WELCOME! ORIENTATION BOOKLET FOR INCOMING EXCHANGE/ERASMUS STUDENTS 2016/2017 FALL SEMESTER 1 CONTENT Welcome to Ankara and METU 3 Orientation Program 4 Incoming Student Names & ID Numbers & ICO Advisors 7 About Turkey 14 About Ankara 15 About METU 16 Weather Conditions 18 Transportation 19 Health and Safety 21 Using Medical Services at METU 24 Useful Information 26 Social Life 29 Art & Culture at METU 35 Sports and Recreation 35 Emergency and Evacuation Procedures 39 Residence Permit & Requirements 39 Opening a Bank Account in Turkey 41 Dormitory Registrations and Rules 42 ICO Emergency Contact Information 46 Emergency Contacts Information Sheet 47 Travel Information Form 47 Library Registration 49 Sports Equipment 49 Student ID Card (Smart Card) 49 Grading System at METU 52 Special Courses, Calendar Clash and Course Load 53 Step by Step Course Registration Procedures 54 Academic Calendar 57 Before You Leave 58 Sample Course Registration Form 59 2 WELCOME to ANKARA and METU Dear Student, We congratulate you on your acceptance to Middle East Tecnical University (METU), Ankara Campus. Welcome to our University. During your life at METU, you will have the chance to get to know new people, new cultures, new surroundings and different aspects of academic study. During your journey at METU, you will also encounter some exciting challenges. We are here to help you deal with these issues starting from your arrival on campus till the successful completion of your study. We hope to foster an environment in which you can have a worthwhile & fruitfull time at METU. The Orientation Booklet you have received with the Orientation Program (OP) aim to provide you with useful information about Campus life and access to sources that will guide and support you during your education life here. You are advised to read this Orientation Booklet and keep it for reference purposes. The Orientation Program (OP) is designed to support your adaptation to Campus life. OP also includes activities that will contribute to your getting to know the University, Campus, friends and gaining different experiences in your first year. We strongly recommend you to join this rich and pleasurable program. Your host student assigned to you will help you initialize your orientation to METU campus and to Ankara and help with bank matters, making phone calls to your parents and in general help you settle in at METU. Please go through the orientation package and read the materials carefully. The aim of the first day’s meeting is to get acquainted, to discuss the registration procedure for exchange students at METU and to go over the orientation program. Wishing you all a successful and pleasurable education life at METU. THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIONS OFFICE 3 METU 2016-2017 SPRING SEMESTER ORIENTATION PROGRAM FEBRUARY 13-20, 2017 NOTE: TFL 271 “Beginning Turkish I” and IR 370 "Contemporary Turkey: Turkish State and Society" are recommended for all of the exchange students and the visiting students. Both are 3-credit courses (6 ECTS credits) and will meet 42 hours total including the Orientation Week and throughout the whole semester. Important Note: Info Sessions and Seminars are organized by ICO and it is strongly recommended for students to attend the official program. Evening activities and weekend trips are organized by ESN METU (student club) and it is optional to attend those events. 13 February Monday 08:30 Host students will meet you in front of your dormitory and take you to the Hall 09:00-10:00 Welcome and Introduction to METU International Cooperations Office (ICO) Staff Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 10:00-10:15 METU Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Welcome Presentation Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 10:15-10:30 Info Session: “METU Health Center Presentation” Briefing on how to benefit from medical facilities at METU Dr. İnci Pinar Öz Ulu, METU Medical Center Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 10:30-11:15 Info Session: “Adjustment to METU Campus and University” Gökçen Aydın, Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 11:15-11:45 Coffee Break 11:45-12:15 Info Session: “Briefing about how to use the computers at METU and ID Card Applications” International Cooperations Office (ICO) Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 12:15-12:45 Info Session: “Dormitory Registrations / Rules and Regulations” International Cooperations Office (ICO) Staff Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 12:45-17:00 Free time for dormitory registrations & lunch break & tour of campus with host students: visit banks, PTT, register/buy telephones, as needed. 20:00 Meeting in front of the Sunshine Café to go to the Welcome Party 20:30-23:45 Welcome Party organized by METU ESN in Tunali Hilmi 24:00 Return to campus by shuttle bus 4 14 February Tuesday 09:00 Host students will meet you in front of your dormitory and take you to the Hall 09:30-10:30 First meeting of Beginning Turkish I Course Instructor Deniz Canan Atasoy, Department of Modern Languages Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 10:30-11:30 Info Session: “Residence Permit Procedures” International Cooperations Office (ICO) Staff Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 11:30-13:30 Lunch break and free time for tour of campus with host students: visit banks, PTT, register/buy telephones, as needed. 13:30-14:15 Seminar: “Turkish Customs and Traditions” Assist. Prof. Dr. Besim Can Zırh, Department of Sociology Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 14:15-15:00 Seminar: “Culture Shock” Assist. Prof. Dr. Başak Şahin-Acar, Department of Psychology Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 15:00-16:00 Seminar: “Gender Equality and Codes of Behavior” Assoc. Prof. Dr. F. Umut Beşpınar, Department of Sociology Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 20:00 Meeting in front of the Sunshine Café to go to the Turkish Night place 20:30-23:45 Turkish Night organized by ESN METU in Tunali Hilmi 24:00 Return to campus by shuttle bus 15 February Wednesday 09:00 Host students will meet you in front of your dormitory and take you to the Hall 09:30-11:00 Info Session: “Course registration procedures” International Cooperations Office (ICO) Staff Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 11:00-12:00 Seminar: “Turkish Foreign Policy and Political Biases” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgehan Şenyuva, Department of International Relations Venue: Cultural and Convention Center, Hall A 12:00-14:00 Lunch break and free time for tour of campus with host students: visit banks, PTT, register/buy telephones, as needed. 5 13:30-16:00 Counselling Sessions with ICO Advisors Venue: Main Library Building, Solmaz Izdemir Hall 13:30-14:15 Eren Çalışkan 14:15-15:00 Gülizar Karahan Balya 15:00-15:45 Hazal Yaşa 15:45-16:30 Eren Aslıhak *For other advisors, students may take appointment via e-mail and visit ICO. 12:30-17:00 Course registrations going on 20:00 Meeting in front of the Sunshine Café to go to the Karaoke Night 20:30-23:45 Karaoke Night organized by ESN METU in Bestekar Street 24:00 Return to campus by shuttle bus 16 February Thursday Visit and lunch at Eymir Lake (provided by ICO) 10:00 Tour bus departs from in front of Rectorate Building (Rektorluk) 10:30-12:30 Free time around Eymir Lake 12:30-14:30 Lunch at “Kayıkhane” at Eymir Lake 15:00 End of the tour and return to campus 23:59 Meeting in front of the Sunshine Café to go to the Istanbul Trip organized by ESN METU 17-18-19 February: Istanbul Trip organized by ESN METU 20 February Monday / CLASSES START. 6 2016-2017 ACADEMIC YEAR SPRING TERM EXCHANGE STUDENTS LIST Dept. At Name Surname Student ID Advisor METU Computer Abderrezzak Elhani 2272193 Hazal Gül Yaşa Engineering Political Abdul Quddus Sulumana 2273324 Science and Eren Çalışkan Public Adm Educational Abuladze Ketevan 2249712 Eren Aslıhak Sciences Business Adam Mubarak 2273332 Eren Çalışkan Administration English Admira Malkic 2270031 Language Eren Çalışkan Teaching Computer Ahmad Salihy 2248342 Eren Çalışkan Science Civil Ahmad Abdallah 2248359 Eren Çalışkan Engineering Civil Ahmad Jardat 2271682 Eren Aslıhak Engineering Molecular Ahmed Adzemovic 2270049 Biology and Eren Çalışkan Genetics Aerospace Ahmed Samet 2273340 Gülizar Karahan Balya Engineering Human Resources Ahmed Zohirul Islam 2269975 Hazal Gül Yaşa Development In Education Molecular Aisa Buko 2270056 Biology and Eren Çalışkan Genetics Metallurgical Ajithamithra Dharmasiri 2271930 and Materials Hazal Gül Yaşa Engineering Civil Ali Mustafa 2272375 Eren Çalışkan Engineering Computer Ali Ben Abbes 2273621 Eren Aslıhak Engineering Business Alina Dizdarevic 2271559 Eren Çalışkan Administration International Altynay Kozhabekova 2272318 Eren Çalışkan Relations Molecular Amina Agovic 2271567 Biology and Eren Çalışkan Genetics Amina Asceric 2271575 Architecture Eren Çalışkan Computer Amira Hoxha 2272227 Eren Aslıhak Engineering Computer Amna Jouini 2273357 Eren Çalışkan Engineering 7 English Ana Abuladze 2271658 Language Eren Aslıhak Teaching Elec. Anas Razzaq 2272342 Eren Çalışkan Engineering Anastasiya Vladimirovna Cherkashyna 2273365 Architecture Eren Çalışkan English Anudari Ganbaatar 2272334 Language Eren Çalışkan Teaching Computer Aramais Tyschenko 2273191 Eren Aslıhak Engineering Computer Arbenite Rama 2272235 Eren Aslıhak Engineering Arina Skok 2273282 Chemistry Eren Aslıhak Business Aruna Madushanka Gunarathna 2271948 Hazal Gül Yaşa Administration Computer Aseel Saleh 2248482 Eren Çalışkan Engineering English Aslı Mammadova 2269900 Language Eren Aslıhak Teaching AbdulMajeed