Marmara University is one of the oldest educational institutions in Turkey. Established on 16 January, 1883 under the name Hamidiye Ticaret Mekteb-i Âlisi, and affiliated with the Commercial, Agriculture, Forestry and Mining industry, Marmara University began its life in a house behind the Istanbul High School for Girls in Ca?o?lu. The first graduates (13 people) matriculated in 1887. On 21 September, 1889 the school was affiliated with the Education Ministry; in 1893 the school was closed, with the idea that it would be reformed and reopened in the near future. On 15 October, 1897 the school, still affiliated with the Education Ministry, was reopened; from this date on the university has provided education. The University’s mission is to work towards designing the future; along with the 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, Marmara University is working towards determining the position it will occupy in the future. This data, attained in the scope of shareholders, in the process of defining the mission, vision, values and slogan, has benefited from the evaluatory process expressed in the draft provided by the academic and administrative units.