Who We Are
The Health and Education Foundation (SEV) was established in 1968 by graduates of Üsküdar American Academy, American Collegiate Institute, Tarsus American College and Talas American Middle School. The Foundation, built on the premise of serving a developing Turkey, follows global education innovations to keep up with the development and the rapid pace of change in the modern world. We construct and maintain well-established educational institutions that nurture individuals with high academic achievement and social awareness who make a difference in the world.
The Health and Education Foundation aims to carry the strong tradition from the past to the future with all its institutions in the fields it serves. In the field of education, the Foundation aims to expand high-quality education services while raising benevolent, respectful to the society and the world, self-confident, and self-aware students who know what they want, which have an important place in the Turkish education system, through American Schools. In publishing, the Foundation creates books that will shape children's literature, signing reliable and high-quality reference publications.
The Health and Education Foundation strives to continually improve all the services in its field of activity, while using the tools of the modern world and protecting its essence and values. The Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors, mostly consisting of graduates of American Schools, manage the Health and Education Foundation, which is administered voluntarily. In the Foundation, a professional staff that includes graduates and operates under the supervision of the Board of Directors also works to ensure the continuity, development, and management of affiliated institutions.
The Health and Education Foundation institutions, which have been working for a better future for 150 years, continue to inspire and set an example for everyone with their universal and innovative education system.
Institutions affiliated with SEV:
- Üsküdar American Academy
- American Collegiate Institute
- Tarsus American College
- SEV American College
- SEV Schools
- İzmir SEV Schools
- Tarsus SEV Schools
- SEV Publishing Education and Trade Inc. (Redhouse)
The Health and Education Foundation provided health services to Gaziantep and the region with SEV American Hospital between 1879 and 2018. In order to continue providing health services to the people of the region by adapting to competitive conditions, the operation of the hospital was transferred to a private health group on March 1, 2018, with the aim of keeping its properties within the Health and Education Foundation. With this transfer, the hospital no longer operates under the SEV umbrella. The activities of the hospital are now carried out by a different healthcare group under the name MMT American Hospital.
History of SEV
American Board Committee (ABH) came to Turkey.
The first English-Turkish dictionary was published. The history of the publishing house, which then had the official title “Health and Education Foundation Publishing, Printing Education and Trade Ltd. (SEV-YAY)”, dates back to 1822. The publishing house started to produce “Redhouse” dictionaries in 1861, which currently is almost synonymous with an English-Turkish dictionary.
Üsküdar American Girls’ High School was founded as a girls’ school in Bahçecik. The school which was opened as a girls school in Gölcük in 1873, was first moved to Adapazarı in 1884, then to its current place in Bağlarbaşı, Üsküdar in 1923. The school started to educate both girls and boys in 1990, when it changed its name to "Üsküdar American Academy".
İzmir American Girls’ College was opened. Referred to as a girls’ school for so many years, the school started co-education in 1986, taking the name “American Collegiate Institute (ACI)”. As of the 2009-2010 school year, ACI opened boarding facilities for girls and as of the 2011-2012 academic year, the boarding program was also offered for boys.
Gaziantep American Hospital was opened. Serving the people of the area, the hospital joined the Foundation in 1997. It is one of the important healthcare centers in the area.
Tarsus American College (TAC) was opened. TAC, whose current educational motto reads “Leaders for Turkey; Leadership for the World”, was opened in 1888 as a boys’ school. The school started co-education in 1979. TAC stands out as a reputable school with the emphasis it places on academic success, as well as in the areas sports and arts. TAC reopened boarding facilities for boys in 2002 and for girls in 2008.
Talas American Middle School was opened.
Talas American Middle School was closed.
The Health and Education Foundation (SEV) was founded. The American Board Committee (ABH) started the process of transferring the ownership and management of its institutions to SEV.
SEV Primary Schools were opened. (Üsküdar, İzmir, Tarsus) In order to expand the successful education tradition that has continued in American high schools for more than a century, SEV Primary Schools were founded in Üsküdar, İzmir and Tarsus.
ABH officially transferred the foundership of its establishments to the Health and Education Foundation (SEV), thus finalizing the transfer period of forty-three years.
SEV American College, the seventh member of the SEV schools, opened in the 2014-2015 academic year in İstanbul, Çekmeköy.
In 2018, SEV American Hospitals operation was transferred to MMT Group on the condition that SEV will be the property owner.
SEV Schools Çekmeköy Campus is opened in September 2023. Üsküdar SEV Preschool and Middle School moved to the new campus.
Message from our CEO
The Health and Education Foundation is a 150-year-old institution with a long history of international excellence in education. We prepare for the future by continuously strengthening our schools, which are prominent educational institutions with a rich history.
Through Üsküdar American Academy, American Collegiate Institute, Tarsus American College, SEV American College and SEV Schools, which are institutions with unique knowledge in their respective regions, we educate sophisticated intellectuals with a strong sense of social responsibility who generate and implement innovative ideas and projects in all fields.
With the understanding that education is the most valuable investment, we are committed to adding value to the lives of our students, society and humanity as a whole. As one of the largest scholarship-granting educational institutions in Turkey, we consider providing equal opportunities in education as one of our most fundamental duties. We continuously support young people with limited financial resources.
As SEV, we are a very large family with 4 high schools, 3 middle schools, 3 primary schools, 3 kindergartens, 1,300 teachers and staff, over 5,000 students, 10,000 parents and 20,000 alumni in three cities. We know the strength of this large family, what it has accomplished and what it can accomplish. We provide our teachers with the best opportunities to prepare our students for the future by maintaining the sustainability of our schools and our publishing company.
We pioneer changes and developments both in Turkey and the world with our unique research and the contemporary educational programs we develop, while continuously learning together with our teachers and transforming our extensive experience into institutional memory. We create innovative learning environments for our students by implementing the most current, cutting-edge educational practices in an era of rapid and constant technological advancement.
In today's ever-changing world, our ultimate goal is to prepare our schools, teachers, and students for the future. As we become learning organizations, we strengthen the SEV culture in all of our institutions, adopt a holistic and comprehensive approach to education, and create a greater impact as a whole.
With this strength, with our volunteer Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and alumni who play a vital role in the existence of our Foundation and our schools today; and with our administrators, teachers and all of our staff, we will continue to serve society and humanity by educating many generations of whom we can be proud.
Prof. Dr. Güray Erkol
CEO
Health and Education Foundation
E-Mail: genelmudurluk@sev.org.tr
Approach
The Health and Education Foundation has a philosophy of education that focuses on developing individuals who are sensitive to societal needs and contribute to society as part of their social responsibility. We support events and projects that create social benefits in different fields, contributing to the development of wellbeing in the field of education and health.
Our Strategic Objectives and Activities
- We raise students who are versatile, lifelong learners and who contribute to social development thanks to the holistic education approach.
- We develop, adapt and implement current and effective examples.
- We offer a rich and transformative education.
- We provide equal opportunities to qualified students.
- We expand the impact we create in education.
Mission
The mission of SEV is to nurture globally minded, well-rounded, happy individuals who make positive contributions to society by way of their academic achievements and social consciousness.
Our Vision
SEV’s vision is to be the largest and strongest educational foundation in Turkey, which improves the quality of life through its holistic education approach and healthy and sensitive individuals it raises.
Respect and Trust
We respect all people, value differences, and develop trusting relationships as representatives of a storied culture. We value respectful communications, courteous behavior, and civility in our interactions.
Responsibility and Accountability
We prioritize the interests of society over personal benefit when making decisions because we are dedicated to building a better world for future generations.
Grit, Passion, and Perseverance
In pursuit of building a better world, we are fully committed to developing generations of people who are determined, ambitious, and persevere in the face of all challenges.
Inquisitiveness
We work to improve the world by finding new ideas and creative solutions. We expect our students to think for themselves—to ask questions and make good choices.
Our Energy Policy
In order to ensure sustainability and minimize environmental impact, we aim to reduce energy consumption and costs within the framework of energy management and efficiency policy.
In line with this goal, we are committed to
- Using energy resources efficiently in our operations,
- Ensuring continuous improvements in energy performance,
- Providing the necessary equipment and personnel infrastructure to achieve energy management and efficiency goals & objectives,
- Increasing staff competence,
- Meeting all legal and other requirements related to energy,
- Preferring energy efficient technologies and practices for products and services to be purchased,
- Evaluating alternative and renewable energy sources by following technological developments,
- Considering improvements in energy performance and efficiency in new investment and renovation activities,
- Raising awareness of our employees, students, teachers and all our stakeholders about energy.
Code of Conduct in Health and Education Foundation
Our goal as the Health and Education Foundation is to foster awareness, sensitivity, and consciousness of an institutional culture that adheres to our ethical values and principles.
Our ethical code serves as a roadmap for all our employees, stakeholders, our relations with all third-party institutions we work with, and our position in society. This applies to SEV and all subsidiaries.
This Code of Ethics serves as a guide for all conduct and relations with shareholders and employees, not only as a legal and commercial but also as an ethical obligation.
The values of our institution, which reflect a strong commitment to the Foundation’s shareholders, are based on respect to society and the environment, honesty, and mutual trust. Other core elements of the institutional culture are responsibility, transparency, and adherence to legal regulations. The Foundation’s organizations also uphold awareness of human rights and employee rights, as well as respect to the individual.