The department was established in 2013 with the aim of providing a first class education in the fields of political science and international relations. The programme was established with the purpose to form competent bureaucrats and employees with good linguistic skills and able to understand society, politics and the global world. Moreover, Istanbul 29 Mayıs University and the Department of Political Science and International Relations have the ambition to form the next generation of academicians. To may reach these objectives, we shaped our department’s policy and curricula focusing on five main elements:
- A competent staff. Our faculty has been educated in the best Turkish and world universities and have an excellent record of publications, language skills and teaching experience.
- Language skills. The programme is fully in English to help students in acquiring a good language competence to understand the global events and the major literature in the field. Students arrive to the department after a challenging Prep-School and need a B2 level of English. Non-Turkish students are also invited to learn Turkish at the Turkish Prep-School for better integration to the local society. Moreover, students are invited to learn a second foreign language necessary to confront the competitive job market and to understand more in depth other societies.
- Challenging academic environment. The University is investing great resources to create a large academic library even if İSAM (İslam Araştırma Merkezi-Centre for Islamic Studies) located in the Altunizade University campus is already providing the best research library in Istanbul. Moreover, through conferences, seminars and exchange programmes, the University is creating a thought-provoking environment in an already cosmopolite and amazing city. Istanbul 29 Mayıs University is also committed to promote a policy to attract foreign student from all over the world.
- A global and a regional perspective. We live in a global village and the Department of Political Science and International Relations needs to furnish a global perspective to students. At the same time, however, students need to confront themselves with competing world interpretations outside the dominant global trend. To may gain a global and regional perspective, then, BA students will become familiar with the major subfields in the discipline (comparative politics, IR, political theory, Turkish politics, and political sociology) and will choose at the end of the third year a regional module, which will give them a competence in one of the main regions (Balkans, Middle East, Eurasia and the European Union) where Turkey has great economic and political interests but also the relevant geographies that dominate the global political agenda.
- Education with respect for diversity. The University and the department are committed to respect and encourage diversity among faculty and students. We believe that only where religious, cultural, gender, national and political diversities can coexist there is a prosperous academic environment.
