PROCEDURES AND PRINCIPLES FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF QUALIFIED RESEARCHERS, VISITING ACADEMICS, AND VISITING RESEARCHERS

SECTION ONE

Purpose, Scope, Basis, and Definitions

Purpose and Scope
ARTICLE 1- (1) The purpose of these procedures and principles is to:
a) define the procedures and principles regarding the part-time assignment of qualified Turkish or foreign national researchers holding a doctoral degree, who are actually working at internationally recognized foreign higher education institutions or at institutions and organizations abroad that conduct R&D activities; at public institutions and organizations within the country or research centers and institutes of their affiliated or related units or technology development zones, private sector R&D centers or units or laboratories dedicated to R&D activities, in higher education institutions,
 
b) define the procedures, responsibilities, and opportunities available to visiting academics and visiting researchers accepted to Izmir University of Economics, other than those covered in section a); to determine the authority and responsibilities of the relevant units of Izmir University of Economics within the scope of the defined procedures. 
 
Basis
ARTICLE 2 - (1) The second section of these procedures and principles is based on additional Article 46 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 and the “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Part-time Assignment of Qualified Turkish or Foreign Researchers with PhD Degrees in Higher Education Institutions”, which was adopted at the meeting of the General Assembly of Higher Education on April 13, 2023. 

(2) The third section of these procedures and principles has been prepared based on Article 14 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, the International Labor Force Law, Article 48 of the International Labor Force Law Implementation Regulation, and the relevant decisions of the Council of Higher Education.
 
(3) Foreign academic staff employed in accordance with Article 34 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 are not covered by these procedures and principles.
 
Definitions
ARTICLE 3 - (1) The references in these Procedures and Principles are as follows:

a) R&D: Activities with original, experimental, scientific, and technical content, as defined by the Law on the Support of Research, Development, and Design Activities, dated February 28, 2008, and numbered 5746,

b) Ministry: Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security,

c) Part-Time Assignment: The assignment defined in the “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Part-time Assignment of Qualified Turkish or Foreign Researchers with PhD Degrees in Higher Education Institutions”,

ç) Visiting Researchers: Foreign researchers who do not fall under the definition of qualified researchers in the “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Part-time Assignment of Qualified Turkish or Foreign Researchers with PhD Degrees in Higher Education Institutions”,

d) Visiting Academics: Individuals accepted to teach at Izmir University of Economics who are employed as academics at any institution or organization within Turkey or abroad, or at a higher education institution, as well as foreign nationals who do not hold a doctorate but possess professional experience,

e) Qualified Researcher: A researcher defined in the “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Part-time Assignment of Qualified Turkish or Foreign Researchers with PhD Degrees in Higher Education Institutions”,

f) Academics: Faculty members, lecturers, and research assistants employed at higher education institutions,

g) Faculty Members: Professors, associate professors and assistant professors at higher education institutions,

ğ) Rectorate: The Rectorate of Izmir University of Economics,

h) Senate: The Senate of Izmir University of Economics,

ı) Design: All innovative activities aimed at enhancing, developing, improving, and differentiating the functionality of a product or products, which have the potential to create added value and competitive advantage, within the scope of the Law on the Support of Research, Development, and Design Activities dated February 28, 2008, and numbered 5746,

i) Turkish National: A person who has a citizenship bond with the Republic of Turkey,

j) Internationally Recognized Foreign Higher Education Institution: To be ranked in the ranking/tier determined by the Council of Higher Education in the ranking organizations determined by the Council of Higher Education,

k) University Administrative Board: University Administrative Board of Izmir University of Economics,

l) University: Izmir University of Economics,

m) Foreign National: A person who has no citizenship bond with the Republic of Turkey,

n) Innovation: Processes and outcomes created with a new product, service, application, method, or business model idea that can respond to social and economic needs, be successfully introduced to existing markets, or create new markets, within the scope of the Law on the Support of Research, Development, and Design Activities dated 2/28/2008 and numbered 5746.

 
SECTION TWO
Part-time Assignment of Turkish or Foreign Qualified Researchers with PhD Degrees 
 
Application and Admission
ARTICLE 4 - (1) Qualified researchers apply to the unit they wish to work for to be employed on a part-time basis.
 
(2) Applications are reviewed by the relevant academic unit, and the proposals for part-time assignment of the researchers who meet the criteria are sent to the Council of Higher Education upon the reasoned favorable opinion of the relevant academic unit's administrative board, the decision of the University Administrative Board, mutual agreement between the institutions, and the proposal of the Rector. For assignments from abroad, researchers must officially declare with official documents that they have been working for at least one year as a faculty member/researcher in the academic staff of the relevant field of science at an internationally recognized foreign higher education institution, or as a researcher in institutions and organizations conducting R&D activities.
 
(3) The researchers proposed for part-time assignment by the University are evaluated by the Council of Higher Education based on criteria such as their scientific publications and projects, competencies, potential contributions to the relevant field in terms of R&D, innovation, or design, and the university's number of teaching staff, and approval is given for the part-time employment of researchers deemed suitable.
 
(4) The University sends the assignment proposals regarding the researchers to the Council of Higher Education. The Council of Higher Education decides whether the researchers can be employed within the framework of these Procedures and Principles.
 
(5) Those assigned under this scope are registered in the Higher Education Information System and the YOK Academic database and are allocated an e-mail address with the ieu extension.

 
Term of Duty, Extension and Termination of Term
ARTICLE 5 – (1) Qualified researchers may be assigned on a part-time basis for a period not exceeding one year, for at least one day per week, to take part in scientific research and practice, R&D, innovation, or design studies, to serve as an executive/researcher in scientific research projects, and to give lectures or provide consultancy in undergraduate or graduate education within this scope.
 
(2) The term of duty for part-time researchers may be extended using the same procedure, taking into account their scientific publications and studies, teaching and consultancy services, and other contributions to the University.
 
(3) The assignment of qualified researchers who are found not to have fulfilled their duties and responsibilities may be terminated even before the term of duty expires, upon the proposal of the relevant academic unit and the decision of the University Administrative Board.
 
Quota
ARTICLE 6- (1) The number of researchers who can be assigned under Article Additional Article 46 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 is limited to 2% of the total number of full-time academics employed at the University.
 
Fees
ARTICLE 7 – (1) The fees for those whose employment is deemed appropriate by the University are determined by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the University Administrative Board. 
 
 
Duties and Responsibilities
ARTICLE 8 - (1) Part-time researchers are obliged to conduct undergraduate or graduate teaching, consultancy, scientific research and practice, R&D, innovation, or design studies at the University.
 
(2) These individuals shall carry out all publications and scientific studies started, ongoing, or completed during the term of duty in the name of the University.
 
(3) Part-time researchers cannot take on administrative duties, cannot be members of the Senate, cannot serve on the boards of faculties, graduate schools, schools, vocational schools, research and application centers, departments, or divisions, and cannot vote for members to be elected to these positions.
 
(4) The prohibitions, duties, and responsibilities, as well as the disciplinary provisions applicable to tenured faculty members, shall also apply to part-time researchers.
 
(5) Whether the part-time researcher fulfills their duties and responsibilities is monitored by the relevant academic unit where they work. The relevant academic unit shall provide a written report every month to the relevant Vice-Rector responsible for research and development.
 
(6) The researcher assigned under these procedures and principles is obliged to inform IUE if their affiliation with their institution is severed for any reason. The assignment of researchers whose affiliation with their institution is severed shall be deemed automatically terminated without the need for any further action.
 
(7) Researchers assigned part-time at the University cannot be employed at another higher education institution using the same procedure during the term of this employment.
 
(8) Whether facilities such as offices, laboratories, etc., can be provided to qualified researchers, and whether other expenses such as accommodation, transportation, and meals will be covered, is decided by the University Administrative Board following the proposal of the relevant faculty/school/vocational school/graduate school/center administrative board and the favorable opinion of the Rector.
 
SECTION THREE
Assignment of Visiting Academics and Visiting Researchers
 
Application and Admission
ARTICLE 9 - (1) This section regulates matters concerning the unpaid assignment of foreign national visiting academics for up to 3 years and visiting researchers for up to 2 years, who do not fall under the provisions for “Procedures and Principles Regarding the Part-time Assignment of Qualified Turkish or Foreign Researchers with PhD Degrees” regulated in the second section of these Procedures and Principles. 
 
(2) Visiting academics and visiting researchers are accepted to the University to give lectures or conduct research based on their own application or the proposal of the relevant academic unit's administrative board and the decision of the University Administrative Board. Applications should be submitted taking into account that the official approval processes may take a minimum of 2 months.
 
(3) Pursuant to the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labor Force Law to benefit from the work permit exemption, for the employment of visiting academics for a period of one year or more, an application must be made through the YOKSIS system to obtain pre-approval for work from the Council of Higher Education. For employment of less than one year, the request is sent to the Council of Higher Education for notification to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Visiting researchers must personally submit their work permit exemption applications via the Ministry of Labor and Social Security's E- Muafiyet (Exemption) System (https://emuafiyet.csgb.gov.tr)  
 
(4) The Rectorate may determine a university-wide or a faculty/school/vocational school/graduate school/center upper limit on the number of visiting academics and visiting researchers to be accepted to Izmir University of Economics each year.
 
(5) The curriculum vitae (CVs) of visiting academics and visiting researchers, along with a detailed research proposal letter from researchers and any other requested documents, must be submitted to the relevant academic unit.
 
(6) Visiting academics and visiting researchers are issued an “Izmir University of Economics Guest Identity Card”.
 
Financial Matters Concerning Visiting Academics and Visiting Researchers
ARTICLE 10 – (1) Izmir University of Economics does not pay a salary to visiting academics and visiting researchers. However, if visiting academics or visiting researchers conduct work within the scope of a project, payment may be made by the project partner or the funding institution under the project budget. The specific project budget and the institution responsible for payment must be stated in the administrative board decisions of the faculty/school/vocational school/graduate school mentioned in Article 9.
  
Duties and Responsibilities
ARTICLE 11- (1) Visiting academics and visiting researchers are obliged to comply with the rules and legal regulations of the University. As part of this obligation, they must sign a letter of undertaking before starting their duty. The assignments of those who fail to comply with these obligations will be terminated.
 
(2) Whether facilities such as offices, laboratories, etc., can be provided to visiting academics and visiting researchers, and whether other expenses such as accommodation, transportation, and meals will be covered, is decided by the University Administrative Board following the proposal of the relevant faculty/school/vocational school/graduate school/center board and the favorable opinion of the Rector.
 
Health and Occupational Accident Insurance
ARTICLE 12 – (1) Visiting academics and visiting researchers who will work at our University on an unpaid basis are solely responsible for all matters concerning their health coverage. Visiting academics and visiting researchers are obligated to obtain appropriate health/travel, liability, and accident insurance that covers the duration of their research and/or education-teaching activities and must submit a valid copy of their insurance policy to the Directorate of Human Resources before commencing their duties.
 
SECTION FOUR
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
Visiting Academics and Visiting Researchers Arriving within the Framework of Exchange Programs
ARTICLE 13- (1) For foreign nationals assigned on an unpaid basis within the scope of international agreements, inter-institutional bilateral agreements, and exchange programs, the regulations and bylaws of the respective programs and the provisions of the current legislation shall apply. In cases where there is no provision in the regulations and bylaws of the relevant programs, the decisions made by the University Administrative Board shall be applicable.
 
SECTION FIVE
EFFECTIVENESS AND ENFORCEMENT
 
Amendments
ARTICLE 14 – (1) These Procedures and Principles may be amended by the decision of Izmir University of Economics Senate.
 
Effectiveness
ARTICLE 15– (1) These Procedures and Principles take effect on the date they are approved by Izmir University of Economics Board of Trustees.
 
Non-Provisional Circumstances 
ARTICLE 16-  (1) In cases where there is no provision in these Procedures and Principles, the provisions of Law No. 2547, other relevant legislation, internal regulations, and board decisions shall apply.
 
Enforcement
ARTICLE 17 - (1) The Rector of the Izmir University of Economics enforces the provisions of these Procedures and Principles.
 

Procedures and Principles Regarding Visiting Lecturer and Researcher has been amended with the Senate decision dated 15.10.2025 and numbered 564, and the title has been revised to “Procedures and Principles for the Assignment of Qualified Researchers, Visiting Academics, and Visiting Researchers”.