A Strong Partnership Between the Turkish Insurance Association and Altınbaş University

With the contribution of the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB), a protocol signing ceremony was held yesterday at Altınbaş University’s Gayrettepe Campus for the establishment of the Insurance and Commercial Law Research Center.

The Center aims to strengthen cooperation between academia and the insurance sector—particularly in the fields of insurance, insurance law, and commercial law—and to bring academic knowledge together with practical application.

Following the completion of the necessary approval processes, the protocol signing ceremony for the establishment of the Center took place on December 24, 2025. The protocol was signed by İmam Altınbaş, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Altınbaş University; Prof. Dr. Cemal İbiş, Rector of Altınbaş University; Uğur Gülen, Chairman of the Insurance Association of Türkiye; and Özgür Obalı, Secretary General of TSB.

Designed as a multidimensional structure encompassing education, research, publications, internship programs, and academic studies, the Center aims to provide qualified academic contributions to the insurance sector.

“An academy–industry bridge will establish a strong legal foundation” 

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Uğur Gülen, Chairman of the Insurance Association of Türkiye, emphasized that the insurance sector can progress through a strong legal infrastructure and continuously developing knowledge. He stated:

“Today, we produce approximately 108 million insurance contracts, which also means a vast number of legal relationships and potential disputes. Insurance is a comprehensive world of mutual contracts in which both parties assume responsibilities toward one another, and this structure must rest on a strong legal foundation.

The most important element sustaining this ecosystem is the legal professionals working within our sector. Insurance law and commercial law are not separate from one another; on the contrary, they are inseparable. For this reason, we consider the establishment of an Insurance and Commercial Law Research Center at Altınbaş University extremely valuable. This Center will increase academic output, encourage the emergence of new ideas, and contribute to the growth of the Turkish insurance sector.”

“A long-term vision where knowledge meets practice” 

Prof. Dr. Cemal İbiş, Rector of Altınbaş University, highlighted that universities are not only institutions that produce knowledge but also entities that connect knowledge with society and industry. He stated:

“The protocol we signed today for the Insurance and Commercial Law Research Center is a concrete example of academia and the insurance sector coming together around a shared vision. This signature represents a long-term perspective in which theory meets practice and knowledge meets application.

At Altınbaş University, we are not merely an institution that grants diplomas; we prepare our graduates for professional life. The insurance sector is one of the key pillars of economic stability, investment security, and sustainable growth. The healthy development of the sector is only possible through a strong legal infrastructure, qualified human resources, and up-to-date academic knowledge. This Center has been designed precisely to meet this need.”

An interdisciplinary and production-oriented structure 

Providing insights into the academic vision of the Center, legal scholar Tekin Memiş drew attention to the lack of comprehensive knowledge in international insurance and commercial law. He stated that the Center has been designed as a genuinely interdisciplinary platform focused on knowledge production, emphasizing that it will prioritize not only theoretical work but also practical and collective academic output.

New opportunities for young legal professionals and insurance experts 

With the establishment of the Insurance and Commercial Law Research Center, the following objectives are envisaged:

• Encouraging specialized academic studies in insurance law and commercial law
• Conducting scientific research aligned with sectoral needs
• Developing education, scholarship, and internship opportunities for young legal professionals and insurance experts
• Increasing knowledge production through practice-oriented courses, academic events, and publications

The Center, which will be established through the collaboration between the Insurance Association of Türkiye and Altınbaş University, is expected to make long-term contributions to the sustainable development of the insurance ecosystem.