# Erciyes University

Erciyes University (Turkish: Erciyes Üniversitesi), commonly referred to as ERU, is a public research university located in Kayseri, Turkey. Established in 1978, the university has become a center for education, research, and innovation, contributing to academic and scientific development in the region. Erciyes University was designated by the Council of Higher Education as one of the first 10 universities in Turkey to be classified as a research university, and it was the only institution outside of Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir.

## History

Erciyes University originated from the Gevher Nesibe Medical School, established in 1969 as an affiliate of Hacettepe University, and the Kayseri Business School, founded in 1977. These faculties combined to form an independent institution under the name University of Kayseri in 1978. In 1982, the university expanded with the incorporation of two additional higher education institutions in Kayseri, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Theology. Shortly after, the institution took on the name Erciyes University. The name of the university has an inspiration from Mount Erciyes, which is 15 kilometres to the southwest of the university.
The foundation efforts were led by local figures, including politicians such as Turhan Feyzioğlu, Health Minister Vedat Ali Özkan, and the then-Mayor Mehmet Çalık. Their work was supported by İhsan Doğramacı, the Rector of Hacettepe University, which led to the establishment of the Gevher Nesibe Medical School in Kayseri in 1969, initially operating under Hacettepe University. In 1975, the faculty moved to Kayseri State Hospital’s external clinic.
In 1993, the "Great Kayseri Meeting" was held on Mount Erciyes, which significantly increased the engagement of local businessmen in the university’s development. Two years later, the "Second Great Kayseri Meeting" took place, further strengthening local support for the university. The involvement of prominent business figures, including the construction of buildings by philanthropists, was supported by President Süleyman Demirel, who participated in groundbreaking and opening ceremonies, providing moral and institutional support. This created an extraordinary atmosphere of enthusiasm and cooperation, which played a crucial role in the growth of Erciyes University.
In 2017, Erciyes University was designated by the University Council as one of the first 10 universities in Turkey to be classified as a research university, and it was the only institution outside of Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir.
The International Advisory Board of Erciyes University includes professors from various institutions around the world. Among the members are Professor Tanju Karanfil from Clemson University, Professor Yaşar Onel from the University of Iowa, and Professor İbrahim Tarık Özbolat from Penn State University. Other members include Professor Michael Wurm from University of Mainz, Professor Robert Svoboda from the University of California-Davis, and Professor John A. Rogers from Northwestern University. Additionally, Professor Xian Huang from Tianjin University, Professor Olcay Y. Jones from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Assoc. Professor Deniz Peker from Emory University, Professor Tamer Kahveci from The University of Florida, and Professor Weihong Tan from Hunan University are also part of the advisory board.

### Location

Erciyes University is situated in Kayseri, a city with a population of approximately 1.39 million. The university's campus is located just 6 kilometers from the city center. Erciyes University is located approximately 25 kilometers from the Erciyes Ski Resort, a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in the region. Additionally, the university is about 80 kilometers from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cappadocia.

## Industrial contribution

Erciyes Technology Development Zone, also known as Erciyes Teknopark, was recognized in the Official Gazette on April 30, 2004, as a Technology Development Zone, covering a total area of 250,549.80 square meters. The management company, Erciyes Teknopark A.Ş., was established on February 8, 2005, to oversee the realization of the zone's vision and objectives. The area operates under Turkey's Law on Technology Development Zones (Law No. 4691), which provides a framework for its operations.
In 2018, the total R&D revenue reached 500 million Turkish lira, and the establishment of ETTOTronic, Kayseri's first electronics cluster, was completed with government support. These advancements have positioned Erciyes Teknopark as a leading innovation and research center in Turkey.

## Research

Erciyes University, recognized as one of the ten research universities in Turkey, places significant emphasis on research and innovation. The university supports its researchers through various funding mechanisms, including external funding opportunities via the European Research Council and TÜBİTAK, as well as internal funding through its Scientific Research Projects (BAP) office. In 2023, BAP supported 530 projects with a total value of approximately 127 million Turkish lira, reflecting the university's robust commitment to advancing scientific research.
The Erciyes Neutrino Research Group (ENRG) is an active participant in several prominent neutrino experiments, collaborating with international research initiatives such as the ANNIE and NOvA experiments at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the United States. The group contributes to the physics analysis and neutron simulation studies for these experiments. In addition, ENRG runs a detector research and development (R&D) program for neutrino experiments worldwide, focusing on developing novel particle detectors and calorimeters. A member of the group holds an affiliated scientist position at the University of Iowa and is involved with the CMS experiment at CERN, part of the Large Hadron Collider.

## International perspective and rankings

Erciyes University has established numerous international partnerships through bilateral agreements and participation in the Erasmus Programme. These agreements facilitate student and faculty exchanges, joint research initiatives, and academic collaboration with leading universities around the world. In Germany, Erciyes University partners with University of Cologne, Hochschule Niederrhein, and RWTH Aachen University. In Spain, the university has agreements with the University of Salamanca and the University of Castilla-La Mancha. In Portugal, it collaborates with the University of Coimbra, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, and Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. Erciyes also has connections with Italy, including the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Marche Polytechnic University, the University of Siena, and the University of Perugia. In Poland, it collaborates with the Military University of Technology in Warsaw.
Additionally, the university partners with institutions in Greece, including the University of Ioannina and the University of Thessaly. Other key collaborations include Széchenyi István University in Hungary, the University of Nantes in France, and the American University in Bulgaria. Erciyes University also works with the Giuseppe Martucci Conservatory of Music in Salerno, Italy, particularly in the field of music education.
The Journal of Clinical Practice and Research, affiliated with Erciyes University School of Medicine, is an international, open-access journal that publishes six issues annually. The journal’s Advisory Board includes experts from various institutions such as University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, Yale University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dammam University King Fahd Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins University.
The Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Center is accredited by JACIE, Europe's only official accreditation body in the field of haematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy. In addition, the Children's Bone Marrow Transplantation Center has become the first and only facility in Turkey to receive JACIE certification, aligning with international healthcare practices. Furthermore, the Children's Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Hospital is the largest facility of its kind in Turkey, reinforcing its leading role in pediatric bone marrow transplantation. The Erciyes University Drug Research Center collaborates with major international regulatory bodies, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the FDA.
Erciyes University’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences initiated the accreditation process with Agentur für Qualitätssicherung durch Akkreditierung von Studiengängen E.V.. ERU's Business, Economics, and Finance programs successfully completed the accreditation process, receiving recognition from AQAS. Erciyes University School of Veterinary Medicine holds EAEVE (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education) accreditation. The ERU's Hebrew Language and Culture Program is the only undergraduate Hebrew program in Turkey. In 2021, Erciyes University was recognized by UI GreenMetric as one of the top 100 universities globally for its efforts in environmental sustainability.