Билкентский университет: история, кампус и достижения.

Foundation university in Ankara, Turkey

Preparations for the establishment of the university began in 1967, with the purchase of a tract of land to the west of Ankara. In the late 1970s the foundations of the buildings which now house administrative offices, the faculty of engineering, and the library, were laid. Construction of residences for academic staff, cafeterias, student dormitories, and various academic buildings followed rapidly.

The university library houses a large collection of books with annual acquisitions valued at over 3 million U. S. dollars. As of 2017, Bilkent University Library is the largest university library of Turkey, and it is the only university library to rank in the top 10 libraries in the country. In addition to books, the collection includes periodical subscriptions, microforms, CD ROM, access to numerous online databases and electronic journals, DVD, VHS and audio cassettes. Sheet music and sound recordings are available in the music rooms. The library also hosts a number of private collections and an exhibition hall.

The university offers 33 undergraduate majors, together with 32 graduate programs spanning 22 different fields.

Students can participate in many sports courses and be trained by university staff, mostly for free. The university presents many individuals and teams in different sports in varsity competitions. The most well known sport teams of the university are the Bilkent Goats and the Bilkent Judges, the ultimate team and the football team, respectively.

The board and the departmental members of the Bilkent Student Union are chosen annually among all registered university students. The Student Union is the main sponsor and the organizer of Mayfest, the traditional Bilkent University summer festival. Various student clubs organize regular activities every day on and off the campus, mostly open to everyone. All students are allowed to join, or participate in the events and activities of any club they wish to. Student union and club activities are coordinated under the supervision of Student Events Center of Bilkent.

Bilkent University is host to numerous events regarding music and the performing arts. The university also sponsors frequent lectures, art exhibitions, and literary evenings throughout the academic year. During the first week of may, each year Mayfest is held. Mayfest is a well known festival among the youth of Ankara, consisting of a large number of activities, as well as open air concerts where renowned Turkish pop and rock bands and singers take the stage every night throughout the week.

Bilkent Cyberpark, founded in 2002, is the fastest growing techno park in Turkey serving with 240 technology based companies, one micro nano chip factory, five research centers, and 4,00 personnel.