"Facing Crises: Challenges and Opportunities Confronting the Third Sector and Civil Society"
Kadir Has University
Istanbul, Turkey
July 7-10, 2010
Ninth International Conference of theInternational Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR)

Conference Site

Kadir Has University
Kadir Has Campus
Kadir Has Caddesi
Cibali
34083 Istanbul
TURKEY
Contact person; Ayça Genç Yilmazel
Telephone: +90 212 533 65 32 ext. 1225
FAX:          +90 212 533 65 15
email: aycag@khas.edu.tr

Kadir Has University (KHU) was founded in 1997. The university, with its six faculties of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Communication, Law and Fine Arts, as well as its several vocational schools, is dedicated to becoming a leader in educational and cultural fields in Turkey, as well as establishing itself as an international center for research and scientific development.

Behind ancient Byzantine walls stands the oldest part of Istanbul. These ramparts distinguish and define Cibali, the neighborhood where Kadir Has University's main campus is situated. It is only a few meters away from the Haliç, the harbor inlet known to English speakers as "the Golden Horn," since Ottoman times. Cibali takes its name from the time of the conquest of Istanbul when, according to common belief, a soldier from Bursa named Cebe Ali Bey entered the city by breaking through the rampart doors. Since that time this entryway into the city has been called Ali Bey, and the neighborhood, Cibali.

The University was named for Kadir Has (1921-2007).  Kadir Has was one of the leading businessmen in Istanbul, concentrating in the automotive trade.  In addition, he established the Coca-Cola Company in Turkey and founded various trade organizations.  A graduate of Bogazici College, Kadir Has received an Honorary Doctorate in 1998 in Administration, Planning and Economics Education from Canakkale On Sekiz Mart University, as a commendation for his efforts and endeavors as well as for his moral and financial contributions to the education of future generations.

Kadir Has and his wife Rezan Has, with the HASVAK (Kadir Has Foundation for Education), have both been major benefactors for important activities in education and health and have bequeathed their entire estate to this foundation. They have always believed that their honorable and loyal obligation to Turkey is to give back what they have earned.  Thus, Kadir Has's biggest passion has been the establishment and improvement of the university which bears his name, Kadir Has University.

Kadir Has University Building ... The immortal history

It is known that the main building of the Kadir Has University, which represents the rich historical heritage of the city of Istanbul, consists of four layers. At the bottom layer there is a Byzantium cistern dating back to the 11th century and on top of it, ruins of a historical hammam belonging to the Ottoman Empire dating back to the 17th century. The Cibali Tobacco Factory established in the 1880=s is located right on top of this foundation.

The main building of the Kadir Has University rooted in a history of 1400 years won the 2003 Europe Nostra Award, the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage as the best preserved building.

The Byzantine cistern dated to the 11th century with 48 columns and 24 domes, built to meet the water needs of the district, was brought to light during excavations in 1944 by Istanbul Archaeological Museums and it is situated inside the Rezan Has Musuem Golden Horn Cultures.
The cistern, which was used as a hammam in the 17th century, after the conquer of Istanbul, also witnessed the historical events of that period. The part of the cistern which was used as a hammam was discovered as a result of excavation studies.

It is presumed that the cistern was used as a shelter by the workers of the tobacco factory in the pre-republican period, in other words during the war years. The cistern also served as a warehouse for food and witnessed the events of that period.

The Rezan Has Museum will be open during the ISTR Conference.

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