrast to the traditional structures composed of discrete institutional units. Today, Sabancı University is taken as an example by many universities in Turkey and abroad.

It is a reputable international university offering first-class research and education opportunities and honored with various awards. 2014 has been a year in which Sabanci University entered international and national success rankings. For instance;

The University came in the second place among all universities and in the first place among foundation universities in Turkey according to the “University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Index” by Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology (2014).

Sabancı University entered the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings at 182th position, becoming the Turkish university with the highest position upon first entry to the rankings, and was the only foundation university in Turkey to be included.

In addition, based on 2014 results of QS World University Rankings, Sabancı University was the sole foundation university in Istanbul that is listed among the top 500 universities worldwide.

Sabancı School of Management was honored as one of the best management schools in the world (international AASCB accreditation, FT rankings) and one of the top 80 management schools in Europe (FT rankings).

Sabancı University is a point of attraction for international students who choose to spend a semester or year in a top university located in a city that offers a unique cultural experience. Sabancı University is selected by the European Commission for inclusion in the “2009 Erasmus Success Stories Brochure” along with nine other universities, from a pool of 67 universities from 23 European countries.

Sabancı University adopts a "quality-oriented" management system as the basis of all the services provided for education, research and society interaction. These are the principles of this system which is owned by all employees:

• * Satisfaction of all the stakeholders, especially the students,
• * Process-oriented operations management,
• * Continuous improvement habit based on regular reviews,
• * Effective resource usage.

Also, Sabanci University holds below quality documents:
ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Document (TÜRKAK)
ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certificate (UKAS)
ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certificate (UKAS)

Abdullah Gül University (Partner Organization)

AGU is the first state university in Turkey to have, as part of its constitution, legal provision for support by a foundation whose entire efforts are solely dedicated to the work of the University. AGU has set itself the aim of attracting brilliant faculty members and the brightest students. All the academic work of the University are in English; all its programs conform to international standards but at the same time they bear the stamp of the university’s own character. Graduates of AGU will be typified by the ability to learn, to think, to research, to work in an interdisciplinary fashion, and to lead.

At AGU, proficiency in English is fundamental; part of the language preparation year’s studies, successful students join a language school in an English speaking country. Furthermore, English education continues after students have started studying in their own faculty, playing an important part in the academic life of the student and in the social life of the campus.

In all academic programs, they are practical elements as well as conscious attempts to connect theoretical knowledge with the real world; in this manner, the university aims to produce not employment seekers but employees and even employers.

For those students who aspire to a more academic path, there are significant opportunities to join research groups, even in their early undergraduate years. In this way AGU students are not only exposed to high-quality teaching but also benefit from opportunities to take part in research with academics from a range of disciplines to work both in their own field and in an inter-disciplinary fashion, while they are still undergraduates. Furthermore, the University places a strong emphasis on its postgraduate programs of research. Through the efforts of its academics experienced in national and international research projects, AGU aims to produce learning and knowledge which is of value to a wide range of stakeholders. It is one of AGU’s primary goals to work with industry particularly local industry to develop high-quality, and effective, projects in industrial R&D.

AGU, different from other academic institutions, put youth in the core of its design. Therefore, AGU focused on the youth work and non-formal education and established a youth structure within the university, which is called the Youth Factory, and it is officially recognized by the Higher Education Council in Ankara as the Youth Work Research and Application Center. This structure aims not only to serve to the students but also to the young people at local, national and international youth work field. AGU Youth Factory is a non-formal education resource center for the social and personal development of youth workers, youth leaders, youth trainers and young people. AGU Youth Factory provides different training courses about different topics related to the youth work field and they are designed with non-formal education tools and approaches.

AGU has different accreditation in the youth work field. These are Eurodesk Accreditation to be a local relay, European Voluntary Service Accreditation as hosting, sending and coordinating organization, Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

AGU is currently cooperating with SALTO Euromed Youth Resource Centre and CoE, Bosch Stiftung Foundation, Goethe Institute, Turkish National Agency, Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı(TOG), Aydın Üniversitesi and Sabancı University in the field of formal, non-formal education and international youth work and currently running different EU grants as partners and coordinating organization.

Türk Kültür Vakfı (Partner Organization)

AFS has made great strides to improve global peace and justice through almost 60 years of grassroots dedication to providing intercultural learning opportunities. Turk Kültür Vakfı – AFS Programs is a non-profit organization that works toward a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership. Türk Kültür Vakfı - AFS Programs aims to add value to lives of youth and their societies through Intercultural Education in our globalizing world.

Türk Kültür Vakfı (TKV) was established in 1974 by AFS Returnees aiming to implement AFS Operations in Turkey that has been continued intercultural education programs in Turkey since 1952. Türk Kültür Vakfı is the founding member of EFIL (European Federation for Intercultural Learning) together with other AFS partner countries.

In 1980s, TKV expanded its Exchange programs to other countries such are Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, Russia, Japan, Australia, Germany and Spain with the 'partnership agreement' that AFS International and Türk Kültür Vakfı has signed. In 1993, Türk Kültür Vakfı– AFS Programs has taken its place in the new structure as an AFS partner country Türk Kültür Vakfı - AFS Programs seek to affirm faith in the dignity and worth of every human being and of all nations and cultures. It encourages respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or social status. Türk Kültür Vakfı - AFS Program activities are based on our core values of dignity, respect for differences, harmony, sensitivity and tolerance. AFS Programs enable people to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding in a diverse world. It acknowledges that peace is a dynamic concept threatened by injustice, inequity and intolerance. AFS Turkey recognizes the need to increase its outreach efforts to engage a more diverse group of young people in intercultural learning. Türk Kültür Vakfı – AFS Programs currently:

• Sends more than 240 students to more than 36 countries each year,
• Places more than 40 students from abroad with Turkish families,
• Is supported by approximately 500 volunteers around Turkey

AFS Programs managed to keep the program quality continuously with the profound volunteer culture, since 1952 in Turkey despite the changing political and economic conditions. More than 4500 Turkish students have been sent abroad and over 4000 students from all over the world have been hosted in Turkey through AFS programs until today.

Novancia Business School (Partner Organization)

Novancia’s mission:
NOVANCIA educates future business men and women to become major players in the business life and development of the Paris-Ile de France region. The school offers a 5-year curriculum, consisting of a 3-year Bachelor and a 2-year Master programme. The students, recruited from a wide range of backgrounds, share a common desire for action, commitment, experimenting and risk-taking coupled with a world-wide perspective.

History and overview:
In November 2011, two French Grandes Écoles, ADVANCIA (1863) and NEGOCIA (1992) merged to become Novancia. In France, the Grandes Écoles were created during the French Revolution to challenge the traditional university system established in the Middle-Ages. In essence, the Grandes Écoles are very selective. They organize national competitions for their admissions and have developed high-quality standards so that their students can acquire solid scientific and professional competences. Ninety per cent of them have a position six months after graduation. In 2011, there were more than 200 business schools in France.

Initially, ADVANCIA and NEGOCIA were two business schools specialized in specific business domains. ADVANCIA has been a school dedicated to entrepreneurship since 2003. NEGOCIA has been dedicated to commerce since 1992. The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry has supervised the development of the two schools. The degrees attributed by the two schools are granted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

A recent OECD analysis has emphasized that the EU countries should encourage the emergence of fast-growth and sustainable businesses to recover their international economic leadership. The same report has pointed out that managers who are able to support the firms’ growth and sustainability, demonstrate solid competences both in the realm of entrepreneurship and commerce. Therefore, the Paris Ile de France Chamber of Commerce and Industry has decided to merge the two schools to create Novancia, a Grande École dedicated to business development. The school will promote the success of Ile de France innovative SMEs in high tech and services industries. The Novancia’s Bachelor and Master degrees are granted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Novancia’s fosters a learner-centred approach, whereby students acquire theoretical knowledge and experience, international exposure, combined with practical applications through project management, internship/apprenticeship. Students develop their individual talents and entrepreneurial skills and attain success and self-fulfilment on both personal and professional levels. Once they graduate, they will be equipped to create and expand businesses with a sense of innovation, enthusiasm, openness and responsibility.Novancia has based its expertise on the academic and professional qualifications of its faculty, as well as on its innovative pedagogical approach. Thanks to its close connections to the corporate world, it has developed a research policy that contributes to the continuing development of knowledge and best practices in the areas of entrepreneurship and commerce. By disseminating this knowledge and experience throughout its teaching, Novancia aims to strengthen the links between these two domains. To succeed in its mission, Novancia draws on the experience of the CCIP, a major player in creating and developing the Paris-Ile de France business community.

Strategy for international development in Novancia :
Novancia’s strategy for international development aims at increasing the school‘s attractivity. Novancia’s stakeholders are the different international academic partners, the major institutions of accreditation, students and entreprises.

To consolidate its relationships with its academic partners, Novancia has established a process of selection to organise expatriation for both students and professors.To favour exchanges for the teachers, Novancia has joined a set of European and international projects (Erasmus, Leonardo, Interreg IV C) in order to stimulate scientific cooperation and expertise in the realm of entrepreneurial and commercial studies.Today, Novancia has signed 89 agreements with academic partners.

In order to upscale its international quality indicators, Novancia has been involved in the AACSB process of accreditation since January 2010. AACSB has validated the alignment plan that Novancia has submitted in January 2012.

Universum Global

While still an aspiring MBA student, Lars-Henrik Friis Molin founded Universum in 1988. Beginning with a class project to better improve the communication between students and the companies want to recruit them, Lars-Henrik wrote and distributed the first Universum student survey in Stockholm, Sweden. Like many exciting businesses, the results were enlightening enough to make the press. Employers saw these insights and were surprised by the results. They connected to the then-student, Lars-Henrik and asked to buy them and if additional questions could be asked. Universum was born.

Today, that small class project has transformed into an international corporation that delivers surveys to millions of students and professionals and provides Ideal Employer™ research, full-service communication and strategic consulting services to more than 1,200 clients globally.

Our scope: 
Globalization has made Talent acquisition a top CEO priority and a strong employer brand a necessity. Universum stands on the cutting edge of the talent marketplace, continually developing solutions that redefine modern employer branding. With expertise in HR tech, research, design and communications, the Universum team is dynamic, quickly responding to the challenges and opportunities facing businesses looking for top talent. With extensive knowledge within the areas of employer branding, research, advisory for HR, consulting for HR and communication solutions, Universum is also the host and organizer of more than 30 advisory boards – networks of top HR professionals in the field of HR and Talent Attraction. Overall, this network extends to over 450 professionals from some of the best organizations in the world. Universum’s network also extends to over 2,200 universities with which we have a strong cooperation. Our global focus is reflected with teams in Stockholm, New York, Cologne, Istanbul, Singapore, Shanghai, etc.; all working to connect employers to top talent in over 40 countries.

Our Clients: 
Committing years of ground-breaking talent data collection with tested communication techniques has made Universum the leader in Employer Branding Analytics (EBA) and communication strategies. Many of the world’s largest companies, agencies, universities and academic institutions utilize Universum solutions to better understand, attract and retain top talent. Annually, we support over 1,200 organizations.

Our Team: 
Universum isn’t a typical organization. We’ve been around for 25 years and work across 46 countries, but we have the culture of a start-up and just over 200 employees. Every day, we challenge ourselves to push boundaries and explore new possibilities. Our innovations not only impact the way we work, but are also shaping the future of a high-growth industry: Employer Branding.