BY PELİN SU UZUNCAGİL (AMER/III)
Senior Lecturer Erkan Uçar is the chair of the department of Information Systems and Technologies. He graduated high school from TED Ankara College. He holds a BSc and an MSc in Computer Engineering from Bilkent University and a PhD in Information Systems from METU. Over the years he has lectured on the fundamentals of information systems, coding, data structures, algorithms, software outsourcing and database management systems at the undergraduate level. He is also a member of the Curriculum and Publication Committees of CTIS and the Coordinator of the QME Committee. He is currently teaching CTIS165 (Fundamentals of Information Systems) and CTIS264 (Computer Algorithms). He has two sons, who are also part of the Bilkent community.
Why did you choose an academic career?
I joined Bilkent in 1986 when I was 16 since I had skipped grade one in primary school and English Preparatory class. So, I studied with people who were a few years older than me and graduated when I was 20. This was when I decided that I wanted to be a professor when I was 40. I started my master’s degree in 1990, specifically on AI, expert systems and rule-based systems. For various reasons, we changed the topic and the domain of my thesis and this changed my goals on pursuing an academic career. I finished my master’s degree and left Bilkent for my military obligation. In the same time period, with a colleague of mine, I started to develop projects in METU-Kosgeb. It did not take me long to realize that I missed Bilkent and the campus. I knew that the engineering faculty would not hire me without a PhD. When I started to look for part-time teaching, I heard about CTIS — back then its name was different because it was under a school but not a faculty. At the time, Bilkent used to have some departments with two-year curricula giving associate degrees (which were closed years later). One of my friends advised me to apply to one of these departments (viz. Computer Technology and Programming). I met the department chair and although they had just hired someone, another department was being formed, which was CTIS. There, I met the first chair of our department. He said, “Whatever you want to teach, come and teach it here.” I wanted to teach part time, but I was persuaded to teach full time and work on the four-year curriculum update as well. I joined the department in 1994. We started with a small faculty (one instructor and one assistant). Today we have 17 academic staff. We do not have a high circulation rate, probably because we have a good atmosphere in here where we socialize together a lot.
Why/how did you choose Bilkent? What do you like the most about being at Bilkent?
When I started teaching here, I told people I would not stay long in any organization. I was wrong. I got some offers from the US for my master’s, but Bilkent offered me a spacious office environment, a solid income and housing. The fact that I was one of the first students had the biggest effect on my decision. Apart from this, I was so proud to watch how fast Bilkent was growing. I came here as a student for the first day of the school, and we took an active part in even the environmental growth of the campus: we helped plant the first group of trees.
What projects are you working on currently?
I always follow the developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), and from time to time I also give talks. However, I am not doing scientific research on AI anymore. My main research for the last decade has been on software engineering, information system development, outsourcing and cloud computing. Because of my position I have heavy administrative duties.
What’s your best work?
I would answer this question by saying, “my input at Bilkent and CTIS.”
What excites you about your work? What’s the coolest thing about your work?
It is a fact that we’ve established a good relationship between students, faculty members, and alumni over years. We achieved this via a positive attitude, and I believe I have good administrative skills at that.
Could you share a turning point or defining moment in your career?
When my master’s thesis diverted into another subdomain in AI. This is why I did not pursue my PhD earlier. Otherwise, I may have continued or went abroad for my PhD. Probably I wouldn’t be with CTIS, and looking back, I would regret that big time: CTIS is my home!
What has been the most exciting moment of your career so far?
In 1986, I was one of 60–70 students studying in the computer engineering department. Back then, there were only three engineering departments: computer-, electrical and electronics- and industrial engineering. Some students went back to prep school to improve their English language skills. There were no COPE or PAE exams then, but we did take a written exam, where the curve was applied, and then an oral exam. In 1990, only nine of us graduated. After graduation, two of us stayed for our master’s as assistants (many went abroad). One of the happiest moments was having a professor say, “Welcome to our new Araş-Gör! (research assistant).”
What’s the most common misconception and one piece of information from your field that you think everyone should know?
Coding. Whatever field you are going to be an expert in, you will need to know coding. The backbone of our department and curriculum is based on coding and software engineering.
When and where do you do your best thinking?
Definitely not at home. The office is also not a very good choice as my administrative duties are non-stop. When I was a student, I used to go to the library because I did not like studying alone, but coffee shops can be a good place as well. I do my tasks for 25–30 minutes, then I have a break and repeat the same pattern. During the week I do not have time to leave campus so I mostly do my thinking in the office; thanks to my assistant Duygu Hanım, she does not connect any calls other than from my superiors.
What distracts you?
My mobile phone. I have some social media accounts that are necessary since I am one of the administrators of CTIS’s social media accounts. Apart from that, emails are the biggest distraction for me.
What are you most curious about?
I am not going to say that “robots will rule the world!” I do not believe this. But I can recommend that everyone read Martin Ford’s book, “Rise of the Robots.” I am an AI thinker. AI systems will be as intelligent as humans when they can do the things that we do without thinking — unconsciously. I am following the developments and excited about what is happening in general. I am also following and using LLMs like ChatGPT, sometimes even to enrich my lecture contents, but not in grading or that sort of process — yet. 🙂
What’s the most common misconception about your work?
The misconception mostly comes from within the medical professions. They believe that anybody that does not have a profession in medicine has a light workload. This is not true, especially in Bilkent.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I am a drummer in a rock band. I like to produce music. Other than that, I like being with my family. We enjoy going out and spending time in the green area in front of Odeon. We listen to music together as well; luckily, we have similar tastes. Other than that, I like playing darts, swimming and cooking. I believe I am a good cook.
Which books have influenced you the most, and why?
“The Magic of Thinking Big” by David J. Schwartz, all Douglas Hofstadter books and “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman. I believe I am a good planner. If you are a good planner, you will manage your time wisely and then you can create more time. I got that notion when I read “The Magic of Thinking Big” when I was 22.
If you weren’t an academician, what career would you choose?
Graphic designer.
What’s the secret to leading a happy life?
Get organized so that you can have time for things that you love. Agenda, agenda, agenda…my sons will know what I mean.
If you could go back to your undergraduate/graduate student years, what advice would you give to your younger-self?
Learn more languages, like Chinese and Russian. Apart from this, go abroad more frequently.
What would you like to say about your department?
Software and medicine may be the two fields with the highest rate of dynamism. That is why we — at CTIS — review and update our curriculum every four to five years. It cannot stay static. Our main mission is not to produce academicians or researchers but people with hands-on experience having an applied education that is heavily supported by lab work. We have YÖK accreditation and work with our internal and external stakeholders frequently. Our advisory board plays an important role. We have one of the oldest boards in Bilkent — I think it’s been 15–20 years now. One of the most important assets of our education is the second internship program, which lasts one whole academic semester in the third year of the program; students do not take any courses and they go and work in the industry. The rate of students receiving job offers in their third year is around 60 percent. CTIS’s recruitment rate six months after graduation is almost 98 percent, mostly because of this internship program. Today, even some of our sophomores and juniors are developing software systems remotely — some for the US west coast — and they are making good money as well. 🙂 Next year will be CTIS’s 30th year and we will invite the whole Bilkent community for our celebrations.
