The Sabri Ülker Foundation has launched a long-term strategic partnership between Newcastle University and Hacettepe University. 

Through this collaboration, an international scientific platform will be established to support the development of future research leaders. The platform will strengthen scientific collaboration between Türkiye and the United Kingdom in the field of child wellbeing through joint research, researcher exchange programmes, and annual international scientific symposia held alternately in the two countries. Over the four-year programme, collaborative research projects will be conducted and researcher exchange initiatives will be developed, alongside annual international scientific symposia.

Child wellbeing has emerged as one of the most important global priorities of our time. Promoting balanced nutrition, increasing physical activity, maintaining metabolic balance, and strengthening mental wellbeing are among the fundamental factors that shape children’s wellbeing throughout their lives. Sustainable solutions in this field require not only robust scientific research but also international collaborations that bring together institutions, disciplines, and researchers around shared goals.

For over fifteen years, the Sabri Ülker Foundation has supported the dissemination of reliable scientific knowledge, research that contributes to public wellbeing, and the development of young scientists. The Foundation is now taking this vision to a new international level.

In this context, the Sabri Ülker Foundation has facilitated a Strategic Research and Capacity Building Partnership between Newcastle University’s Institute of Population Health Sciences and School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, and Hacettepe University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. The partnership will conduct long-term international research focusing on childhood nutrition, physical activity, metabolic balance, and mental wellbeing.

Beyond conducting collaborative research, the partnership aims to develop future research leaders, strengthen international scientific networks, enhance research capacity, and translate scientific evidence into policies and practices that improve public health and wellbeing.

A Bridge from Scientific Collaboration to Societal Impact

As part of the four-year programme, three doctoral researchers will be supported through an international co-supervision model.

Their research will investigate the effects of nutritional interventions on metabolic balance, cognitive performance, and mental wellbeing among school-aged children.

Children’s dietary behaviours and physical activity habits during the transition from primary to secondary school will also be examined using robust scientific methodologies.

The programme will include:

               •             Comparative research studies in Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

               •             Researcher exchange programmes.

               •             Joint doctoral and training programmes for early-career scientists.

               •             Annual international scientific symposia held alternately in Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

               •             Support for the programme’s scientific development and long-term sustainability through an International Scientific Advisory Board and a Joint Steering Committee.

The partnership will extend beyond collaborative research, creating a sustainable model that encompasses doctoral training, researcher exchange programmes, international scientific governance, and joint knowledge generation. It will establish a long-term international scientific platform designed to foster enduring scientific collaboration between institutions, researchers, and future generations of scientists.

Yahya Ülker: “Every investment in science is an investment in humanity’s future.”

Yahya Ülker, Chair of the Board of the Sabri Ülker Foundation, emphasised that investing in the scientific leaders of tomorrow is one of the strongest foundations for scientific progress and humanity’s shared future:

“For more than fifteen years, the Sabri Ülker Foundation has supported initiatives that help translate reliable scientific knowledge into societal benefit.

We believe that scientific progress depends not only on supporting research, but also on nurturing the scientists who will carry out that research and connecting them with international research networks.

For this reason, we do not see the agreement signed today merely as a collaboration between two universities. We see it as a lasting scientific bridge connecting Türkiye with international research networks.

Through this partnership, we will not only generate new research. We will also create a sustainable scientific ecosystem where researchers from different countries collaborate, generate knowledge, share expertise, and nurture the research leaders of tomorrow.

We believe that investing in the scientific leaders of tomorrow is an investment in humanity’s future. Every investment in science is an investment in a stronger and more sustainable future.

In the years ahead, we will continue to support young researchers, strengthen international scientific networks, and foster scientific collaborations that contribute to societal wellbeing.”

“Global Wellbeing Requires Global Scientific Partnerships”

Commenting on the partnership, Newcastle University emphasised that addressing global challenges in child wellbeing requires interdisciplinary and international research collaborations. The University noted that the programme aims not only to generate scientific publications, but also to integrate early-career researchers into international research networks, develop joint training models, and build sustainable scientific capacity between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

“Will Strengthen Türkiye’s Scientific Research Capacity”

In a statement issued on behalf of Hacettepe University, it was emphasised that the partnership will strengthen Türkiye’s international profile in nutrition and public wellbeing research. The University also noted that the partnership will support the integration of young researchers into the global scientific ecosystem and serve as a model for long-term scientific capacity building.

Key Outcomes of the Strategic Partnership

Through this strategic partnership:

               •             A long-term and sustainable model for scientific collaboration will be established between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

               •             International doctoral and researcher development programmes will be launched to nurture the next generation of research leaders.

               •             Comparative and interdisciplinary scientific research will be conducted in the field of child wellbeing.

               •             International scientific symposia will be organised annually on a rotating basis in Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

               •             Scientific capacity will be strengthened through researcher exchange programmes and joint training initiatives.

               •             A sustainable scientific governance model will be established through an International Scientific Advisory Board and a Joint Steering Committee.

               •             The translation of scientific evidence into policies and practices that promote public wellbeing will be supported.