A collaboration protocol has been signed between the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) and Turkish Bank Limited (TürkBank) to support efforts and initiatives to develop entrepreneurship, digital transformation, technology and innovation ecosystem. The cooperation protocol was dsigned by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın and TurkishBank General Manager Mustafa Kayahan signed on Tuesday, 4 April 2023 at 10:30 a.m.. Present at the signing ceremony were EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Hasan Demirel, EMU Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EMU - GIMER) Chair and Head of Business Administration Department Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tümer, TurkishBank Group Managing Director Erhan Raif, Turkish Insurance (Türk Sigorta) CEO Engin Arı, TurkishBank Deputy General Manager of Marketing and Technology Banking Mehmet Salih Havalı and TurkishBank Technology Banking R&D Specialist Gizem Karaca.
Through the said protocol, it is aimed to establish a long-term and sustainable cooperation between both institutions through the involvement of EMU students or academicians in projects, initiatives and studies deemed appropriate by the Turkish Bank and EMU, to contribute to and support joint research.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın expressed that they are happy to be in cooperation with a reputable institution such as TürkBank and emphasized that the protocol will create an important framework for the relations to be made with the institutional structure of the bank, especially on entrepreneurship, innovation, digital trainings and other issues to be provided by the university. Stating that EMU, as a state university, has been providing services to the community, quality education and research for many years, Prof. Dr. Hocanın underlined that they always attach importance to collaborations with institutions. Putting forth that EMU carries out various work on entrepreneurship, Prof. Dr. Hocanın emphasized that in the challenging conditions of the digital world, the blessings of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship should be utilized. At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Hocanın wished that the protocol in question would be beneficial for both institutions.
In his speech, TurkishBank General Manager Mustafa Kayahan stated that as TurkishBank, they are extremely pleased to be in cooperation with EMU, one of the most valuable institutions in the country. Expressing that he is also an EMU graduate, Kayahan underlined that they follow EMU's achievements with pride. Kayahan emphasized that as TurkishBank, they always aim to be a bank that invests in permanent values that add value to society, rather than banking that creates consumption. Stating that as TurkishBank, digital transformation and encouraging young people to entrepreneurship are among their social responsibility areas, Kayahan underlined that the said protocol has been prepared within this framework. Kayahan emphasized that a long-term cooperation with EMU started today.
TurkishBank Group Managing Director Erhan Raif emphasized that they operate in Cyprus, Turkey and London as a group and that they aim to take technology entrepreneurs in Cyprus abroad, within the framework of their adopted vision of transforming Cyprus into a software island through the creation of a network on technology entrepreneurship.
Prof. Dr. Demirel, on the other hand, stated that TurkishBank is one of the most well-established banks and stated that the bank is one of the best brands developed by Turkish Cypriots and they are proud of it. Stating that EMU has many activities in terms of entrepreneurship through Technopark and EMU-GIMER, Prof. Dr. Demirel emphasized that there are numerous projects and potential in the field of entrepreneurship.