Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East Enterprises, which operate with many institutions, especially Near East University, University of Kyrenia, and TRNC's domestic automobile brand GÜNSEL in the fields of education, automotive, finance, health, tourism, industry, technology and culture and arts, graduated from the Near East University Faculty of Law in 2002, following his education at the Near East College. Having completed his graduate studies in the field of law in 2004, Prof. Dr. Günsel then completed his second undergraduate education in the Department of Deck of the Maritime Faculty. He completed his doctorate education in the fields of Public Law and Law of the Sea by combining the two fields. Having many articles published in international refereed journals, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was promoted to the rank of associate professor in 2014 and professor in 2019.
He played a significant role in the establishment of the Near East University Innovation and Information Technologies Center, where many important projects such as solar-powered cars RA25 and RA27, world champion robotic football team, hospital-type and portable respirators, wearable health products, and the first steps of GÜNSEL, the domestic car of the TRNC, have been brought into life. He also took a significant role in the establishment of the Near East University Hospital in the field of health, which has turned into one of the most important fields of activity of Enterprises. He led to the establishment of the Cyprus Car Museum, which brings together more than 150 classic cars with its fans. Between 2002-2004, he founded the representation network of Near East University in Turkey and established Istanbul and Mersin representation units.
In 2009, he took over the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University from the Founding Rector of Near East University, Dr . Suat İrfan Günsel.
In 2016, he made his family's dream of producing cars in Northern Cyprus come true by founding GÜNSEL, the domestic automobile brand of the TRNC. Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel has positioned GÜNSEL not only as an electric car manufacturer but also as an energy, technology and service producer based on new technologies. Born in 1982, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel has added high-tech fields such as electric cars, software and energy to the main activity network of the Near East Enterprises which have been operating in the fields of education, finance, tourism and health for 45 years.
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel is married and has 4 children.
Some of the awards and souvenirs presented to Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel are as follows:
At the 26th European International Bests Award Ceremony held in Frankfurt on 30 April 2013, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel received the Golden Quality Award on behalf of the Near East University Hospital.
June 19, 2013, 2013 Quality and Business Prestige Gold Award given to Near East University Hospital was presented to Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel in Rome.
The Best 2013 University Gold Award given to the Near East University by the Europe Business Assembly, on July 3, 2013, in Switzerland
September 21, 2013, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was presented with a medal of honor by the President of the Gagauzia Autonomous Republic, His Excellency Formuzal, for his contributions to the citizens of Gagauzia Autonomous Republic in the fields of education and health.
October 3, 2013, the Institutional Excellence Award given to the Near East University Hospital by the World Confederation of Businesses - WORLDCOB, headquartered in Houston, USA
On November 6, 2013, the Near East Hospital received the 'Quality Award in Institutional Development' at the World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress, which is accepted as the world's largest medical tourism congress and held in the United States (USA).
November 21, 2013, "Five Great Continents Quality and Excellence Award" given to the Near East University Hospital by the International Otherways Foundation.
On December 8, 2013, the "European Best Practice Award" was given to the Near East University Hospital by the European Community Quality Research Organization (ESQR) in the field of health.
March 20, 2014, Near East University was given the 'Most Innovative University' Award at the Arablab International Fair, which brought together the world's giants in Dubai due to products such as the EKG T-Shirt, Caring for MS Patients, Smart Hospital Room, Robotic Football Team, Unmanned Aerial and Sea vehicles, as well as a wheelchair that can move with the power of thought developed by the Near East University Innovation and Information Technologies Center to facilitate the lives of the disabled.
April 27, 2014, the "Best University of the Year" award was presented to the Near East University at the “XI. GAP Oscars" ceremony,
3 July 2014, “European International Quality Award” by the European Enterprises Organization headquartered in Oxford, England, to the Near East University Hospital due to the European standards of management in the field of health and university development, superior institutional quality in the services provided, competitive potential in European and World markets and its dynamic development at the ceremony that took place at the Leaders' Summit in Italy.
September 21, 2014, Near East University Hospital was honored with the Star Quality Award in the Platinum category for its services in accordance with ISO9000 and QC100 principles and criteria, as well as for corporate success, corporate quality, corporate innovation, corporate prestige, service excellence, technology use, and customer satisfaction at the award ceremony held for the 15th time in Geneva, Switzerland by the Spain-based Business Initiative Directions (BID) organization.
October 26, 2014, the "International Technology and Innovation Award" was given to the Sun God NEU-RA25, a high-tech solar-powered racing car created by the Near East University R&D teams at the Business Initiatives Directions (BID) Science Summit held in Paris.
3 November 2014, the special jury award within the framework of the "Ismail Beg Gaspıralı Journalism and Human Rights Workshop" was given to the Near East University for its contributions to the Turkish World in the field of language education and cultural studies.
December 9, 2014, as a result of the evaluations made by the European Community Quality Research Foundation in various service areas in the field of health, the "2014 Best Quality Leadership Award" was given to the Near East University Hospital at the international summit held in Las Vegas.
February 20, 2015, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was awarded the Order of Merit by the President of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal, for his great contributions to the education of the Gagauz people, his diligent efforts to improve the economic, social and cultural relations between two countries, and his efforts to develop cooperation opportunities. Also, President Mihail Formuzal presented İrfan Suat Günsel with the Ministry Award and declared him an Honorary Minister.
March 23, 2015, Global Quality, Excellence and Ideal Performance Award was given to the Near East University Hospital at an international ceremony organized by the France-based Otherways Management & Consulting Association in Berlin, the capital of Germany.
June 15, 2015, the Quality Award was given to the Near East University Hospital for its success in sustainable quality in health services at the International Quality Convention Meeting held in London by the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) based in Switzerland.
February 7, 2016, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was unanimously deemed worthy of the "Innovative Education Leader" award at the 8th World Educational Sciences Conference held at Alcala University, Spain, for his sustainable contributions to world higher education and the development of science centered on the Near East geography.
May 28, 2016, with the support of the Bill Gates Foundation, a plaque of appreciation was given to the Near East University for its contributions at the launch of the "Library for All" Project, which aims to enable libraries affiliated to local governments in Turkey to take a more active role in social transformation.
September 14, 2018, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was shown among the "New Generation Leaders" by Forbes Magazine.
29 November 2019, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was presented Gold Medal for his contributions to the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation.
February 13, 2022, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel was awarded an honorary doctorate by OSTIM Technical University.