AKU Faculty of Technology, which is one of the 21 Technology Faculties established in Turkey, has been implementing an engineering curriculum by admitting students to the Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and Automotive Engineering departments since the 2010–2011 academic year Fall semester, and to the Electrical-Electronics Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering departments since the 2011–2012 academic year Fall semester.
While the Faculty of Technology implements the exact same curriculum as Engineering Faculties, it also includes workplace training and summer internships aimed at enhancing students’ practical skills. Students complete their workplace training in the industry during the 7th semester of their education. Thus, students acquire significant practical skills in their desired field before graduation.
Difference from Engineering Faculties
There is no difference regarding the curriculum. A student graduating from either an Engineering Faculty or a Technology Faculty graduates by completing 240 ECTS credits.
Additionally, Technology Faculties feature workplace training. Students spend one full semester (at a factory meeting the criteria determined by the faculty) personally participating in design and production processes.
Upon graduation, the diplomas of both Technology and Engineering faculties bear the inscription “Graduated from the Department of …… Engineering”.
Signature Authority
Whatever authority other institutions providing engineering education in Turkey possess, the Faculty of Technology possesses the same authority. This is because the departments it houses are Engineering programs. In our country, who holds the title of Engineer is established by law. The Law No. 3458 on Engineering and Architecture clearly indicates who can hold this title.
Relevant Law: (Publication and announcement in the Official Gazette: 28/VI 1938-Issue: 3945) No. 3458 | Accepted Date: 17-VI-1938 (Amended by Decree Law No. 601 published on June 28, 2000.)
Article 1 – Within the borders of the Republic of Turkey, those wishing to practice the profession with the title and authority of engineering and architecture must possess one of the documents written below: a) Diplomas given by Turkish higher schools showing engineering or architecture education; b) Licenses to be given in accordance with the procedure to those who have received diplomas from a foreign higher engineering or higher architecture school whose programs are accepted as equivalent to the programs of higher engineering or architecture schools; c) Diplomas given by the engineering section of the Turkish Technical School and other engineering or architecture schools within the country whose programs are accepted as equivalent thereto; d) Licenses to be given in accordance with the procedure to those who have received diplomas from a foreign engineering or architecture school whose programs are accepted as equivalent to the programs of the engineering section of the Turkish Technical School.
Article 2 – In order to grant licenses to those graduating from foreign countries written in paragraphs (b) and (d) of the article above, it is a condition that they have passed their education degrees as regular students of the school they exited, have followed all the instruction of the school regularly and actually, and have finished all the exams required to be passed according to the current procedures in the school.
Article 3 – The title of (High Engineer) or (High Architect) is given to those holding the documents written in paragraphs (a) and (b) of the first article, and the title of (Engineer) or (Architect) is given to those holding the documents written in paragraphs (c) and (d). These titles are also inserted into the diplomas or licenses.