About Us

The Health and Education Foundation, in Turkish “Sağlık ve Eğitim Vakfı” (SEV), was founded by the graduates of UAA (Üsküdar American Academy), ACI (American Collegiate Institute), and TAC (Tarsus American College), referred to as the “SEV American Schools”, and Talas American Middle School (TAO) in 1968. The mission of the Health and Education Foundation is to insure the improvement and sustainability of its long established educational institutions which operate according to international standards and to raise individuals who exhibit a high level of academic performance and social awareness in response to a developing and changing world.

The Health and Education Foundation aims to carry the strong traditions of the past into the future through its institutions and in their respective fields of operation. Through the SEV American High Schools which enjoy an important place historically speaking within the Turkish education system, the Foundation raises students who model care and respect to their immediate and wider community, who exhibit self-confidence, and who are able to set and realize their goals. The Foundation also expands its high quality education to a wider audience, while at the same time providing reputable benchmark publications which include those that lead the sector in children’s literature. SEV is committed to constant improvement, remaining current with technology and new developments, while preserving its core values. SEV is governed by a Board of Trustees, the majority of which are alumni of the SEV American Schools, and a Board of Directors elected by the Board of Trustees. Members of both of these boards serve on a voluntary basis.

History of SEV

1820

American Board Committee (ABH) came to Turkey.

1861

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.

1876

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".

1878

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.

1879

Gaziantep American Hospital was opened. Serving the people of the area, the hospital joined the Foundation in 1997. It is one of the best healthcare centers in the area with its specialist doctors, and units in which all modern technological facilities are used.

1888

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.

1889

Talas American Middle School was opened.

1967

Talas American Middle School was closed.

1968

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.

1997

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.

2011

ABH officially transferred the foundership of its establishments to the Health and Education Foundation (SEV), thus finalizing the transfer period of forty-three years.

2014

SEV American College, the seventh member of the SEV schools, opened in the 2014-2015 academic year in İstanbul, Çekmeköy.

2018

In 2018, SEV American Hospitals operation was transferred to MMT Group on the condition that SEV will be the property owner

Please click on the icon below to find further information about each school.

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