IEEE Confers Life Fellow Designation on Former EMU Rector, Prof. Dr. Özay Oral

Former rector of Eastern Mediterranean University Prof. Dr. Özay Oral has been elevated to Life Fellow by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). As the world's largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity, IEEE boasts over 430,000 members in 160 countries.

Prof. Oral was named an IEEE Fellow in 1995 in recognition of his leadership in the advancement of engineering education. The IEEE grade of Fellow is conferred upon an individual with an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest.

Prof. Dr. Oral's contributions in EMU's development are undeniable since the infrastructural developments, creation of a modern campus and a sharp increase in the student numbers (from 3000 to 15000) took place during his period of service. By launching many postgraduate and doctoral degree programs, Prof. Dr. Oral also posed major contributions to university's scientific development.

Who is Özay Oral?

Prof. Oral received his PhD from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Middle East Technical University in 1970, where he later served as chair of the same department and as vice rector. Prof. Dr. ORAL carried out research and various academic activities at California University – Berkeley and advanced research activities at Manchester University. He represented Turkey at the highest level at NATO AGARD Panel for five years. He also undertook active duties in the establishment of the Electrical Engineering Department within the Turkish Republic Land Forces. Prof. Dr. ORAL won TÜBİTAK Incentive and Science Award in 1978 and 1985, respectively.

In 1986 he joined Bilkent University, and contributed to the founding of the university as provost and dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences. In 1992 Prof. Oral was appointed rector of Eastern Mediterranean University, where his many contributions over more than a decade of service were recognized by the naming of the university library in his honor in 2013.