During a visit to the US, Vehbi Koç is inspired by the impact of civilian foundations, especially those in education and health. Upon returning to Turkey in 1969, he establishes the Vehbi Koç Foundation to focus on health, culture, and education. Having played a part in the founding of the Republic, Vehbi Koç believed expressly that a civilized future depends on a well-educated and skilled generation. Even back then Vehbi Koç was laying the groundwork for Koç University.

The Vehbi Koç Foundation Board of Trustees appoints Tamer Şahinbaş to be Koç University’s Founding President.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey passes Law 3785, legally establishing Koç University.

Koç University Board of Trustees holds its inaugural meeting on the same day it is elected by the Vehbi Koç Foundation Board of Directors. Chaired by Rahmi M. Koç, the first Board of Trustees consists of Suna Kıraç, Can Kıraç, M. Fahir İlkel, Ömer M. Koç, Yavuz Alangoya, Bülent Gültekin and Tamer Şahinbaş.

Three academic departments are established: the College of Science, Social Sciences and Humanities, the College of Administrative Sciences and Economics, and the Graduate School of Business.

Professor Seha Tiniç is appointed President of Koç University following approval by the Board of Trustees and the Board of Higher Education (YÖK). 

The Suna Kıraç Library is founded.

Koç University officially opens with a formal ceremony. Vehbi Koç gives the ‘first lecture’ on 4 October at İstinye Campus.

The Board of Overseers and Board of Trustees hold a joint press conference for the first time.

Koç University graduates the first class of master’s students (in business management).

The Koç University Alumni Association is formed.

The Koç University Spring Festival is held for the first time.

The Koç University Theater Club stages its first play, Woody Allen’s ‘God: A Comedy in One Act’.

The Koç University Student Council is formed.

Koç University begins international exchange programs.

Koç University graduates the first class of under graduate students.

The College of Engineering and the School of Health Sciences are established.

The Koç University Board of Overseers meets at the new Rumelifeneri Campus for the first time.

The Graduate School of Sciences is established.

Koç University moves to the new permanent campus at Rumelifeneri.

The College of Engineering opens departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

The Koç University Awareness Group holds the first Rehavet Panayırı cultural festival, now a twice annual event.

Professor Attila Aşkar becomes president of Koç University.

The Sevgi Gönül Cultural Center opens featuring a fully-equipped auditorium with seating for 376 people, state-of-the-art acoustics, and a Steinway Grand Piano, among the world’s finest concert pianos.

Publication of the first edition of Kule magazine.

Koç University Theater Days are held for the first time.

The Koç University Dance Festival takes place for the first time.

Professor Ekrem Akurgal is awarded an honorary doctorate for his contributions to archaeology, and Richard Holbrooke, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, is awarded an honorary doctorate for his contributions to world peace.

Law School is founded.

Koç University 10th anniversary celebrations take place and are attended by the ninth President of Turkey, Süleyman Demirel.

Anthony E. Siegeman, Stanford University Professor and former president of the Optical Society, visits Koç University to lead a series of seminars.

First students graduate from the School of Health Sciences and the Graduate School of Sciences.

The Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities opens, admitting the first students to the Psychology master’s program.

Former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo visits Koç University to deliver a speech at a meeting of the International Task Force on Global Public Goods.

Koç University Center for Research on Globalization, Peace, and Democratic Governance (GLODEM) is established.

The Semahat Arsel Nursing Education and Research Center (SANERC) is established at Koç University in collaboration with American Hospital.

Koç University is awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education and immediately begins international exchange programs with leading universities across Europe.

Koç University is included in the EU’s Network of Excellence.

Koç University launches a Summer Research School for high school students.

Koç University launches Turkey’s first master’s in Anatolian Civilizations and Cultural Heritage Management. The program aims to bring together the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage management.

The Koç University master’s in International Relations is created.

Honorary doctorates are presented to Shirin Ebadi, Iran’s first female judge and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Amartya Sen, Harvard University Professor and Nobel Prize in Economics winner and Peter Sutherland, Founding Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

The College of Engineering graduates its first class of students.

KU Radyo is founded.

Koç University Volunteers launches the Koç University Tiny Hearts Project (KÜMYÜP).

Visiting marketing theorist Jack Trout delivers the opening speech at ‘The Road to Differentiation’, a seminar organized by Koç University Marketing Club.

Koç University Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED) opens initially with the name ‘Institute for Anatolian Civilizations’ and begins activities with thirteen researchers.

Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Noghaideli, visits Koç University to speak about ‘Georgia: New Opportunities for Partnership’. The event is organized by Koç University Department of International Relations as part of their ‘Diplomat Speaker Series’.

The School of Health Sciences is renamed as the School of Nursing.

Koç University signs a partnership agreement for excellence in international research with the Max Planck Institute.

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khurshid M. Kasuri visits Koç University and delivers a speech on ‘Pakistan: An Anchor of Peace and Stability’.

The first PhD students graduate from the Graduate School of Sciences.

Professor Halil İnalcık is awarded an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences and History.

The Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED) Library opens, housing collections on the art, architecture and archaeology of the Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Civilizations.

An opening ceremony is held for the Koç University Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED) which had opened the previous year.

At the 12th Commencement Ceremony, commencement speaker William C. Ford Jr., Executive Chairman of the Ford Motor Company, is bestowed with an honorary doctorate.

The first edition of Frontier/Fener magazine is published. The magazine aims to publicize research conducted at Koç University from all branches of science.

Philip Goff, New Zealand Minister of Trade, Defense and Disarmament, addresses a conference at Koç University with a presentation titled ‘Succeeding in a Globalizing World: The New Zealand Experience’.

Koç University Dr. Nüsret-Semahat Arsel International Business Law Implementation and Research Center (NASAMER) is founded with support from Dr. Nüsret Arsel and Semahat Arsel. The center is formally part of the Law School and focuses on international business law.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is awarded an honorary doctorate in Law for his contributions to the formation of a strong Europe and promoting the importance of Turkey to the European Union.

For services to the banking sector Sir John Bond, Vodafone Group President, is invited to address Koç University’s 13th Commencement Ceremony.

Koç University signs the United Nations Global Compact.

KU Volunteers Awareness Group initiates a project to establish libraries at under-resourced schools in Anatolian cities. Money for the project is raised through donation boxes on campus and fundraising activities at the twice annual Rehavet Panayırı cultural festival.

The Department of English Language and Comparative Literature is founded.

The Department of Philosophy opens as part of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The Department of Archaeology and History of Art opens as part of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Koç University Volunteers organizes the first ever ‘Children’s Festival’, now an annual event.

The 14th Commencement Ceremony takes place. An honorary doctorate is bestowed on William R. Brody, President of Johns Hopkins University and leading medical imaging researcher.

The ‘University Student For A Day (24 Hours at Koç University)’ program is launched to give prospective students a taste of campus life. As part of the 24 hour program students attend classes and have access to all campus facilities including an overnight stay in dormitories.

Following extensive renovation work, the campus at İstinye reopens as the home of Koç University Executive Education.

Professor Umran İnan is appointed President of Koç University, beginning his first term at the start of the 2009-2010 academic year.

Koç University College of Administrative Sciences and Economics and Graduate School of Business is accredited by EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System EQUIS), becoming the first and only school in Turkey with EQUIS accreditation.

Koç University joins the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Research Network, becoming the only university from Turkey among the network’s twelve universities.

Koç University’s 15th Commencement Ceremony takes place.

Koç University joins the CEMS Global Alliance in Management Education. At the same time Koç University Graduate School of Business becomes the first and only institution in Turkey to offer the CEMS Master’s in International Management degree.

Koç University Resource Development program launches its first campaign, Birlikte Varız (We Exist Together). Funded by donations, the campaign offers scholarships to promising students and contributes to social responsibility projects.

The College of Administrative Sciences and Economics signs the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), a United Nations initiative. By becoming a signatory, Koç University commits to teach students principles of sustainability and responsible management.

Cambridge University Press publishes Perspectives on Human Development Family and Culture, a collection of essays by Professor Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı, published in commemoration of her 40-year career.

The Koç University Graduation Ring is designed and enters production.

The Office of Learning and Teaching (KOLT) is established.

The Koç University Social Policy Center (KU-SPM) opens.

Koç University’s 16th Commencement Ceremony is addressed by Brian Mulroney, Canada’s 18th Prime Minister.

The Department of Media and Visual Arts (MAVA) is established.

The first School of Medicine students are admitted at the start of the 2010-2011 academic year.

Koç University Press (KÜY) is founded. The first book published is Benlik, Aile ve İnsan Gelişimi: Kültürel Psikoloji (Family, Self, and Human Development: Cultural Psychology), a collection of 20 years of Professor Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı’s work.

Academic and Life Skills (ALIS) is officially introduced into the University curriculum after a successful trial during the 2010 Spring term. The program offers classes to help students develop basic skills important in personal and professional life including goal setting, time management, effective listening, stress management, creativity, communications, team work and project management.

Professor Sami Gülgöz is selected to become a full member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA).

Professor İskender Yılgör, Department of Chemistry, is elected to the TÜBİTAK Science Board.

For the first time students from Koç University School of Medicine wear their white doctor’s coats to commemorate Doctors’ Day.  

Koç University’s 17th Commencement Ceremony takes place. The commencement address is given by Dr. Victor K. Fung, Chairman of Hong Kong-based Li & Fung Group.

The first International Summer Course on Research Methodology and Ethics in Health Sciences takes place at Koç University. The program is organized jointly by Koç University School of Medicine and Harvard University School of Medicine with support from the Health Directorate of Istanbul Turkey.

The Koç University-Microsoft Research Center for Multicore Software Engineering opens.

Koç University nursing research center SANERC is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Earning international accreditation for post-graduate nursing education is a first for Turkey.

The Koç University Graduate School of Health Sciences is created to introduce a fresh, innovative approach to health education in Turkey.

MAVA (Media and Visual Arts) begins exhibiting works by students in the RAMP[A]. The RAMP[A] exhibition space is situated along a passage connecting the Student Center with the faculty buildings.

Anatolian Scholarship Program is established to help financially underprivileged students from across Turkey to study at Koç University. The program offers financial support for high-achieving students who would otherwise be unable to study at Koç University, allowing students from all backgrounds to receive the best education possible.

Koç University’s 18th Commencement Ceremony takes place. Dora Bakoyannis, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mayor of Athens, addresses the ceremony.

MAVA (Department of Media and Visual Arts) opens the ‘Design Lab’ to develop media, products and spaces of the future.  

The Koç University Surface Science and Technology Center (KUYTAM) is established.

The first Haliç Friendship Cup rowing competition takes place, organized jointly by Koç University and Kadir Has University.

Professor Bertil Emrah Oder is selected as Henry Morris Lecturer of International and Comparative Law by Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Professor Mine Çağlar is elected to the International Statistical Institute (ISI).

Professors Ziya Öniş, İrşadi Aksun and Oğuz Kerim Başkurt are selected to be members of the Turkish Academy of Science (TÜBA).

Associate Proffessor Kaan Güven is selected to become an associate member of TÜBA.

KWORKS – Koç University Entrepreneurship Research Center opens.

Koç University’s 19th Commencement Ceremony takes place. The ceremony is addressed by Amr Moussa, outspoken defender of Arab democratic change and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.

Professor Ahmet İçduygu and Professor Ali Çarkoğlu are elected to be members of the Science Academy.

Official opening of Koç University Tüpraş Energy Center (KUTEM), Turkey’s first private sector supported energy research center. The center is established at Koç University with funds from Tüpraş.

Dr. Ernest Moniz, United States Secretary of Energy, visits KUTEM and addresses a conference at Koç University on US efforts to develop alternative energy sources.

Professors İsmail Lazoğlu, İskender Yılgör and Halil Kavaklı successfully develop ‘three-dimensional skeleton tissue’ as part of a TÜBİTAK supported artificial skin and bone project.

Professors Zeynep Aycan, Gün Şemin and Hakan Ürey are elected members of the Science Academy.

‘Scientific Inquiries’, an exhibition organized to commemorate Koç University’s 20th anniversary, opens on campus.

Kurious officially launches and becomes the new address for popular science. kurious.ku.edu.tr

Koç University’s 20th Commencement Ceremony takes place. Entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Mayor of New York, Michael R. Bloomberg, addresses the ceremony and is presented with an honorary doctorate.

As part of Koç University 20th anniversary celebrations theoretical physicist, Professor Michio Kaku, gives a lecture titled ‘How Will Science Change the 21st Century?’.

A commemorative book ‘A Tribute to Science’ is published.

Koç University Law School joins the Law Schools Global League (LGSL), a select group of 25 leading law schools from across the world.

Professor Attila Gürsoy is elected a member of the Science Academy.

OPET and Koç University partner to open the Nanomaterials Research Laboratory (KUNAL).

The Center for Gender Studies at Koç University (KOÇ-KAM) presents the first Semahat Arsel Distinguished Honorary Fellow Award to UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. The award recognizes leading women from around the world who have made important contributions to the study of women and gender.

The Koç University Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (GABAM) officially opens. Specializing in Byzantine art history and archaeology, GABAM is the first research center of its kind in Turkey.

The Koç University Arçelik Research Center for Creative Industries (KUAR) opens. The center aims to increase the capacity and production quality of creative industries in Turkey.

Koç University’s 21st Commencement Ceremony takes place. Journalist Christiane Amanpour addresses the ceremony.

Pianist Fazıl Say performs a special recital celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the Sevgi Gönül Cultural Center.

The Center for Global Public Law (KÜREMER) is established. The Center’s purpose is to be an interdisciplinary hub for research and collaboration on global public law.

Founded in 1996 by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, the Suna & İnan Kıraç Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations becomes part of Koç University and is renamed the Suna & İnan Kıraç Research Center for Mediterranean Civilizations (AKMED).

Professor Aziz Sancar, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, visits Koç University to give a seminar on ‘Mechanisms of DNA Repair by Photolyase and Excision Nuclease’.

Koç University’s 22nd Commencement Ceremony takes place. Commencement speaker Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company receives an honorary doctorate.

The first students graduate from the Koç University School of Medicine.

The first students graduate from the Anatolian Scholars Program.

Koç University School of Nursing attains the status of a full college.

The Fourth International Sevgi Gönül Byzantine Studies Symposium is held at ANAMED.

The Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Medal of Science award program is created to encourage the advancement of science by recognizing and rewarding successful, pioneering, young scientists educated in Turkey who have contributed to the universal body of knowledge. The first Medal of Science is awarded on 5 December 2016 to Professor Aydoğan Özcan for his contributions to ‘Science, Engineering and Medicine’.

Koç University Center for Asian Studies (KUASIA) is established. The Center aims to carry out research and encourage young scholars and students in Turkey to teach and study about Asia. The Center will also produce high quality, comparative and interdisciplinary academic and policy-focused publications.

Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) opens. The Center is founded to provide infrastructure for translational research in health, to encourage and support relevant researchers, and to bring university-industry cooperation to the desired level.

Ömer M. Koç becomes Chairman of the Koç University Board of Trustees.

Koç University’s 23rd Commencement Ceremony takes place. Commencement speaker Professor Steven Chu, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics and former US Secretary of Energy, is awarded an honorary doctorate.

Koç University School of Nursing becomes the first nursing school in Turkey to be accredited by ACEN.

Assistant Professor Erdem Yörük becomes the first member from Turkey to join the Young Academy of Europe.

KUTEM Energy Day, a conference organized by Koç University Tüpraş Energy Center (KUTEM), takes place for the first time. The event includes presentations and workshops discussing solar energy and innovative energy technologies.

The Al Ghurair STEM Scholars Program is created in collaboration with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education (AGFE).

To commemorate Koç University’s 25th anniversary a new tradition is born with the first ever ‘Time Capsule’. Each year, the graduating class selects items symbolic of their time at University to be placed in a ‘Time Capsule’ and sealed beneath a commemorative stone slab along Alumni Path on campus.

Professor İsmail Lazoğlu is elected to the International Academy of Production Engineering (CIRP).