Honorary Doctorate Degrees Mr. Binali Yıldırım

REASON FOR HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE

Üsküdar University Senate cordially and unanimously decided to grant Mr. Binali Yıldırım the title of “Honorary Doctorate Degree” due to his significant contributions to the Turkish politics, our democracy and the Turkish public with his unifying personality and moral standing through obtaining a concept of social responsibility and conducting infrastructure studies. 

Mr. Binali Yıldırım

Binali Yıldırım was born in Refahiye district of Erzincan province on December 20, 1955.

He studied and got his PhD at Naval Engineering and Marine Sciences faculty of the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), then worked as an assistant and researcher at the same university. He worked as a chairman and director in public sector such as at the General Directorate of Turkish Shipping Industry and at various ship docks between 1978–1993. He received residency training at the International Maritime University (IMU) on Life and Property Safety Management that is associated with the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden between 1990 and 1991. He worked as a General Manager at Istanbul Fast Ferries (IDO) Municipal ferry company between 1994 and 2000.

He was honored to the ‘Skal’ Quality Award for his contribution to sea transport and tourism in 1999 due to his materialized important projects to canalize people to sea transportation and thus help ease traffic problems in Istanbul. 

After the general elections of November 3, 2002, he entered into the Parliament as a deputy of AK Party and served as the Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Communication during the 58th, 59th Governments.  In the general election of July 22, 2007, he was elected as AK Party deputy of Erzincan and he continued his duty as Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Communication in the 60^th AK Party government. In the general election of June 12, 2011, he was selected as AK Party İzmir deputy and continued his duty as Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Communication in the 61^st government. In the general election of November 1, 2015, he was selected as AK Party İzmir deputy and became Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Communication again in the 64^th government.

On May 22, 2016, he was elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey in an extraordinary party congress. He was assigned by the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to form the 65^th government and undertook the Prime Minister position.

In the general election of June 24, 2018, he was selected as AK Party İzmir deputy. Binali Yıldırım became the last Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey due to the abolition of the Prime Ministry as the Presidential Government System has implemented after the elections.

On July 12, 2018, Binali Yıldırım became the 28. Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and he continues his duty as the first President of the Assembly in the Presidential Government System.

On July 13, 2018, Binali Yıldırım was awarded by the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the State Medal of Honor for his outstanding accomplishments in the survival of the state, the indivisible integrity of the country and the nation, the peace and unity of society.

Binali Yıldırım is married with 3 children and has 6 grandchildren. He speaks English and French.