The efforts of the Asım Kocabıyık Foundation for Culture and Education to support Kocaeli University after the damages it had suffered as a consequence of the earthquake in 1999 started with the visit of the Chairman of the Foundation, Asım Kocabıyık, to the President of Kocaeli University, Prof. Dr. Baki Komşuoğlu. Following their discussions, the Foundation took on the construction of two dormitories and one college building. The site where the project was to be carried out was aptly named Kocaeli University Hereke Borusan Campus.

Kocaeli University Hereke Borusan Campus consists of three units built on an area of 3.552 m2. The accommodation needs of the students were also considered and dormitories with a capacity of 108 female and 108 male students were built in addition to the Asım Kocabıyık Vocational College building. Zehra Nurhan Kocabıyık Women’s Dormitory and Asım Kocabıyık Men’s Dormitory provide accommodation in rooms for three with private bathrooms, wood furnishing, wall-to-wall carpeting and a cafeteria.

The Vocational College, which has four classrooms, two vocational laboratories, a computer room, a library, a conference hall seating 170 people, and a canteen, launched a Building Installations Technology Program that was the first of its kind in Turkey at the time. Beginning in the 2003-2004 academic year, the school’s construction and mechanical programs have been developed to include both day and evening courses in all three curricula.

The US$ 2 million project was completed with the support of the companies of Borusan Group and a contribution of US$ 310.000,00 from Borusan Group employees, Borusan’s local and foreign clientele and other friends of Borusan. Hereke Borusan Campus was handed over to Kocaeli University in November 2001.

www.kocaeli.edu.tr