Bezmialem Vakif University
European Policy Statement (2021 – 2027)
Bezmialem Vakif University (BVU) is the first thematic university in Health and Life Sciences in Turkey founded in 2010 but historically dates back to 1845. It is a non-profit foundation university that aims to make progress in education, health care and research. It has mainly 4 campuses, 1 Phytotherapy Research Center and 2 Institutes located at the very heart of each side of Istanbul. BVU keeps these goals more than 175-year old heritage alive and aims to be a reference institution worldwide with its 4 Schools: Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy as well as 6 Departments: Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, Nursing, Audiology, Health Management, Occupational Therapy and Nutrition & Dietetics departments under the School of Health Sciences. BVU also has 3 Graduate Schools: Institute of Health Sciences, Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Gastroenterology. It also has 1 Vocational School of Health Services, with its 14 two-year programs.
Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of BVU has 3 departments: Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. The institute is initiatated by a group of Turkish scientist's abroad in order to participate and to develop; MSc, PhD, MD-PhD programs for training new generation of doctors, scientists and academics around the world. Eight principal investigator, primarily engaged in research. There is a research team under each investigator composed of one post doctoral fellow, two graduate students and a technician. Bezmialem Phytotherapy Training, Research and Application Center is established to train health professionals who practice Phytotherapy in the light of ethical values and modern science, to protect and improve public health and the use of herbal products for therapeutic purposes, standardization of herbal products, quality controls and licensing. The center offers students to pursue postgraduate research in phytopharmaceuticals.
BVU has a distinguished record of being a valued member of several international memberships, including AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges) and the only Turkish member of AAHCI (Association of Academic Health Centers International)
Our 2020 - 2023 strategic plan identifies the following:
- To develop new institutional partnerships with top-natch universities.
- To focus on learning and teaching activities with our international partners, and developing online collaborations.
- To prioritise international collaborations which focus on our strongest research areas. This will include our areas of excellence.
- To raise an international reputation by rising to the top of the rankings
- To increase international research
- To be a leading international health university
To train health professionals with an international health education
BVU aims to achieve its internationalization strategies by using the fostering power of Erasmus and other exchange programs. Since 2013 Erasmus+ has been regarded as the key component in the University's modernisation and internationalisation. Ever since its participation in the Erasmus Programme in the academic year of 2013/2014, BVU has increasingly carried out student, academics and staff exchange. 10% of the University population have benefited from the Erasmus programme since that time. During that period, BVU took the necessary steps to fully comply with the Bologna Process, redesigning and continuously updating its programmes and procedures in accordance with the European and National Qualifications Framework. Diploma Supplement was awarded to BVU by the European Commission in December 2020. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) has been enacted in all degree programs in order to facilitate transparency and clarity of student qualifications. The number of its interinstitutional agreements has reached more than 100 by 2021.
BVU is established with this valuable international experience in hand and as part of its international strategy, the priority now is given to participate in the Erasmus activities such as mobility, multilateral projects and networks. Developing academic ties with higher education institutions, exchange of students (including traineeship) and faculty as well as organizing training programs for administrative staff are within the objectives of the BVU. The majority of our academic staff is highly internationally oriented due to their training at reputable international universities, long-term stays abroad and their multidisciplinary and international projects. International Relations Office (IRO) of BVU oversees international agreements, and employs the necessary means for advancing the University's related strategies. In order to increase the number of international research projects, a special unit for supporting the researchers was created called Technology Transfer Office (TTO). Collaborative relations between the departments bring certain added value to expanding the impact of Erasmus+ Key Actions (KA1, KA2, and KA3) and ensures the participation of different stakeholders in their policy-making and policy-implementation processes.
Heading into the new phase of Erasmus+ Programme 2021-2027, strengthening and diversifying partnerships will continue to play a key role in achieving the strategic goals of BVU. Developing partnerships will provide BVU community with new mobility and networking opportunities to enhance its academic and professional profile. We all believe that students should have an international experience before they graduate and better prepare themselves for their future career. Therefore, we aim to achieve internationalization by encouraging both students and university staff to join in the Erasmus mobility and enable them to continue their studies in an international class environment with Erasmus students. Erasmus students are an essential part of our internationalization strategy. For the next period, we aim at at least 10% of our students and 10% of our staff will participate in international exchange and placement programs each year. We prioritize increasing the number of incoming students. Incoming students will benefit from high quality courses offered at BVU and become part of an international learning environment integrating with our students in classrooms and research labs.
Acknowledging the international dimension as one of the most important quality criteria, BVU is committed to further implement its official vision of becoming a leading health university with its education and services worldwide. This vision will be implemented by strengthening its international collaborations, increasing its research capacity, empowering its institutional and educational structure. Thus, BVU identifies the following topics among the priorities which would enhance its modernization, and lay the foundations for its internationalization as well as its quality improvement:
Prioritizing cross-border cooperation with universities and scientific organizations around the world in order to modernize its education and research infrastructure in support of expanding the European Education Area.
Ensuring visibility of the opportunities offered in the frame of the Erasmus+ Programme to enable equal and equitable access for its members.
Promoting the inclusion in the Erasmus+ activities of underrepresented groups, refugees as well as students and staff with disabilities.
- Continuing to provide full recognition of the acquisitions in the Erasmus+ mobility programs in order to support the beneficiaries' advancements in their academic and professional careers.
Establishing long-lasting partnerships in order to develop transnational teaching activities such as double/joint degree programs which can respond to the modern challenges and the need to keep up with the technological progress.
Promoting the concepts of the new Erasmus+ period by becoming actively involved in digitalization and blended mobility as well as the European Student Card initiative.
Participating in strategic networks and alliances which would bring long-lasting effects for implementing innovative practices, exchanging good practices, and supporting policy development.
Undertaking an active role in promoting and offering opportunities for employing 21st-century skills, i.e. learning and innovation skills, digital literacy skills, and career and life skills, as well as for improving language and intercultural competencies.
In order to ensure the visibility and the dissemination of Erasmus+ Program principles, BVU publishes the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education and the Erasmus Policy Statement on its official web page at:
