ITU Delegation Visited the US to Advance Internationalization and Strategic Partnerships

ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, along with Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. İpek Akın Karadayı and Prof. Dr. Lütfiye Durak Ata, conducted a visit to the United States from January 24 to 30, 2026, to strengthen ITU's global partnerships and meet with its alumni.

ITU's vision of becoming a “Responsibility and Impact-Focused Research University” continues to transform into concrete, effective, and sustainable steps through strategic meetings. The visit aimed to expand ITU’s global academic footprint, reinforce its position within international research networks, and foster sustainable research-driven partnerships.

Led by our Rector, the ITU delegation visited eight of the world's most prestigious universities during their five-day visit to the United States, covering a route spanning over 13,000 kilometers across five different regions (Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles). The intensive program, focused on education, research, and the entrepreneurship ecosystem, featured a series of high-level meetings and strategic engagements focused on long-term collaboration.

Discussions at universities that shape the global science ecosystem in their respective fields enabled innovative joint education programs and research collaborations to be addressed on a sustainable basis.

Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Connecticut (UConn), University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Stanford University, University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago and the Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles, were among the stops on the program. University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) faculty members Prof. Dr. Mihri Özkan and Prof. Dr. Cengiz Sinan Özkan accompanied the ITU delegation in Boston and San Diego.

Prof. Dr. Mandal emphasized that they view the meetings and gatherings they organize in the U.S. as a strategic process that translates ITU's internationalization vision into concrete steps. He underscored their goal of bringing ITU's deep-rooted expertise together with the world's most powerful academic and entrepreneurial networks.

Strategic priority: connecting students with global research networks

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal stated that they deepened their academic contacts, starting at the undergraduate level, through the following topics: joint research projects, doctoral and postdoctoral mobility, co-supervision mechanisms, short- and long-term academic visits, and joint application models for national and international funds. Prof. Dr. Mandal emphasized that structures enabling students to connect with global research networks at an early stage were a common focus of these discussions.

Our Rector stated that the meetings with Turkish academics and ITU graduates demonstrated the strength, inclusiveness, and continuity of Istanbul Technical University's affiliation on an international scale. The Rector highlighted the gratifying nature of these interactions, noting that the transformation of bonds between ITU and its alumni into concrete collaborations in teaching, research, and projects is a significant achievement.

During the visit, Prof. Dr. Mandal noted that the meetings held in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems complemented the academic discussions, reminding attendees of the role these ecosystems play in transforming knowledge generated at universities into impact. Global Turks AI and Plug and Play Tech Center stood out among the points where the processes of transforming research outputs into ventures and university-venture-industry interactions were discussed.

Our Rector noted that they discussed new generation collaboration models centered on research with researchers who play a leading role at the global level. Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that they evaluated the strategic direction of academic diplomacy with the Consuls General, emphasizing that this diplomacy strengthens scientific collaborations, research-based partnerships, and institutional ties.

 

Boston

Boston University faculty members Prof. Dr. Selim Ünlü (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Prof. Dr. Neşe Lortlar Ünlü (Department of Biomedical Engineering) met with our Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. İpek Akın Karadayı and Prof. Dr. Lütfiye Durak Ata. The meeting covered educational and research collaborations, joint organizations for students, and technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship-focused collaborations.

The delegation observed the research infrastructure and ongoing projects at the Photonics Center, where Prof. Dr. Selim Ünlü conducts his work, as well as at various other laboratories. Prof. Dr. Ünlü is internationally recognized for his contributions to the fields of optoelectronics and nanotechnology, specifically in high-performance photodetectors, near-field scanning microscopy, and high-resolution subsurface microscopy.

A meeting was held at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) with former Commercial Attaché Emin Torunoğlu. Discussions focused on the investment dynamics in the fields of biotechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence within the strong entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Boston–Cambridge region, as well as collaboration opportunities that would enhance the start-up ecosystem and university–investor interaction in the United States.

Our Rector and Vice Rectors met with Prof. Dr. Oral Büyüköztürk, a faculty member at the MIT and a 1963 alumnus of our Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Engineering, in Boston. The meeting discussed the concrete reflections of the efforts to make ITU an international center of attraction, increase its global visibility, and further enhance its academic reputation. Potential collaborations with MIT at all levels, focusing on education, research, and entrepreneurship, were discussed in light of Prof. Dr. Oral Büyüköztürk's extensive experience.

Our Rector, who met with our graduates in Boston online due to adverse weather conditions, emphasized that ITU's network of over 200,000 graduates worldwide represents one of the university's greatest assets, generating value across a wide range of fields, from academia to entrepreneurship, sectoral leadership to innovation. Prof. Dr. Mandal noted that ITU's 253-year-old history, the global impact of its alumni network, and international academic collaborations continue to converge around a shared global vision.

Productive discussions took place on strengthening the relationship between ITU and its alumni, the guidance opportunities alumni can offer students on their career journeys, potential joint projects among alumni, and contributions that can be made to the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

 

UConn and MIT

Our Rector met with Prof. Dr. Pamir Alpay, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the UConn, and the UConn management team. The meeting focused on integrating research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in universities through a holistic approach, supporting strategic models with tangible outcomes, and bolstering internationalization, academic mobility, and ecosystems for early-career researchers. Prominent agenda items in the meeting included bilateral collaborations and memoranda of understanding (MoU), joint education programs, and potential collaborations in strategic areas such as quantum and defense technologies. MIT Vice Provost for International Affairs Prof. Duane Boning discussed potential collaborations focused on MIT's recent priority areas, as well as potential collaborations focused on student exchange in both directions.

In a meeting with David Dolev, one of the directors of the MISTI program, a detailed assessment was conducted on student mobility, global research collaborations, and international education models. The adaptability of structures such as the MISTI Internship and Research Program, Global Teaching Labs, and Global Seed Funds to ITU was discussed, with a view to increasing ITU students' access to international research networks and encouraging joint projects.

Our Rector emphasized that mechanisms similar to MIT's International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI), which have been successfully implemented at MIT and connect students with research, industry, and international academic networks, represent significant potential for ITU in terms of strengthening interdisciplinary, international, and application-oriented learning experiences. The Rector reiterated their commitments to carrying ITU's long-established expertise into the future through strong partnerships established on a global scale, transforming the topics discussed into concrete areas of progress through comprehensive and efficient evaluation.

 

Meeting with Turkish researchers, primarily in the New England region

Our rector held an online meeting with faculty members working at leading universities in the United States, particularly in the New England region, and Turkish researchers pursuing academic careers in the U.S.

The meeting, which saw high attendance, focused on concrete opportunities for collaboration, particularly regarding the adjunct faculty and qualified researcher appointment program and enabling faculty members working at universities abroad to teach at ITU and contribute to research projects and academic work. Noting that academics living in the U.S. and ITU alumni have created lasting and multidimensional areas of interaction by bringing together their knowledge and experience, our Rector emphasized that these contacts, which prioritize experience sharing, strengthen the understanding of co-creation, and support entrepreneurial thinking, offer new openings in the areas of joint courses, research collaborations, and academic mobility.

The meeting clearly demonstrated the dynamic and sustainable nature of ITU's relationships with international academic circles, while the contributions of Turkish researchers pursuing academic studies at various universities in the U.S. broadened these collaborations, strengthening ITU's visibility in global academic networks.

Our Rector delivered a presentation titled “The Education, Research, and Innovation Ecosystem at ITU – Building a Responsible and Impact-Oriented Future during the meeting, our Rector shared ITU's integrated approach shaped around education, research, and innovation.

The presentation showcased a wide range of strategic topics, including programs to strengthen qualified academic talent, ITU’s standing in international rankings, and multidisciplinary research projects. It also highlighted joint research laboratories, ITU’s active role in the EELISA European University network, and the co-creation culture established across its campuses.

 

Chicago

The Chicago leg of the visit included Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the Consulate General of Türkiye.

Our Rector stated that during the Chicago visits, they discussed academic diplomacy and research-focused partnerships through concrete working topics, establishing direct contact with faculty members, researchers, and students from leading institutions in the global science ecosystem.

The first stop of the program was Northwestern University, where a meeting was held with senior figures who play a guiding role in the university's global relations. Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Mandal, stated that they discussed next-generation collaborative frameworks centered on research, focusing on models that go beyond academic exchange programs and focus on researcher mobility and joint project production.

Strategic partnerships that will bring together Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering's global vision and ITU's well-established research infrastructure were discussed. The focus was on new generation models that will make the mobility of academics between institutions more effective and sustainable.

At the University of Chicago, discussions were held on the management of large-scale interdisciplinary research and the alignment of scientific production with strategic priorities. Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that the meeting focused on the integrated design of research activities across the university and on support infrastructures. He explained that high-tech fields such as molecular engineering, quantum materials, and nano-scale systems were identified as priority areas that align with ITU's interdisciplinary research vision.

Our Rector met with faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students at both Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. He evaluated models of collaboration aimed at transforming researcher mobility and joint project development into long-term, impact-focused research partnerships. These models are intended to complement academic exchange programs.

Our Rector noted that the meetings at these two universities strengthened the on-the-ground impact of institutional-level collaborations. He emphasized that they provided an important foundation for sharing a common research culture, involving early-career researchers in the process, and establishing sustainable academic ties.

The ITU delegation concluded their visit to the city with a visit to the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago, where they met with Consul General Tahir Bora Atatanır.

 

San Francisco

Our Rector met with students, researchers, and academics at Stanford University's David Packard Electrical Engineering Building. During the visit, discussions focused on ITU’s growing engagement with the U.S. research ecosystem, its strategy for attracting top-tier academic talent, its strong connections with alumni and Turkish diaspora networks, and its long-standing expertise in engineering.

Within the framework of talent hubs and Türkiye's development potential in this field, the meeting evaluated strong infrastructure opportunities, reintegration mechanisms for researchers, and structures extending from academia to impact, supported by entrepreneurship, under the “research career” approach.

During the ongoing visit to the Stanford University campus, the university's strong research infrastructure, spatial design that encourages interdisciplinary interaction, and innovative academic life culture were observed.

Our Rector met with Prof. Dr. Utkan Demirci from the Canary Cancer Early Detection Center and visited the center focused on biomedical and exosome research at Stanford Research Park. The visit featured discussions on structures where translational research meets clinical impact, interdisciplinary research models, and academia-entrepreneurship interaction.

Prof. Dr. Mandal, as the Deputy Chair of the Presidential Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Council, met with the Global Turks AI network at WeWork, which directly contributes to national artificial intelligence policies. During the meeting, where one-on-one evaluations on artificial intelligence policies were conducted, topics such as network structures in the U.S., the “ITU x Global Turks AI Showcase” joint event, and mentor-based student, internship, and researcher interaction were discussed in line with ITU's vision for artificial intelligence and data science. Innogate | ARI Teknokent USA's acceleration program, which prepares artificial intelligence startups for the U.S. market, was also discussed.

Our Rector held his final meeting in San Francisco with Saeed Amidi, founder of Plug and Play. Opportunities for contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting ITU project teams were discussed.

 

San Diego

Rector Prof. Dr. Mandal commenced his San Diego itinerary with a meeting with Prof. Joseph Wang, a faculty member at UC San Diego and a member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA). During the meeting, Prof. Wang, known for his pioneering work in nanotechnology-focused wearable electronics, shared his current research. (Prof. Wang, one of the distinguished academics who has established strong ties with Türkiye in the global science ecosystem, was also awarded the 2022 TÜBA International Academy Award.)

Prof. Dr. Mandal visited one of the most advanced cleanroom infrastructures in Southern California with Prof. Dr. Duygu Kuzum, known for her work on nanoelectronic devices, neuroelectronic systems, and clinical neurodevices.

In meetings with Jacobs School of Engineering Dean Prof. Albert Al Pisano and Associate Dean for Research Prof. Bill Lin, discussions were held on innovative approaches to support student career development and integrated Master’s level collaboration models. Steps to strengthen education and research-based partnerships among academics were also jointly addressed.

The Rector highlighted that this model aims to expand MasterBee, an accelerated Master’s degree program, internationally, offering students new global pathways for academic excellence and professional growth.

Our Rector met with Dr. İlkay Altıntaş, Director of the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, as part of the program, and discussed Dr. Altıntaş's work focusing on interdisciplinary data integration and potential areas of collaboration.

At the final meeting of the San Diego visit program, the collaboration topics discussed throughout the day with UC San Diego Chancellor Prof. Pradeep K. Khosla were evaluated, and roadmaps were outlined for future strategic collaborations.

 

Los Angeles

Our Rector held a high-level meeting with UCLA Vice Chancellor Prof. Roger Wakimoto and Vice Provost Cindy Fan to discuss institutional cooperation and academic mobility. The discussions centered on priority areas such as innovative undergraduate exchange programs, joint research initiatives, doctoral collaborations, and joint applications for international research grants. Risk, resilience, and disaster management studies, as well as the role of digital twin technologies in disaster management, were examined during the visit to the B. John Garrick Institute for the Risk Sciences. Innovative perspectives and prominent collaboration models for disaster studies, which are a priority agenda item in Türkiye and the U.S., were addressed. Joint research projects, doctoral and postdoctoral researcher exchanges, co-supervision mechanisms, and joint funding applications were among the topics discussed, along with the development of collaborative approaches focused on co-creation, including the social science component.

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal met with Prof. Dr. Aydoğan Özcan to discuss research and technology-focused collaborations. Topics discussed included joint research and laboratory collaborations, joint summer programs, and visiting student programs.

A productive meeting was held with UCLA faculty member Prof. Dr. Selim Şenkan, who is a member of the Catalysis Research Group at ITU Synthetic Fuels & Chemicals Technology Center (SENTEK), to review ongoing successful collaborations and discuss new collaborations in the field of strategic materials technology.

A productive meeting was held with Consul General Menekşe Onuk, focusing on developing academic and scientific collaborations within the Los Angeles consular district.

Our Rector met with Turkish academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs in the region, hosted by Ergün Kırlıkovalı, known for his innovative and entrepreneurial work in the field of polymers and the inventor of the Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPN) technology, the breakthrough behind stealth coatings for fighter jets. The meeting focused on future collaboration opportunities with the academic ecosystem in the United States.