HISTORY OF TRAKYA UNIVERSTY

Trakya University was established on the 20^th July, 1982 with a Decree to Article 41. The three foundation faculties were the Edirne Medical Faculty which used to be an affiliation to Istanbul University, the Engineering and Architecture Faculty, which originated from Edirne State Academy of Engineering and Architecture, and Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale Education Higher Schools, which were incorporated in the structures of Trakya University.

Six more faculties were established at the University during the period of 1982-1991: The Faculty of Science and Letters in Edirne, The Faculty of Agriculture in Tekirdağ Edirne Health Services Vocational Higher School, Çorlu and Keşan Vocational Higher Schools; Biga Vocational Higher School and The State Conservatory. Çorlu Engineering Faculty, The Faculty of Economics and The Faculty of Education were established within Trakya University on 11^th July, 1992 with Article 3837. With the same Law Article, Çanakkale Education Faculty, Çanakkale Vocational Higher Shool and Biga Vocational Higher School were transferred to 18 Mart University in Çanakkale.

In academic year 1993-94, Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ Health Services Vocational Higher Schools were established with the protocol signed between Higher Education Council and the Ministry of Health. In the same year, Lüleburgaz, Hayrabolu, Malkara and Şarköy Vocational Higher Schools were also included in the university strctures.

In the academic year 1995-96, Havsa, Muratly, Saray Vocational Higher Schools and Vize Vocational Higher School (in 1998-99) were established. Kırklareli Technical Education Faculty started giving education in 2000-2001 in Kırklareli.

Initially, in 1982 Trakya University used to employ 130 academics (4 professors, 7 assistant professors) and offered courses to 2435 students. It is a big academic body with faculty of 102 professors, 69 associate professors,258 assistant professors, 220 instructors, 91 lecturers, 528 research assistants, 73 specialists and 20723 students. Besides, Trakya University has been authorized by The Ministry of Environment for determining social, cultural and economical policies of the region, detecting the inventory of Trakya sector and for preparing the regional strategic development plan. Trakya University has always been involved in scientific activities implementing various missions related to the regional development, has active international relationships especially with Balkan Countries; and it is the university policy to constantly improve the quality of education and academic activities.

The founder and the 2^nd term rector was Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karadeniz, Prof. Dr. Poyraz Ülger was appointed on the 6^th August, for the 3 ^rd term 1992. On the 13^th July 1996, Prof. Dr. Osman İnci was appointed as the rector for the 4^th term. The Rector's office building of the university is located in the historical Edirne railway station building in Karaağaç and carries on the activities in this building. Prof. Dr. Osman İnci was appointed for the 5^th term in 2000.