IUE couple pursuing careers in Scotland

The journey of the Akgün couple from Izmir, which started at the university, turned into a lifelong love story and then a success story that extended to Scotland, 4,200 thousand kilometers away. Özgür Akgün (35), who graduated from Izmir University of Economics (IUE) with a double major in Computer and Industrial Engineering, became a lecturer at the 600-year-old University of St Andrews, Scotland, which ranked first among the oldest universities in English-speaking countries, surpassing Cambridge and Oxford this year. Emine Zehra Yurtkulu Akgün (35), who graduated from the Department of Logistics Management, received the title of "assistant professor" at Edinburgh Napier University, one of the successful universities of Scotland. The young couple, who met during university years and got married, also has a child named Ozan, represent Turkey in the best way in the academia.

THEIR LIFE PATH AND CAREER BOTH CONNECTED

Emine Zehra Yurtkulu Akgün, from Izmir, graduated from Bornova Anadolu High School in 2006 and enrolled in IUE Department of Logistics Management with a full scholarship. Özgür Akgün, who was admitted in 2005, was doing a double major in IUE Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering at the same time. The friendship of Emine Zehra and Özgür, who met during their university years, soon turned into a great love. The young couple, who were together in both school life and social life, also shaped their careers together. First Özgür, who graduated in 2009, and then Emine Zehra, who graduated in 2010, went abroad. This story, which started in Izmir, reached a happy ending in Scotland. The couple, who managed to become academics in the most successful universities in the world, got married in 2014.

SWEDEN FIRST, THEN SCOTLAND

Emine Zehra Yurtkulu Akgün wrote her first article while still an undergraduate student, with the guidance of her professors. Stating that her university years were the most productive period of her life, Akgün said, “The academic staff of the Logistics Management department was truly the best in Turkey. They encouraged me to actively do research. This vision they brought to me shaped my life.” Expressing that she went to Sweden first and then to Scotland after her undergraduate education, to continue her academic career, Akgün stated the following: “I completed my master's degree at Jönköping University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden and my doctorate at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. The reason I went to Scotland was because Özgür was there. I have been working as an 'Assistant Professor' at Edinburgh Napier University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences since August 2021. I keep in touch with the academics who trained me in Izmir. They are very precious to me.”

IN SCOTLAND FOR 11 YEARS

Özgür Akgün, who started his doctorate program in Scotland as soon as he graduated from the double major, said, “I met Emine during university years. We both had dreams of going abroad. I am very happy that we both succeeded. When I was in my senior year of university, one of my professors sent me a PhD brochure of the University of St Andrews, Scotland. I was admitted to the PhD program with full scholarship. I have been working here as a lecturer for 11 years. We got married in 2004, when Emine came here from Sweden, we have a son named Ozan.”

WE RECEIVED QUALITY EDUCATION IN TURKEY

Stating that St Andrews University, which is one of the 50 best universities in the world as well as being world-renowned, has trained politicians, princes and princesses, famous academics, actors and writers throughout its history, Özgür Akgün said, “When we worked abroad, we understood the quality of the education we received in Turkey better. We always have the idea of ​​going back one day. We will return to Izmir when we are done with our career.”