UT Engineers Going Global: Turkey
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING PROGRAM 2013
(ISEP 2013)
Dr. Derek Baker
Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications (GÜNAM)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey
METU
I originally made this document to support an oral presentation and
not as a stand alone document. Before posting to the web, I did add
in some “Notes” of the main ideas I would discuss orally while giving
this presentation that are not contained in the actual slides.
Derek Baker
N. Cyprus
10 Nov. 2012
2 of 29
METU
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Introduction
ISEP 2012 Summary
Program of Study
Dates
Location
Costs
Scholarships
Application Requirements
Application Process
3 of 29
METU
About Me: I was born in Virginia and grew up on the East Coast. I came to UT for
graduate school. My Turkish wife Özgür also came to UT for graduate school which is
where we met. We moved to Turkey in 2002 and both work at Middle East Technical
University in Ankara, Turkey. I have been named “METU Educator of the Year” 3
times, an award given to ~1% of the METU Faculty each year. I have been running this
summer program for the last 4-years.
4 of 29
METU
About Middle East Technical University: METU = “Me Too”
• Established in the 1950’s on the US Land Grant State University
Model in collaboration with the US. None other than UT’s Dean
Woolrich played a critical roll in establishing METU by serving as
METU’s first Consulting and Intern Presidents.
• Ranked 7th in the world among non-US universities in number of
engineering graduates who obtain a PhD in the US (NSF, 2003).
• Ranked in the top 100 Universities in the world based on
reputation (Times Higher Education World U. Rankings, 2012)
• The campus is a self-contained and gated community. Students live
in dorms on campus. During the week there is no need to leave
campus and is one of the easiest places for an American to live in
Turkey.
• METU is located in the capital city Ankara and is centrally located
for exploring Turkey on the weekends.
5 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: UT Students (Except Kathryn)
6 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Kick-off Cruise on Mediterranean
7 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Kick-off Cruise on Mediterranean
8 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Kick-off Cruise on Mediterranean
9 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Kick-off Cruise on Mediterranean
10 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Tour of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
System at METU’s Northern Cyprus Campus (METU NCC)
that we reverse engineered in the class.
11 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Tour of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
System at METU’s Northern Cyprus Campus (METU NCC)
that we reverse engineered in the class.
12 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: Tour of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
System at METU’s Northern Cyprus Campus (METU NCC)
that we reverse engineered in the class.
13 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: We went to the Izmir for the Int’l Ege Energy Symposium and
Exhibition. Izmir is at the Northern end of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. On free days,
Texas and METU students rented a bus and saw the ruins of the Biblical City Ephesus
(Book of Ephesians), the Last House of the Virgin Mary, and went to the beach.
14 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: We went to the Izmir for the Int’l Ege Energy Symposium and
Exhibition. Izmir is at the Northern end of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. On free days,
Texas and METU students rented a bus and saw the ruins of the Biblical City Ephesus
(Book of Ephesians), the Last House of the Virgin Mary, and went to the beach.
15 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: We went to the Izmir for the Int’l Ege Energy Symposium and
Exhibition. Izmir is at the Northern end of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. On free days,
Texas and METU students rented a bus and saw the ruins of the Biblical City Ephesus
(Book of Ephesians), the Last House of the Virgin Mary, and went to the beach.
16 of 29
METU
METU ISEP 2012: We went to the Izmir for the Int’l Ege Energy Symposium and
Exhibition. Izmir is at the Northern end of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. On free days,
Texas and METU students rented a bus and saw the ruins of the Biblical City Ephesus
(Book of Ephesians), the Last House of the Virgin Mary, and went to the beach.
17 of 29
METU
In the class students develop mathematical models of the solar energy
system, program these into a computer, run simulation , parametric
and feasibility studies, and communicate their work in written reports.
18 of 29
METU
19 of 29
METU
Learning Objectives: The program is structured as a balanced 3legged stool.
• Computer Modeling and Scientific Communication: “Core”
engineering skills important for any branch of engineering.
• Solar Engineering: Specialized skills.
• Global Competency: Includes the ability to live in a non-English
speaking country, work in an international engineering
environment, and place the impact of one’s work in a global
context.
While Computer Modeling, Scientific Communication, and Solar
Engineering Skills can be gained at UT in Austin, gaining the depth of
these Global Competency skills would be very difficult in Austin and
is the main value-added educational component of this program.
20 of 29
METU
ISEP 2013: Possible Fieldtrips (to be confirmed)
• The METU Northern Cyprus Campus (METU NCC) on the
Mediterranean Island of Cyprus to see the demonstration
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) system that is reversed
engineered in the class.
• Istanbul for a workshop on Socially Responsible Technology
Leadership and Entrepreneurship and a tour of a Unilever facility
to learn about their Sustainable Manufacturing Initiatives in
collaboration with the Turkish leadership organization YGA.
• Hybrid Solar-Geothermal Power Plant in the Aegean region.
21 of 29
METU
Is Turkey Safe [for Americans]?
• “People always asked me if Turkey was safe. I tell them I felt as
safe as I do on 6th Street in Austin.” Dr. Gary Vliet from UT who
joined us for the 1st three weeks of the 2012 program
• “Maybe it was blissful ignorance, but I never felt concerned for my
safety while in Turkey. Everyone was just so hospitable.” A 2012
Participant.
• “I have lived in Turkey for almost 10 years, and I have never felt
threatened nor the need to hide my citizenship. This included at
the start of the Iraqi War when I heard stories of Americans being
harassed in Western Europe.” Program Coordinator Derek Baker
22 of 29
METU
Dates
• 7 Week Program
o ~1 week orientation
o 6 week class
• Starts ~ 20 June*
• Ends 7 August
• Official dates announced by Dec. 1
• Purchase ticket after first accepted student meeting on Dec. 5
*The start of the program will be coordinated with the end of the
Delft Maymester Program on Nuclear Energy such that students can
attend both. This means students can reduce plane tickets costs by
combining both programs, and can complete 2 engineering classes
and 1 free elective in the summer.
23 of 29
METU
Program Details
• Program is accessible to any motivated Engineering Student. CE’s, ChE’s, EE’s
and ME’s have all participated in the past, worked hard, and done well.
• 3 Credit Engineering Course and 3 Credit Turkish Language Course
• Costs:
o ~$2750* tuition paid to UT
o $2500* Program Fee that includes accommodation and field trip
transportation, but not food.
o ~ $700 for food
o ~$1800 plane ticket
o ~$700 travel, incidentals and other costs
==============================
o ~$9,000 total**
* Can be covered by financial add.
**The incremental cost relative to studying at UT-Austin for the summer
 (Plane Ticket + Program Fee) - Summer Housing Costs in Austin
24 of 29
METU
Scholarships
o
UT AUSTIN ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL
but different requirements/dates
http://utdirect.utexas.edu/student/abroad/globalassist.WBX
» ENGINEERING…………DUE JANUARY 25
» IEFS ……………………… DUE MARCH 1
o NATIONAL
•
GILMAN for Pell recipients only ………………………DUE MARCH 1
25 of 29
METU
Deadline: DECEMBER 1
• Eligibility 2. 75 GPA and above preferred

All majors accepted
• 1 reference - an online questionnaire
o
o
TA or Professor
FIG leader
26 of 29
METU
If you are interested in applying for this program…..
Make an individual appointment with Helena Wilkins Versalovic ,
Senior Program Coordinator for International Engineering Education
at UT. Helena has found that every student is different and therefore
it is best to work with students one-on-one.
http://world.utexas.edu/abroad/programs/summer/application
Online portal
• Self authorize to apply
• Write essays
• Request reference
o
Send online Questionnaire
• TA, professor or FIG mentor acceptable
27 of 29
METU
If you want more information about this program, you
can contact the following people:
Dr. Derek Baker, ISEP 2013 Coordinator
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Middle East Technical University
http://www.metu.edu.tr/~dbaker/
dbaker@metu.edu.tr
ISEP 2012 Participants from Texas: There are 9 alumni from ISEP
2012 still at Texas who can give you a students’ perspective of the
program.
METU Alumni Now at Texas: At least 6 METU alumni are now in
graduate school at Texas, and many of these students participated in
or are a well aware of ISEP. These students can give you a Turkish
perspective.
28 of 29
METU
Conclusions
The program is designed to be both academically rigorous and
develop global competency skills. The main value-added educational
component (i.e., what separates this program from most other
international engineering programs) is the in-depth formal
collaboration and informal interaction with METU students.
29 of 29
METU