On 28 October Prof. Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer, long-time President of European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) was awarded of Doctor Honoris Causa of Mykolas Romeris University Regalia (MRU).

The title of Doctor Honoris Causa of MRU was conferred upon Prof. Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer for her significant contribution to promoting gender equality in European research and higher education institutions, her substantial scientific research in the field of gender equality, and her great merits in uniting the global academic community to collectively address global challenges related to research policy, science evaluation, the development of doctoral studies, improving the quality of education, and her consistent support in opening up broad international academic cooperation opportunities for Mykolas Romeris University.

According to Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, MRU Rector, Prof. Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer has been and continues to be a shining example of academic and social leadership who has inspired many to achieve academic and professional success.

“I am happy that today professor will be better known in Lithuania and will inspire our youth, especially girls and women, to break all the barriers on their professional and personal path “, - said the MRU Rector.

During the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer was delighted to join the MRU community: “It is a great honour for me to be one of the Honorary Awardees of Mykolas Romeris University, a well-established university with a high reputation across Europe.”

Professor Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer is an exceptional figure known for her excellent managerial and scientific leadership skills, as well as her significant contribution to promoting equal opportunities internationally. She has greatly contributed to involving Mykolas Romeris University in the activities of the international academic community, promoting women's leadership in education and research.

Prof. Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer graduated from Istanbul Technical University with a Master's degree in Architecture (1967) and was the first and only female rector of the over 250-year-old Istanbul Technical University (1996-2004).

She was a founding board member and the first president of the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) (2015-2023), a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) (2003-2024), president of the Community of Mediterranean Universities (CMU) (2012-2016), a member of the Board of the European University Association (EUA) (2005-2009), a member of the Institutional Evaluation Program (IEP) management committee (2009-2013), and a member of the EUA Research Policy Working Group (2005-2017).

Prof. Dr. Gülsün Sağlamer founded the Center for Women's Studies in Science, Engineering, and Technology at Istanbul Technical University and served as its director (2009-2012). She organized the European Women Rectors Conferences four times (in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014) at Istanbul Technical University and chaired the established "European Women Rectors Platform" (EWRP) in 2008.

She has delivered more than 100 invited lectures at international conferences on topics related to architecture and higher education (research policy, quality assurance, funding).