The Turkey-France Relations Research and Application Centre (TÜFRAM) at Marmara University was established under the auspices of the Rectorate of Marmara University, pursuant to the regulation published in the Official Gazette dated October 10, 2018, No. 30561, with the aim of contributing to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

 

The Centre officially commenced its activities as of April 2021, in collaboration with the French-language undergraduate program in Political Science and Public Administration—formerly known as the Department of Public Administration in French—established in 1988 as Turkey’s first French-medium undergraduate program through an agreement between Turkey and France.

 

Within this framework, TÜFRAM is committed to informing both Turkish and French public spheres; conducting research aimed at addressing challenges in Turkey-France relations and sharing the results with the public; generating knowledge in areas needed by Turkish and French business communities; and particularly enhancing cooperation and communication between Turkish and French higher education institutions.

 

TÜFRAM’s primary activities include: organizing academic events (seminars, workshops, panels, symposia, conferences, etc.) on Turkey-France relations at both national and international levels; engaging in cooperation with national and international institutions and organizations in the field;
developing and implementing research projects; and undertaking studies and research, preparing projects, and providing consultancy services in response to requests from Turkish and French public institutions, civil society organizations, and the business sector.

 

The activities aligned with TÜFRAM’s mission are carried out under the leadership of the Centre’s Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Arı, and Deputy Directors Dr. Nazan Cömert Baechler and Dr. Merve Özdemirkıran Embel, in collaboration with the academic staff of the French-language Political Science and Public Administration program.

 

Research Focus Areas:

European Union
Environmental Policies
Migration Studies
Gender Studies
Crisis Management
Human Rights
Public Policy
Risk Policies
Middle Eastern and African Studies
Local Governance