Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture continues to establish strong bonds with the sector in line with its vision of collaborating with professionals who are a significant part of training process. Within this scope, the cooperation protocol signed with Yalın Tan & Partners, a design office that plays an active role in professional practice and carries out projects at an international level, for the 2024–2025 Academic Year, offers various academic and professional opportunities to the department’s students and academic staff.
The first step of the protocol was through the collaboration initiated in the Spring Semester of 2024-2025 Academic Year. Then, in 2025-2026 Academic Year Fall Semester, the said protocol was later developed into a more comprehensive and well-structured framework. Through the coordinated efforts of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Afet Coşkun, then Head of the Department, together with Prof. Dr. Özlem Olgaç Türker and Prof. Dr. Nil Paşaoğluları Şahin, instructors of the ITAS 402 and INAR 492 Interior Architecture Design Studio VI courses, the partnership was systematically integrated across the entire semester.
As part of the Interior Architecture Design Studio VI course, conducted under the code ITAS 402 in the Turkish program and INAR 492 in the English program, the pre-midterm jury benefited from the participation of Senior Interior Architect Sena Hut and Interior Architect Çağlar Lampir from Yalın Tan & Partners. Sena Hut joined the midterm jury online and later participated in the final jury in person. The final jury also welcomed Senior Interior Architect Türkan Torun, a founder of DOTLAB Design Studio, a graduate of the EMU Department of Interior Architecture, and a professional known for her notable projects in the local context.
Presentation Delivered on Interior Design
During the department’s traditional “Final Lecture” seminar, organized for graduating students, Sena Hut presented a selection of interior design projects carried out by Yalın Tan & Partners in different countries around the world. Following the presentation, a discussion session with Türkan Torun enabled graduating students and attendees to exchange views with the speakers and benefit from their professional insights and experiences.
Serving as Head of the EMU Department of Interior Architecture since the 2025–2026 Academic Year Spring Semester, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hacer Başarır Dindiç highlighted the significant contribution of these activities to students’ professional growth and noted that industry partnerships are a key component of the department’s strategic vision. She further stated that the department plans to deepen its engagement with the professional sector in the upcoming semester through new collaboration protocols with design offices, joint studio initiatives, and technical field visits.
Furthermore, EMU Faculty of Architecture’s Dean Prof. Dr. Asu Tozan highlighted that collaborations between universities and industry play a vital role in reinforcing the bond between theory and practice within architecture and interior architecture education. She emphasized that students’ direct engagement with professional practitioners throughout their studies both broadens their design outlook and provides valuable support for their career planning after graduation. Prof. Dr. Tozan also affirmed that the Faculty of Architecture will continue to promote and sustain high-quality, long-term partnerships.