The Department of International Relations focuses on the issues relevant to political, economic, and societal aspects of international politics which shape the relations amongst the states, societies and institutions in various parts of the world. The rationale of our Department is to equip students with the necessary theoretical and methodological tools that would enable them to do a more comprehensive analysis of developments, events and above all, the historical processes in a globalised political economy compliant with scientific and ethical values. The Department aims to develop the conceptual knowledge, skills and experience of students opening horizons of research and exploration to reach the best possible achievement in various fields of international relations. Our Department offers expertise on various regions such as the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia and Africa, and various issues such as security, political economy, international organizations, conflict resolution, peace studies, energy, democracy, third world politics, environmental politics and migration among others with a young and vibrant faculty. The Department aims to carry out its teaching with distinctive competence in accordance with the objectives and requirements set out by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. It intends to be a leading model for all who seek intellectual vitality in a learner-centred and socially responsible academic community in international relations.
Students are encouraged to work in an interdisciplinary environment and are guided to take on a minor or a dual degree in other fields such as law and economics to strengthen their knowledge and skills and build upon their academic capacity. The cosmopolitan nature of the Department’s students and alumni provides a strong basis for intellectual interaction. Our mission is to equip our students with the knowledge and skills on a broad intellectual spectrum so that they can be trained and prepared for a diverse and a competitive career path, which includes the public or private sectors or international institutions.
In 2017 the International Relations programme has been accredited by FIBAA (The Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation) which is a European, internationally oriented agency for quality assurance and quality development in higher education.
Course Code | Course Name | Credit | ECTS | Course Hours | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.YEAR / 1. SEMESTER | ENG101 | English I | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
SOC100 | Sociology | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS110 | Political Science I | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS101 | Principles of Econ.I | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS105 | History of Civilizations | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
YIT101/TUR101 | Turk. for Inter.Students I/Türk Dili I | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
1.FIRST YEAR / 2. SEMESTER | ENG102 | English II | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
EAS112 | Political Science II | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS111 | History of Political Thought | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS102 | Principles of Econ.II | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS206 | Introduction to Law | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
YIT102/TUR102 | Turk. for Inter. Students II/Türk Dili II | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
2.YEAR / 1. SEMESTER | EAS215 | Academic Communication | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
IR203 | Diplomatic History | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR205 | Constitional Law | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR210 | Modern Political Thought | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR207 | Introduction to IR I | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
AİT101/103 | Atatürk İlkeleri I/Princ.of Atatürk’sI | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
2.YEAR / 2.SEMESTER | EAS216 | Academic Writing | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
HIST205 | World History of the 20th Century | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
HIST206 | Modern Turkish Politics | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
EAS208 | Research Methods | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR208 | Introduction to IR II | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
AİT102/104 | Atatürk İlkeleri II /Princ.of Atatürk’s II | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
3.YEAR / 1.SEMESTER | IR307 | Intro.to International Law I | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
IR311 | Turkish Foreign Policy I | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR313 | Inter.Politics & Security | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR316 | Theories of IR | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
HIST308 | Ottoman Econ.,Social &Pol.Structure I | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
3.YEAR / 2. SEMESTER | IR312 | Inter. Institutions & Organization | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
IR315 | Turkish Foreign Policy II | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
IR314 | Inter. Political Economics | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
POL312 | Comparative Pol. Systems | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
HIST309 | Ottoman Econ.,Social &Pol.Structure II | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
4.YEAR / 1. SEMESTER | IR401 | Analysis of Inter. Relations I | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
IR400 | The Cyprus Issue | 3 | 6 | 3 | ||
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
4.YEAR / 2. SEMESTER | IR402 | Analysis of Inter. Relations II | 3 | 6 | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 | |||
Elective | 3 | 6 | 3 |
YEAR 1
History of Civilization (course type: required; course code: HIST 103)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to sketch an outline of the development
of civilizations in the course of history.
Course content: The course covers the main developments of the mankind from the
coming of human 2.5 million years ago to the present time. The main focus is on the
big turning points of the cultural as the Neolithic Revolution (10.000 years ago), the
rise of the civilization (5.500 years ago), the Renaissance (1350-1520) and the
coming of Modernity.
Principles of Economics I (course type: required; course code: ECON 101)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to provide the basic concepts of
economics and mainly elementary micro-economics.
Course content: Topics covered are: The Economic Problem, Supply and Demand,
Elasticity, Marginal Analysis of Consumers and Firms Behaviour, the Theory of Profit
Maximization, Analysis of Markets, Pricing in Competitive and Non-Competitive
Markets.
English I (course type: required; course code: ENG 101)
Course objective: This course aims at enabling students to understand their lessons
and to express themselves in English
Course content: The course focuses mainly on grammar and developing of all
language skills.
Political Science I (course type: required; course code: POL 101)
Course objective: Political Science I is designed to be an introductory course in
which the logic of political science and the methods of political analysis are examined.
Course content: The course deals rather with central concepts and ideas of politics
of which subject is the broad and complex. It includes the definition problematic of
politics, fields of political science, the relationship between political science and other
disciplines, political socialization, and modern political ideologies such as liberalism,
socialism, conservatism, anarchism, nationalism, fascism, feminism and ecologism.
Sociology (course type: required; course code: SOC 100)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to give a general overview of sociology
including history and methodology.
Course content: The course covers explanation of the main schools in sociology,
mainly Durkheim, Weber and Marx. The course provides the overview of group,
stratification, institutions and structure in general.
English II (course type: required; course code: ENG 102)
Course objective: This course aims to take students to intermediate advanced level
of English.
Course content: The course concentrates rather on developing reading skills.
Political Science II (course type: required; course code: POL 102)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to provide institutional and structural
aspects of politics.
Course content: This course focuses mainly on such topics as the State, Institutions
of Government, Elections and Electoral Systems, Political Parties, Interest Groups,
Democratic and Nondemocratic Forms of Government, Constitutional and Nonconstitutional Regimes, Presidential and Parliamentary Systems, Bureaucracy and
Administration,
Principles of Economics II (course type: required; course code: ECON 102)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to offer the basic fundamentals of
elementary Macroeconomics.
Course content: This course includes such topics as Determination of National
Income, the Role of Government, the Banking System, Problems of Inflation,
Unemployment and Growth.
Introduction to Law (course type: required; course code: LAW 106)
Course objective: This course aims to offer a basic introduction to the study of law.
Course content: This course covers the Nature of Law, Legal Systems, The
Development of Law, The Structure and Work of the Courts, The Concepts of Legal
Personality and Capacity and an Outline of the European Union, its Laws and
Institutions, Company Law and Tort.
History of Political Thought (course type: required; course code: IR 111)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to offer a descriptive and analytical
examination of political ideas and theories in the course of history.
Course content: This course includes a collection of major political thinkers and their
ideas from ancient times to early modern times. It gives due attention to such thinkers
as Plato, Aristotle, Polybius, Cicero, John of Salisbury, Saint Augustine, Machiavelli,
Hobbes, Locke, and etc.
Principles of Atatürk I and II (course type: required for Turkish speakers;
course code: ATA 101/102)
Course objective: This course is designed exclusively for Turkish national and
Turkish Cypriot students. The aim is to provide the principles of Atatürk analytically
and historically in both semesters.
Course content: This course covers the period of the process of Turkish
independence war and the period of the establishment of Turkish national state, and
modernization process.
YEAR 2
Modern Political Thought (course type: required; course code: IR210)
Course objective: This course aims to offer an outline of western political thought
from Renaissance to modernity to appreciate the value of critical thinking in
international relations.
Course content: The content of this course comprises the international theories of
the great thinkers ranging from the period of early modern times to modern times,
particularly Hobbes, Locke, Bodin, Montesquieu, Rousseau, J.S. Mill, Hegel and
Marx.
Communication Skills for IR (course type: required; course code: IR 215)
Course objective: The aim of the course is to provide techniques for dealing with
academic prose.
Course content: The emphasis is on reading skills and analysis of texts. Moreover,
paraphrasing and summarizing are practiced.
Constitutional Law (course type: required; course code: IR 205)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to the main
aspects of constitutional law.
Course content: This course mainly covers the Nature of Constitution, Classification
of Constitutions, The Doctrine of the Separation of Power, The Rule of Law,
Parliamentary, Supremacy and Constitutional Connections. There is also an
examination of the freedom to Experience, Association, Persons and Property.
Natural Justice, Delegated Legislation, Judicial Review of the Administration and
Judicial Remedies and Administrative Law are also covered.
Diplomatic History (course type: required; course code: IR 203)
Course objective: The objective of the course is to provide the student with
necessary background of the diplomatic practice since the medieval Age till the
Second World War.
Course content: In this course, special attention is paid to the development of nation
state in Europe and the emergence of diplomatic concepts and tools as expedient
ways for conducting international relations.
Introduction to International Relations I (course type: required; course code: IR
207)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to introduce key conceptual issues in
international relations and to analyze contemporary global problems
Course content: The course includes such topics as security, international
organizations, resources, peace and war.
Writing Skills for IR (course type: required; course code: IR 216)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to develop writing skills.
Course content: The structure of an academic essay and different types of essays
(cause and effect, argumentation, comparison and contrast) are discussed. Students
write two essays and receive feedback on them.
Introduction to International Relations II (course type: required; course code:
IR 208)
Course objective: The aim of this course is to introduce key conceptual issues in
international relations. It analyses contemporary global problems.
Course content: This course covers security, international organizations, resources,
peace and war. The main aim of the course is to encourage students for critical
thinking and analysis of the world events.
World History of the 20th Century (course type: required; course code: HIST
205)
Course objective: This course aims to deals with political history of the twentieth
century, and to focus on the main political events of the last hundred years.
Course content: The course thematically covers the First and the Second World
War, the Cold War and the main political transformations, the coming of the mass
culture, the rapid change of the word, globalisation and global problems.
Modern Turkish Politics (course type: required; course code: HIST 206)
Course objective: This course analyzes Turkish politics from a historical perspective.
It is focusing on the foundation of Turkish Republic by giving particular emphasis on
Kemalist ideas. It also examines political developments in Turkey since Atatürk’s
death, evaluates the position of Turkey during the Second World War, rule of
Democratic Party 1950-60, and the military take over of 1960 and 1980 as well as the
1971 ultimatum and restoration of democracy.
Course content: The course deals with the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, the
Emergence of One-Party State, the Kemalist One-Party State, reform Policies and
Foreign Relations, the Transition to Democracy 1945-50, the rule of Democratic Party
1950-60, foreign relations during Democratic Party rule, the 1960 coup, the 1960-70
Era, the military Ultimatum of 1971, the 1980 coup and Turkey since 1980.
Research Methods (course type: required; course code: IR 202)
Course objective: Its main aim is to give the students how to work on a research,
how to write an essay. For a university student writing essays or making research are
a must, but at the same time for most of the students a difficult challenge. This course
is aimed at making this challenge easier and explains the importance of the
methodology of such work and practice and experience of doing research.
Course content: The course deals with research processes such as how to begin a
research, to choose a topic, to find the data and analyze them, to create a working
plan and to write it in an appropriate way.
YEAR 3
Introduction to International Law I (course type: required; course code: IR 307)
Course objective: This course intends to provide an understanding of the importance
of international law for the chain of events surrounding the two world wars as well as
an understanding on how international law shapes policies and the world order.
Course content: The course introduces the concept of international law, the position
of international law in the development of states and the world order, legal theories of
international law, international relations theories and international law, position of
international organisations in international law, the concept of state responsibility,
international criminal law, the position of individuals in international law, international
human rights on the Cyprus Problem, international law and Nuclear Power.
Turkish Foreign Policy (course type: required; course code: IR 311)
Course objective: This course focuses on Turkish Foreign Policy from the Time of
Liberation (1919-1923) to 1945. After it demonstrates the method and the approach
of the foreign policy analysis, this course sets out a framework for analysis of
Turkey’s relations with her neighbours as well as with big/hegemonic powers. Also,
the impact of regional developments and conflicts on Turkey’s foreign policy are
discussed.
Course content: The course includes topics such as: Turkish Foreign Policy in
Theory and Practice, Turkish Foreign Policy between 1919 and 1923: The Time of
Liberation, Turkish Foreign Policy between 1923 and 1939: Relative Autonomy,
Turkish Foreign Policy between 1939 and 1945: Relative Autonomy II: 1939-1945.
International Politics & Security (course type: required; course code: IR 313)
Course objective: In this course, the current structure of the world politics is
discussed with a focus on historical and theoretical debates about international
politics, nation state, national interest, national security and foreign policy concepts
comparatively with alternative concepts: trans-nationalism, international security and
economic cooperation.
Course content: The course includes topics ranging from the evolution of world
politics, levels of analysis and foreign policy, nationalism, globalization and transnationalism, national states, national power and diplomacy, international law and
international organization, interstate conflict, asymmetric conflict, trade money,
development and human rights.
Theories of IR (course type: required; course code: IR 316)
Course objective: The course aims at providing an overview of how International
Relations as a discipline discusses and understands the international system.
Course content: In the first part of the course, students are given a brief historical
account of theoretical development within International Relations to develop an
understanding of the nature of social science theory from a non-positivist
understanding. In the Second part, six theoretical approaches of IR are discussed. In
the Third part original sources of some of the previously discussed theories are
analyzed.
Ottoman Economical, Social and Political Structure I (course type: required;
course code: HIST 308)
Course objective: This course aims to introduce the social and economic history of
the Ottoman region, from the origins of the Empire. First part of the course is covering
the period 1300-1600. It examines developments in population, trade, transport,
manufacturing, land tenure and the economy.
Course content: The course covers the Ottoman State: economy and society: 1300–
1600; the economic mind and state revenues; state, land and peasant; land
possession; trade; imperial economy; crisis and change 1590–1699; and the principal
political events.
International Organisations (course type: required; course code: IR 312)
Course objective: With the completion of this course, students will have the
knowledge of working procedures of the international organizations such as United
Nations and will comprehend the roles of international organizations on integration
processes in the world.
Course content: This course covers definitions and characteristics of international
organizations; historical background of international organizations; membership, aim
and structure as criterions for classification of international organizations; United
Nations Organization and its organs-functions; mainstream approaches (realistsliberals) and critical approaches (Marxists-feminists-constructivists); regional security
and international organizations (NATO,CIS,CSTO). The course further addresses
issues like development; trade; environment; social and humanitarian issues, and
global governance.
Turkish Foreign Policy II (course type: required; course code: IR 315)
Course objective: This is a continuation of IR 311 course broadening the systematic
enquiry on Turkish Foreign Policy with special emphasis on Cold War and post Cold
War systemic changes and their impact on Turkish Foreign Policy. The challenges of
adapting to global systemic transformation, globalization, rising regional conflicts will
be looked at together with efforts to deal with old issues in the new environments.
Course content: This course covers the topics from Turkish Foreign Policy Between
1945 and 1960: Turkey in the Orbit of Western Block, Turkish Foreign Policy Between
1960 and 1980: Relative Autonomy 3, Turkish Foreign Policy Between 1980-2002:
Turkey in the Orbit of the Western Block and Globalization and Turkish Foreign Policy
After 2002: Justice and Development Party Period.
International Political Economy (course type: required; course code: IR 314)
Course objective: This course deals with many different aspects of the International
Political Economy. The subject of IPE is concerned with the interconnectedness of
various areas such as economics, politics, history, sociology, etc.
Course content: In the first part of this course, the fundamental paradigms of IPE is
introduced by looking at the three different theoretical perspectives: mercantilism,
liberalism, and structuralism. In the Second part of the course, structural connections
of IPE, leading to sections that explore international trade, international finance,
international institutions and global problems are analyzed.
Comparative Politics (course type: required; course code: POL 312)
Course objective: This course intends to examine different political systems from a
structural-functional perspective. It provides a conceptual and theoretical framework
for comparing the processes and institutions of different political systems.
Course content: This course covers issues in comparative politics; it compares
political systems; elaborates on the state in a global context; democratic and
authoritarian states; authoritarian rule; democracy; conditions of democracy; political
participation; patterns of participation; and highlights cases such as United States,
France; Russia, Iran, China; India, Nigeria And Brazil in a comparative perspective.
Ottoman Economical, Social and Political Structure II (course type: required;
course code: HIST 309)
Course objective: This course aims to introduce the political, social and economic
history of the Ottoman Empire. Second part of the course is covering the period from
1700 to 1914. It examines developments in population, trade, transport,
manufacturing, land and the economy. It also covers the age of reforms and provides
and overview of the 19th century.
Course content: This course covers the Ottoman State: economy and society: 1699-
1914; the state and economy; the state, merchants, peasants and elite; land
possession; trade; the age of reforms: 1812–1914; and overview of the nineteenth
century in general.
YEAR 4
The Cyprus Issue (course type: required; course code: IR 400)
Course objective: This course provides necessary grounds to define and understand
the meaning of ethnic conflict and relates it to Cyprus, to understand and perceive
conflict as an identity-based conflict in Cyprus, and to be able to understand Turkish
Cypriot perceptions, sensitivities and the use of politics as part of the Cyprus conflict.
Course content: This course commences with an introduction to ethnic conflict and
identity-based conflict, with the case of Cyprus. Then it moves on with a brief history
of Cyprus where the strategic importance of the island is mentioned. Mediation in
Cyprus; property issue in the conflict; the issue of missing persons; refugees in the
conflict; politics of memory in Cyprus; reconciliation and prospects for the future are
among other issues which are highlighted throughout this course.
Analysis of International Relations I (course type: required; course code: IR
401)
Course objective: The course aims to provide students the grounds for developing
the ability to understand and discuss international relations discipline by using an
interdisciplinary methodology to merge the knowledge coming from sociology,
economics, psychology, political science as well as diplomatic history while
recognizing local, regional and international actors functioning within the international
system.
Course content: The course covers theories of IR; international conflicts; the UN as
a case study in settling international disputes in current IR; and intervention,
sovereignty and non-intervention principle through further discussions on Middle East
and European affairs.
Analysis of International Relations II (course type: required; course code: IR
402)
Course objective: The course aims to provide students the grounds for developing
the ability to understand and discuss international relations discipline by using an
interdisciplinary methodology to merge the knowledge coming from sociology,
economics, psychology, political science as well as diplomatic history while
recognizing local, regional and international actors functioning within the international
system.
Course content: The course covers theories of IR; international conflicts; and current
topics in IR. This course discusses refugee crisis via the case of Syrian Refugess.
Besides that, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Middle East Politics are covered within the
scope of current international topics.
Role of NGOs in IR (course type: elective; course code: IR 413)
Course objective: This course deals with the changes after the collapse of the Soviet
Union and the fall of Berlin Wall. As the term civil society became a hot topic both in
intellectual terms and political terms, this course will help students to understand the
past and current role of the civil society in world politics.
Course content: The main discussion is how and in which ways does civil society
influence the international politics? In the route of answering the question, this course
will explain the historical meanings and the roles of the civil society as well.
Human Rights and International Relations (course type: elective; course code:
IR 421)
Course objective: The subject of human rights has become, in the contemporary
world, one of the most important factors in international relations. Proceeding from
this fact, the historical development of human rights as well as the international
human rights law to the present will be studied. Within this context, mechanisms and
their functions that were developed especially within the body of the United Nations,
Council of Europe, European Union and Organisation of Security and Cooperation in
Europe will be dwelt upon.
Course content: This course covers human rights as a concept; the historical
background of the term; the entry of human rights in the international arena after
world war two and formation of the United Nations.
Balkan Politics (course type: elective; course code: IR 423)
Course objective: This course aims to examine political history of Balkans
throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Course content: In the first part of the course, erosion of Ottoman control over the
Western Provinces and the emergence of new nation-states in Serbia, Rumania,
Bulgaria and Albania are analyzed. Within this context, influences of foreign powers
like Russia (Pan-Slavism) and Austria-Hungary (Bosnia/Croatia) will be evaluated.
The Second part of this course deals with the role of Balkans in the upcoming of the
First World War, and its aftermath in the region (Dissolution of AustriaHungary/Foundation of Yugoslavia etc.). The Third part will examine Balkans during
the Second World War and in the following Cold War era. Finally, post-Cold War
conflicts in Balkans, particularly in the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, are
described.
The Middle East (course type: elective; course code: IR 426)
Course objective: This course aims to understand the importance of the political and
economic issues in the region, which are very important for the world. Understanding
the great power politics in the region, learning the regional organizations and
business processes, understanding the position of the regional powers that affect the
Middle East politics, and learning the religious elements of the region are among the
main objectives of this course.
Course content: This course covers International Relations theory and the Middle
East, highlights the emergence of the Middle East into the state system, the Cold War
period in the Middle East and onwards. The course also addresses oil and political
economy, political reforms, and the politics of identity in the Middle East.
Political Psychology (course type: elective; course code: IR 460)
Course objective: This course aims to describe and explain behavioural aspects of
political behaviour, analyse political behaviour through the conceptual framework, and
define the central concepts and ideas of political psychology.
Course content: This course covers approaches to political psychology; personality
and politics; study of political leaders; voting behaviour; role of media and tolerance;
politics of race; ethnic conflicts and genocide; political psychology of nationalism;
political psychology of terrorism; political psychology of international security; and
conflict resolution and reconciliation.
Minorities and Minority Rights (course type: elective; course code: IR 404)
Course objective: This course aims to reflect on the concept and definition of
minorities, minority rights in international law, the regulations and applications
regarding minorities and minority problems in various countries.
Course content: This course covers the concept and definition of minorities; League
of Nations and the protection of minorities; United Nations and the protection of
minorities; Council of Europe and the protection of minorities; and the European
Union and the protection of minorities. Other international organisations and their
approaches towards protection of minorities are also discussed within the scope of
this course.
Contemporary Political Theory (course type: elective; course code: POL 402)
Course objective: This course aims to describe and explain political world in a
systematic way, analyses political phenomena through the conceptual framework,
defines the central concepts and ideas of politics, and evaluates critically multiple
aspects of politics.
Course content: This course covers political theory, concepts and theories in politics,
human nature and politics, the debate on individualism vs. collectivism, conceptions
of politics, government and the state, conceptions of democracy, representations, and
conceptions of public interest. The course further discusses rights, obligations, and
citizenship.
Political Institutions (course type: elective; course code: POL 444)
Course objective: This course aims to describe institutional aspects of political
phenomena, explains political institutions and their effects on political and
governmental practices, describes and explains political institutions in a systematic
way, analyses political institutions through the conceptual framework, and makes the
connection between political theory and political practice.
Course content: This course covers political institutions; neo-institutionalism; nationstate; electoral systems; branches of the state; legislative-executive relations;
territorial dimensions; unitary state vs. federations; bureaucracy; courts; political
parties; and interest groups.
Interest Groups and Lobbying (course type: elective; course code: POL 452)
Course objective: This course is intended to provide students with an introduction to
interest groups and lobbying from a comparative perspective.
Course content: This course defines and classifies interest groups and research
agenda; addresses on group mobilization; interest group strategies; interest group
influence; ethics in lobbying; and interest group systems.