Our Graduate Ece Continues Her Academic Journey in Europe!

Ece Fişek, a 2025 graduate of the Department of English Translation and Interpreting at İzmir University of Economics, is taking the next step in her academic path in Europe. Actively engaged in both academic and professional spheres throughout her undergraduate studies, Ece is now set to pursue a master’s degree in the “Language and Mind” program at the University of Siena. She shares the story of her inspiring journey:

"I began my undergraduate studies in the English Translation and Interpreting program at İzmir University of Economics in 2021 with strong motivation and determination, and graduated in June 2025. Since high school, I had been drawn to this field with passion, and over the course of four years, I remained actively involved both academically and professionally, with growing enthusiasm.

Thanks to an interdisciplinary curriculum, I had the opportunity to broaden my skills across various domains, including translation theory, linguistics, cultural studies, communication, and technology. My interest in the field and in my department led me to take part in a number of academic projects at both national and international levels, allowing me to strengthen my expertise while also contributing to the visibility of my university.

My growing academic interest also sparked a desire to gain deeper knowledge and specialization in my field. In my final year, I began applying for master’s programs abroad, and received acceptance offers from several universities in the Netherlands and Italy. Throughout this process, my personal achievements were certainly important, but the high-quality education I received at my university and department also played a vital role.

After careful consideration, I chose the two-year master’s program in Language and Mind: Linguistics and Cognitive Studies at the University of Siena as the best fit for my academic and professional goals. Siena ranks in the 251–300 range in the Times Higher Education rankings, is among the top 2.6% of universities worldwide according to CWUR, and is placed between 151–200 globally in linguistics by QS World University Rankings, making it one of the top five institutions in this field in Italy.

My ultimate goal is to build on the foundation I developed during my undergraduate studies, deepen my knowledge in linguistics and cognitive studies, and contribute to academia through rigorous, high-quality research. This master’s program marks a significant step,  and a new beginning, in my academic career. I would like to sincerely thank those who supported and guided me along the way, especially our Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Dr. Neslihan Kansu Yetkiner; our Department Chair, Prof. Dr. Nihal Yetkin Karakoç; our Vice Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilgın Aktener; and all of our faculty members."