Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of The EU Delegation, Visits Özyeğin University

The panel “Heading to a Sustainable Future” co-organized by Özyeğin University and SMI was held at Özyeğin University Çekmeköy Campus on March 28, 2022. The panel discussion featured Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, and Mr. Hakan Doğu, SMI Spokesperson and Renault Group CEO, as invited speakers. Moderated by Dr. İsmail Arı, Director of Knowledge, Technology, Transfer and Entrepreneurship at Özyeğin University, the panel discussion explored the smart urbanization and mobility issues. The opening address of the panel, which took place at the OzU-X building, was delivered by our Rector Prof. Dr. Esra Gençtürk. 

Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, visited Özyeğin University and obtained information about the protocol signed between our university, which spearheads leading research on sustainability, and SMI, an independent think-tank in quest for multidisciplinary and innovative solutions for urban mobility issues. Ambassador Landrut congratulated Turkey on signing the Paris Agreement at COP26 held last year and stressed the importance of cooperation between civil society and academia in achieving the zero emission goals of countries.

In her opening address, Prof. Dr. Esra Gençtürk noted that Özyeğin University takes pride in developing co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that place a special emphasis on sustainability and emphasized the importance of OzU’s cooperation with SMI. “This cooperation goes beyond a single joint research project, and sets an example of multilayered collaboration in   education, knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship”, she added. The panel brought together representatives from academia and the business world, with faculty members and students. Addressing sustainable development from an academic perspective, Özyeğin University aims to create a sustainable lifestyle among all its members and stakeholders. Fostering an environment conducive to financing the startup ecosystem which works on finding innovative transportation solutions through investors, the University also equips its students for the addressing complex problems facing humanity.