For the successful completion of this doctoral programme, a collaboration between 4 organisations contributing to the recruitment and hosting of ESR fellows takes place. In addition of GU/EKTAM as coordinator (hosting 13 ESR fellows), METU (hosting 4 ESR fellows), ITU (hosting 3 ESR fellows) and IZTECH (hosting 2 ESR fellows) participate in the programme as PO hosting & training researchers.
Gazi University (GU)/EKTAM: With 37.000 students (1.500 foreign), 11 faculties, 5 graduate schools, and 3 vocational colleges, Gazi University (GU), established in 1926 in Ankara, is top-10 University in Turkey mainly focusing on science and technology. Having strong laboratories and research centers in the fields of “life sciences”, “photonics” and “additive manufacturing”, Gazi University has been classified as a “research university” to foster “research and development” activities together with industry and other university/institutions. It has played an important role in the development of Turkey with its academic and technological achievement and proved its success in education both nationally and internationally, thus providing an excellent environment for the development of the doctoral programme. Established by Gazi University in 2017, the Additive Manufacturing Technologies Application and Research Center (EKTAM)1 is the National Center of Excellence for Additive Manufacturing to accelerate the deployment of this technology and develop novel materials, products and services in the advanced materials, advanced and additive manufacturing value-chains regarding process design, modelling & simulation, materials, post-processing, product, certification and end-life, with the aim of developing a set of technologies, materials and processes that could be applied to the AM field. EKTAM
There are 6 campuses in GU, the main one located in Teknikokullar region serving as the administration/rectorate building, with swimming pools, medical center, culture center, conference halls, international student office and other facilities such as food & cafes for both academic staff and students. The other GU campuses have similar facilities such as food courts, canteen and sport centers. In its Emek Campus, GU has a small hotel for guests and students. In Golbasi campus, Gazi University has another guest house for students. There are various private dormitories around the campuses which provide easy access to faculties and city center. The students enjoy having advantages of accessing city life. There are 116 student groups in various areas like motorsports, aerospace, defence technologies, red crescent, theatre, dance, photograph, bicycle, chess, etc. Every student can take a part in these groups according to own area of interest or hobbies. The student groups and the Directorate of Health, Culture and Sports organize various cultural, sports and arts events like concerts, exhibitions, performances and conferences every year. Social activities (nursing home visits, hospital visits, orphanage visits, planting seedlings organizations, etc.) are also organized during the year. The organizations are free for anyone willing to join. The Spring Festival is organized in GU every summer after the end of the spring semester, with concerts, recreational activities and fun competitions.
Middle East Technical University (METU) is a well-established, non-profit, public and research university, established in 1956 in Ankara. There are numerous basic, applied and social science research centers, such as Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Facilities (MEMS), Fuel Quality Control Laboratory (PAL), and Solar Energy Research Center (GUNAM), complement METU’s R&D resources.
There are 18 modern dormitories within the University Campus with a capacity for thousands of students. The Medical and Counseling Center, which operates under METU’s Directorate of Health, Culture and Sports, serves students, faculty, and administrative staff. A shopping center and several food & drink facilities are available on campus. There are various sports and recreation activities in METU, including swimming pools, sports hall, stadium, tennis courts, etc. There are dozens of student groups and societies organising various cultural, sports and arts events like concerts, exhibitions, performances and conferences.
Istanbul Technical University (ITU) is a prominent and pioneering university of engineering and architecture with many innovative studies in science, technology, research and development. ITU, as a university mainly composed of graduate engineering schools and research laboratories, works closely in collaboration with enterprises and other economic and social partners. ITU facilitates the knowledge and technology transfer to industries, management centers, briefly to all society. To do this, ITU has created many Techno-Science parks, incubation centers, entrepreneurship and innovation center and technology transfer office.
International students and scholars are offered free medical care at the İTÜ Medical Centers located at the relevant campuses. 11 sports facilities available with approximately 45,000 m2 field for sports. There are nearly over 200 student clubs27 in different categories such as academy, science, technology, art, sports, field of social responsibility, profession and career. İTÜ provides 4.000-bed capacity housing facilities to local and international students with a total of 13 dormitories at Ayazağa and Gümüşsuyu campuses, with comfortable conditions.
İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) is one of the research universities in Turkey, established in 1992 with a view to offering a high level of education and carrying out research in technological fields. The Dynamic Testing and Modelling Laboratory at IZTECH (DTMLIZTECH) is the unique research laboratory in Turkey as accommodating both dynamic testing and modelling capabilities under the same roof. DTML is a financially self-sufficient laboratory; operated by the funds from the projects and tests services given to industries.
There is a student residence in the Campus (KYK) with capacity for 1032 students. IzTech Living Center also available for doctorate researchers with 221 rooms available. There is a University bus service, and transportation within Campus is provided for free by a shuttle bus. Polyclinic, Dental Health, Nursing & Emergency Response Services available. IzTech Library founded in 1992 is one of the best in Turkey, with 6000m2 of indoor space. Access to the library catalogue via SirsiDynix Integrated Library System. Academic Communities, Music & Dance Groups, Culture, Art & Communication Communities, Sports Clubs available for prospective students.