SEARCH FOR DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Position Description

SEARCH FOR DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Koç University – Istanbul, Türkiye

Koç University invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Engineering. The university seeks a visionary, internationally recognized academic leader with a distinguished record of research, administrative excellence, and strategic innovation to guide the College into its next era of academic preeminence and global impact.

The Dean will serve as the College’s chief academic and administrative officer and will develop and implement a pioneering, transformative strategy across education, research, and innovation, in close alignment with the University’s strategy. The Dean will provide thoughtful, decisive, and inclusive leadership, fostering a culture of trust, excellence, and shared purpose across the College to cultivate a thriving, high-impact academic community while strengthening engagement with the broader University and external partners.

Entering at a defining moment, the Dean holds an exceptional opportunity to shape the College’s future trajectory, steering its academic architecture, strategic vision, and global standing through an ambitious, world-class faculty recruitment drive. Key responsibilities include building an environment where faculty at all career stages can thrive through mentorship, retention, and professional development; advancing a student-centered educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students through innovative, future-ready curricula; securing and maintaining leading academic accreditations; and elevating the College’s research profile through strategic leadership for cutting-edge engineering inquiry and external funding. The Dean will also provide sound stewardship of academic and financial resources, expand strategic partnerships, enhance internationalization, and advance opportunities for technology transfer to enhance the College's broader impact and global standing. As a member of the university executive leadership, the Dean contributes to institutional governance and strategy.

The College of Engineering is one of Koç University's primary engines of research and technology. The College encompasses the departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, and works closely with other colleges, Koç University’s premier research centers, central facilities, and the Koç University Hospital.
The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a discipline within the College of Engineering or a closely related scientific field, with a distinguished record of scholarly achievement, international recognition, and external funding commensurate with appointment at the rank of Full Professor. Demonstrated administrative leadership experience in a research-intensive academic institution is preferred. The candidate should also bring an open and transparent leadership style that inspires excellence, supports shared governance, and advances a globally engaged academic community. Due to national regulations, Turkish citizenship is required for the position.

About Koç University:Founded in 1993, Koç University (ku.edu.tr) is a premier non-profit foundation institution in Istanbul defined by an elite faculty recruited from leading global institutions and a vibrant student body of ~9,000 high-achieving scholars. Operating fully in English, the university is the premier destination for the nation's top-ranked undergraduate talent, and with 44 dynamic graduate programs structured to train world-class research leaders, it attracts top-tier graduate students. Consistently ranked as the #1 research university nationally, Koç University and the College of Engineering hold Türkiye’s dominant share of European Research Council (ERC) grants. Koç University has a strong interdisciplinary approach to both education and research and is ranked #28 globally for interdisciplinary science (THE Rankings).

Application & Nomination Process :Applications should include a cover letter describing the candidate’s leadership philosophy and vision for the College, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for five professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately, with full consideration given to those received by November 30, 2026; however, exceptional applications received after this date may still be considered.

Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be submitted electronically in full confidence to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (vpaa@ku.edu.tr, Subject: Dean of CE Search - Full name).

• University Website: ku.edu.tr
• College of Engineering Website: eng.ku.edu.tr