History and Foundation
The highest decision-making body in Istanbul Commerce University is the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is appointed by the Foundation of Educational and Social Services of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. The idea of founding Istanbul Commerce University was first proposed by Prof. Dr. İsmail Özarslan, the General Secretary of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and a member of the first Board of Trustees. The university started its first academic year in 2001-2002 with 73 students admitted through additional quota.
Istanbul Commerce University contributes to universal science with its level of education, scientific researches and publications. With an education that responds to the international standards and the competitive conditions via its application-based curriculum executed with modern technologies, Istanbul Commerce University aims to raise modern and participatory individuals who are devoted to the principles and reforms of Atatürk. One of the main objectives of Istanbul Commerce University is to raise and develop the qualified human capital which will contribute to the Turkish economy, commerce and industry; also using this source to follow scientific and technologic developments in the global scale and transfer the knowledge it produces to the changing world and to Turkish society.
Istanbul Commerce University is composed of 5 Faculties, Foreign Language Preparatory School, Vocational School, 3 Institutes and 3 Centers. The faculties are the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Faculty of Commercial Sciences, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Engineering and Design and the Faculty of Communication. The Faculty of Arts is constituted of the Departments of Statistics, Mathematics and Psychology; the Faculty of Commercial Sciences is constituted of the Departments of Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Tourism Management, International Relations and International Trade; The Faculty of Law includes the Department of Law; the Faculty of Engineering and Design is constituted of the Departments of Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Fashion and Textile Design; the Faculty of Communication is constituted of the departments of Visual Communication Design, Public Relations and Media-Communication Systems. The Vocational School is designed according to the trends in industry and commerce and the need of intermediate staff in Turkey. In this framework, the Vocational School is made up of programs such as Accounting (Tr/Eng), Foreign Trade, Computer Technology and Programming(Tr/Eng), Computer Technology and Programming (1+1), Air Logistics, Aviation Ground Services, Logistics, Accounting and Taxation Applications and International Logistics. ISTANBUL Commerce University provides one year English Preparatory Programme which is executed by the English Preparatory School.
In line with its mission, the institutes of Istanbul Commerce University consist of institutes of Foreign Trade, Social Sciences and Graduate Studies in Science and Engineering. The institutes aim to equip the human resource that Turkish industry and commerce need, in line with the contemporary context. Istanbul Commerce University also has three centers; Continuous Training Center, EU Application and Research Center, IT Security Application and Research Center which complements the vision of the university. These centers aim to contribute to the scientific scene with scientific researches and publications. As of 2010, Istanbul Commerce University has a substantial place among other Turkish universities with its 5000 students, 170 academics and 3 campuses located in Eminönü, Üsküdar and Küçükyalı.
The Erasmus program is in effect in Istanbul Commerce University which has collaborations with USA, England, Sweden, France, Italy and Greece. Istanbul Commerce University also owns Iletişim TV, which broadcasts with training purposes on UHF 42 band and is open to the use of all students, and also a radio called Iletişim Radio on 101.8 FM. The TV and the radio is equipped in accordance with modern communication norms. The other three communication products of the university are a monthly magazine called Italik and two scientific refereed journals. There are social clubs such as Theatre, Music, Dance, Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Tennis Clubs. These clubs have achieved important results in their fields. Istanbul Commerce University also informs its students and the public about the national and global issues through frequently held scientific meetings, forums, panels, talks and events.