NEU Awards Season

Recognizing Excellence Through a Renewed, Quality-Oriented Framework

Near East University celebrated the tenth edition of its Science Awards in 2026 with a renewed methodology that reflects a more comprehensive and quality-oriented approach to academic excellence. Developed jointly by the Quality and Accreditation Coordination Office and the Rectorate Research and Entrepreneurship Coordination Office, the revised methodology was shaped by feedback from academic staff and graduate students. The result is a more transparent, field-sensitive and impact-oriented evaluation framework that moves beyond publication quantity to recognize publication quality, academic impact, disciplinary diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainability contributions.

The renewed award framework evaluates academic staff within eight NEU Scientific Fields while assessing researchers working in research centers and institutes through a separate evaluation pool. In addition to refining existing awards, the methodology introduced new categories that recognize interdisciplinary research, support early-career researchers, and encourage excellence across teaching, sustainability and doctoral supervision.

Presented during the Near East University Science Awards 2026 Ceremony, the awards celebrate excellence across every stage of the University’s research ecosystem—from emerging researchers to internationally recognized scholars.

A New Generation of Awards

The revised methodology introduces a multidimensional evaluation model that evaluates research through quality, impact and disciplinary context rather than publication quantity alone. Academic performance is assessed by considering publication quality, journal ranking, publication type, author contribution, field-specific publication dynamics and interdisciplinary collaboration. By evaluating academic staff within their own scientific fields and assessing researchers working in research centers and institutes through a separate evaluation pool, the framework provides a fairer and more transparent approach to recognizing academic excellence.

The methodology also broadens the scope of recognition by introducing new award categories that highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability, doctoral supervision and early-career achievement. Together, these changes establish a more inclusive system that celebrates excellence across every stage of the University’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Eight Scientific Fields, One Shared Vision

One of the most significant innovations of the renewed methodology is the introduction of the NEU Scientific Fields classification. Rather than comparing all academic staff within a single evaluation pool, researchers are assessed within eight scientific fields that reflect the diversity of disciplines across the University. This approach recognizes differences in publication practices, citation patterns and research cultures, ensuring a more equitable evaluation process while strengthening excellence within each discipline.

The diversity of the awardees reflects the breadth of the University’s research ecosystem—from clinical and health sciences to engineering, education, the arts, economics and the humanities. While each field has its own publication practices and research priorities, all eight contribute to a shared culture of quality, academic impact and continuous development.

Research Publication Excellence Award

The introduction of the NEU Scientific Fields classification laid the foundation for the University’s renewed approach to recognizing research excellence. Building on this framework, the Research Publication Excellence Award became the cornerstone of the new methodology, ensuring that academic staff are evaluated within their own disciplines through a fair, field-sensitive and quality-oriented assessment system.

At the heart of this methodology is the Research Publication Excellence Score, which recognizes publication quality rather than publication quantity alone. The evaluation considers journal quality, publication type, author contribution and field-specific publication practices, providing a balanced measure of academic excellence across diverse research disciplines.

In 2026, 74 academics qualified for the Research Publication Excellence Award across the eight NEU Scientific Fields. Representing a broad spectrum of disciplines, the awardees reflect the strength, diversity and growing research capacity of Near East University.

The academics recognized within each scientific field are presented below.

Researchers affiliated with Near East University’s research centers and institutes were evaluated through a separate assessment pool, reflecting the distinctive working contexts and publication structures of these units. In 2026, 15 researchers qualified for the Research Publication Excellence Award within this evaluation pool.

Together, the academics recognized across the eight NEU Scientific Fields and the researchers evaluated within the research centers and institutes pool demonstrate the breadth and strength of Near East University’s research ecosystem. More than an individual distinction, the Research Publication Excellence Award reflects the University’s broader effort to encourage responsible, high-quality and impactful research.

Early Career Researcher Award

The Early Career Researcher Award recognizes outstanding academic staff who have demonstrated exceptional research performance during the early stages of their academic careers. Introduced as part of the renewed Science Awards methodology, the award highlights emerging researchers whose work reflects quality, innovation and strong future potential, while encouraging the continued development of the University’s research culture.

In 2026, 18 researchers were recognized with the Early Career Researcher Award.

Research Productivity Award

The Research Productivity Award recognizes academic staff who have demonstrated sustained research output through a consistent record of high-quality scholarly publications. The award highlights long-term scientific productivity and acknowledges researchers whose continued contributions strengthen the University’s research performance.

In 2026, 3 academics were recognized with the Research Productivity Award.

Highly Cited Research Award

The Highly Cited Research Award recognizes researchers whose publications have achieved outstanding scientific impact through citation performance. The award is based on the citations per publication indicator calculated from publications published during the last four-year period, using data from the Scopus database.

Unlike the Research Publication Excellence Award, this category does not evaluate researchers within scientific fields. Instead, academic staff and researchers working in research centers and institutes are assessed separately within their own evaluation pools, with the three highest-ranked researchers from each pool receiving the award.

In 2026, six researchers were recognized with the Highly Cited Research Award.

Interdisciplinary Awards

The Interdisciplinary Awards recognize research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries while encouraging collaboration across different academic fields and units. The renewed methodology includes three complementary awards that celebrate publications with broad disciplinary reach, institutional collaboration and meaningful interaction between distant fields of research.

Interdisciplinary Publication Award

Recognizes the publication indexed in the highest number of distinct Times Higher Education (THE) fields, highlighting research with broad multidisciplinary visibility.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award

Recognizes the most distinguished publication produced through collaboration between different academic disciplines within Near East University.

Interdisciplinary Engagement Award

Recognizes research that brings together scientifically distant disciplines, demonstrating meaningful interaction between fields with traditionally limited overlap.

Excellence in Teaching Award

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes academic staff who demonstrate outstanding performance in teaching, as evaluated directly by students. Based on comprehensive student feedback, the award reflects excellence not only in subject expertise but also in supporting students, encouraging participation, ensuring fairness, maintaining accessibility, and creating a respectful and engaging learning environment.

In 2026, three academics were recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award across the University’s Turkish- and English-medium programs.

Doctoral Thesis Supervision Award

The Doctoral Thesis Supervision Award recognizes academic staff who have made an outstanding contribution to doctoral education through the successful supervision of PhD candidates. By honoring faculty members who have guided the highest number of doctoral graduates during the evaluation period, the award highlights the essential role of academic mentorship in developing future researchers and strengthening the University’s research capacity.

In 2026, three academics were recognized with the Doctoral Thesis Supervision Award.

Sustainability Awards

The Sustainability Awards recognize individuals, research groups and institutional initiatives that contribute to sustainable development in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Covering environmental, social, educational, cultural and research dimensions, the awards celebrate outstanding contributions that create lasting value for the University and society across eight sustainability categories.

The Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal

Near East University’s Highest Honor

The Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal represents the highest honorary distinction conferred by Near East University. Named after the University’s Founding Rector, Dr. Suat Günsel, the Gold Medal is presented only once during a recipient’s lifetime to individuals whose sustained contributions have made an exceptional impact on science, higher education, the University, and society.

The recipient is selected through a comprehensive multi-criteria evaluation that considers research excellence, scientific impact, publication productivity, citation performance, postgraduate supervision, and contributions to the University. Following this rigorous assessment, the final decision is made by the Günsel Family Council, ensuring that the award recognizes not only academic achievement but also enduring leadership and service.

The 2026 Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal was presented to Prof. Dr. Şerife Zihni Eyüpoğlu in recognition of her distinguished academic career, sustained scientific contributions, and outstanding service to higher education and research. Her achievements exemplify the values of excellence, leadership, and lifelong dedication that this prestigious honor represents.