What is the Third Five-Year Action Plan?
Istinye University’s Third Five-Year Action Plan (2025–2030) is a comprehensive roadmap designed to achieve the University’s 2030 Vision. The plan was developed to systematically manage institutional development processes. The action plan initiatives began in the 2024–2025 academic year. Throughout the process, search conferences were organized with the participation of students, academic and administrative staff, and input was gathered from various internal and external stakeholders. The plan was presented to all stakeholders during the Vision Meeting held in January 2025, where the University’s strategic goals were shared within a unified framework.
The plan is structured around five main categories: Education and Training, R&D and Innovation, Internationalization, Social Contribution, and Institutional Transformation. Within these focus areas, the principles of quality, sustainability, agility, and data-driven governance were adopted. From the identification of strategic goals to implementation, evaluation, and restructuring, all stages are conducted based on project and performance management methodologies, prioritizing the dissemination of a culture of continuous improvement across the institution.
To implement the plan, 10 priority projects and 33 sub-projects have been defined. These include initiatives in Undergraduate and Graduate Education, Alumni Relations, Student Satisfaction, R&D and Innovation, Internationalization, Community Engagement, Governance and Leadership, Brand Value, and Collaboration with MLP. Through these projects, a holistic development framework has been established, covering all dimensions from education and research to international partnerships and institutional governance.
The success of the plan is monitored and evaluated through 73 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These indicators systematically track factors such as student achievement and graduate employability in education; publication output, project development, and patent generation in research; mobility in internationalization; social responsibility initiatives in community engagement; and digitalization and quality assurance in institutional development. The Third Five-Year Action Plan serves both as a strategic guide and as a shared vision commitment that reflects all stakeholders’ dedication to achieving the University’s 2030 Vision.
Furthermore, the plan is strongly aligned with the “2030 Roadmap for Turkish Higher Education” announced by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). It presents a framework consistent with YÖK’s priorities in areas such as quality-oriented process management, digital transformation, internationalization, and innovation. In this way, Istinye University’s institutional goals progress in harmony with the national higher education vision.
Core Principles of the Third Five-Year Action Plan
The Third Five-Year Action Plan is not merely a collection of projects; it also represents a comprehensive framework of guiding principles that shape Istinye University’s strategic transformation journey. These principles, which support the vision of the plan and guide its implementation processes, play a pivotal role in leading the University toward achieving its 2030 goals.
Inclusiveness and Stakeholder Engagement
The Third Five-Year Action Plan was shaped in line with the shared perspectives emerging from the search conferences held at Istinye University and the institution’s strategic priorities. With the active contributions of students, academic staff, and administrative personnel, the plan was designed as the outcome of a broad and participatory process.
During this process, the expectations and suggestions of different stakeholder groups were taken into account, ensuring that the action plan responds both to institutional priorities and to the needs of all components of the University.
The inclusive nature of the plan reinforces a sense of shared responsibility in implementing strategic objectives and supports the adoption of the 2030 Vision by all stakeholders.
Description of the 10 Strategic Projects and Their Contribution to the Action Plan
Project | Project Description and Contribution to the Action Plan |
Undergraduate Students / Education | It contributes to enhancing the capacity and quality of educational processes, attracting highly qualified students, enriching learning experiences, and improving graduate success. |
Graduate Students / Education | It contributes to enhancing the capacity and quality of educational processes in graduate programs, increasing research output, and fostering the development of international academic partnerships. |
Alumni | It contributes to enhancing graduate employability, strengthening the effectiveness of alumni networks, and fostering a stronger sense of belonging. |
Satisfaction | It contributes to enhancing student and employee satisfaction, improving the quality of university life, and strengthening institutional belonging. |
Research, Development, and Innovation | It contributes to enhancing research capacity and quality, improving the impact and quality of academic publications and projects, supporting intellectual property generation, and strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem. |
Internationalization | It contributes to enhancing international student diversity, promoting faculty mobility, and strengthening global collaborations. |
Community Engagement | It contributes to increasing the number of scientific and sectoral events, fostering collaborations with the community, and strengthening the vision of sustainability. |
Governance and Leadership | It contributes to enhancing institutional governance capacity, developing leadership mechanisms, and strengthening a transparent and accountable management approach. |
Brand Value | It contributes to enhancing the university’s institutional reputation, increasing the visibility of academic achievements, and strengthening communication with external stakeholders. |
Collaboration with MLP | It is a project aimed at strengthening the University–MLP collaboration, enhancing students’ experiential learning opportunities, and increasing graduate employability. |
Istinye University’s 2030 Goals
