Kocaeli University (KOU) is a state university in Kocaeli, Turkey. The first step for the Kocaeli University was the Academy of Engineering and Architecture of Kocaeli founded in 1976. Electrical and mechanical engineering departments, basic sciences and department of modern languages were the departments of the academy. The Academy was develop as a faculty and became a part of Yıldız University with in 1982.

On July 1992, the Turkish Government has decided to build twenty-two universities nationwide including Kocaeli University . Before the 1999 İzmit earthquake, which can be regarded as the turning point for the rebirth of the university, Kocaeli University had approximately 20.000 students, 1150 educational staff and a campus of 650,000 square meter. Kocaeli University had lost nearly 75% of its physical structure and its prior expansion site Arslanbey Campus compensated its losses rapidly and moved to Umuttepe Campus 2004.

Entrance of Umuttepe Campus in winter.

Kocaeli University's central Umuttepe Campus is located just outside of Izmit in the region of Kocaeli, the most heavily industrialized region of Turkey. Most of its faculties are in this campus, except the biggest Faculty of Engineering which is located in Veziroglu Campus after the earthquake, Faculty of Fine Arts, and Faculty of Architecture and Design. Some departments of Engineering Faculty have been moved to Umuttepe Campus. It is expected that remaning deparments will be moved to Umuttepe at least by 2010.

Istanbul is only 90km away and its secondary international was developed on a site 50km distant from Izmit, making the University much more accessible in recent years. Since Kocaeli is a near neighbour of Istanbul, a large number of its students come from Istanbul.

The University has established a department of international relations which monitors Bologna developments closely and oversees KOU's participation in the Erasmus and Leonardo Da Vinci student mobility schemes. With the European University Association membership, KOU is also aiming for more of an internationally recognized academia.

University, being a technical and engineering focused institution, has extensive education in social sciences and arts as well. Some steps toward certification by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) are being taken by Faculty of Engineering, such as adaptation of course content in engineering majors.

Faculties

• Faculty of Arts and Science
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Technical Education
• Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Communication
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Architecture and Design
• Faculty of Dentistry

Faculty of Engineering

There are variety of majors offered at faculty. M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees are offered in most of the engineering fields as well as graduate degrees in interdisciplinary engineering programs. Departments existing effective 2006 are:

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Geodesy and Photogrammetry Engineering
• Geological Engineering
• Geophysics Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Materials and Metalurgical Engineering

Kocaeli (Izmit), Turkey

Kocaeli is mostly known by its district center, Izmit. The ancient name of the city is Nikomedia. Remains from Roman and Byzantine times may be seen here, among which are the citadel, the Temple of Augustus and the agora.

The city of Izmit is mainly an industrial center with numerous industrial establishments surrounding the Gulf of Izmit. However, there are also many touristic sites in this bustling province. Kartepe is a winter-sports resort that reaches a height of 1600 m Kerpe and Kefken on the Black Sea coast have fine beaches, while Golcuk and Karamursel in the Gulf of Izmit, are other beautiful sea resorts.

At Arpalik near the Eskihisar village in the Gulf of Izmit, there is a yacht berth place with a capacity of 60-80 yachts. Lake Sapanca is another natural beauty, and a scenic place ideal for picnics. One of the towns of Kocaeli is Hereke, where the very best Turkish carpets are produced. The artistic carpets of Ottoman palaces were woven here. These carpets are priceless and well-known all over the world.

AUGUST 17, 1999 KOCAELI EARTHQUAKE -TURKEY

EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION

• Date: 1999-08-17 at  00:01:39.80(UTC), 03:01:37 a.m local time
• Surface Wave Magnitude: 7.8 (USGS)
• Body Wave Magnitude: 6.3 (USGS)
• Duration Magnitude: 6.7 (Kandilli)
• Moment Magnitude: 7.4 (USGS, Kandilli)
• Epicenter: 40.702N, 29.987E  (USGS)
• Depth: 17 km. (USGS)
• Fault plane solution

Location

An earthquake of magnitude Mw 7.4 occurred on the North Anatolian Fault Zone with a macroseismic epicenter near the town of Gölcük in the western part of Turkey.  Distribution of large aftershocks magnitude above 4 recorded  at USGS  are given below . Most of the aftershock activity is confined to the region bounded by 40.5-40.8N and 29.8-30.0E, which covers the area between Izmit and Adapazari to the east of the epicenter.

  Fault Rupture

 The right lateral displacement offset of NAF between Sapanca Lake and Izmit Gulf was reported as 2.60m.

 Prepared by G.Birgoren& C. Tarhan

Beaches

Kerpe It is a cute Black Sea Village which is 10 km away from Kandıra, and 50 km away from izmit. The beauty of the landscape is unbelievable with its blue sea and the pine trees in the mountains. Kerpe is a place which is not effected by the great waves of Black Sea. The sea is very shallow here, and the shores are so beautiful.

Kefken Kefken is 20 km away from kandıra. It is very suitable for shore residence. Similar to Kerpe it has a wonderful beach and pine forests. ıt is a very popular place for the scuba - divers and for the underwater hunters.

Cebeci Cebeci, which is 27 km away from Kandıra; Sarısu, which is 8 km away from Kandıra Bayramoğlu and Eskihisar which is 6 km away from Gebze are the other beaches of the city.