Süleyman Demirel University (SDU)
Founded on 3 July 1992, the university has 11 faculties offering undergraduate education, as well as 2 schools, 11 vocational schools providing two-year degrees, 4 institutes giving graduate education and a number of research and application centers. SDU has been contributing to many changes and innovations in Isparta and the region, namely in the fields of industrialization, agricultural development and technology.
Description of the principal personnel involved with their relevant experience
Handan Giray has been working at SDU since February 2009. Her main research areas are rural development and agricultural marketing. She worked for a regional development project (www.gap.gov.tr) from 1998 to 2005 as an SME and project Coordinator. Between 2005 and 2008 she worked as a scientific officer at EU JRC IPTS in Seville where she was involved in the project "Common Feature of Diverse European Rural Areas: Review of Approaches"
(April-December 2007) and "The Economic Analysis of Food Quality Schemes in EU" (2005-2006).
Tufan Bal is a Assistant professor. Dr. in agricultural economics. He holds a first degree in Agricultural Economics and a PhD in Agricultural policy and foreign trade policies of agricultural products.
Mürşide Çağla Örmeci is a research assistant at the agricultural economics department. She holds a first degree in Agricultural Engineering and recently completed her master's degree in agricultural management.
Ismet Boz is currently working at KSU (Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University) in the Department of Agricultural Economics. His educational and research activities focus on agricultural extension and communication, agricultural policy, and rural development. He coordinated a research project in 2006-2008 period, entitled "Diffusion and Adoption of Innovations among Livestock Producers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey" supported by Turkish Scientific Council. He was the national consultant for training of the project "Enhancing Organic Farming in Turkey", carried out by FAO and Turkish Ministry of Food Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in 2011. He is currently coordinating a research project, namely, "Adoption of the Environmental Land Protection Program in Turkey" supported by Turkish Scientific Council.