Dr. Ilke Toygür is the Director of the Global Policy Center and Professor of Practice of European Politics at the School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University. In addition, she is a non-resident senior associate at the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program in Washington DC and serves as an elected board member of the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) in Brussels. Her main areas of expertise include European integration, elections and democracy in Western Europe, the geopolitics of Europe, and transatlantic relations. She holds a BA degree and an MA degree in Economics, an MA degree in Democracy and Government, and a PhD in Political Science.
Professional Experience
• Founding Director, Global Policy Center, IE University, Spain, 2023 – Present
• Professor of Practice, European Politics, School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, IE University, Spain, 2024 – Present
• ECFR Council Member, Germany, 2025 – Present
• Senior Adviser, EU Institutions, Enlargement and Elections, European Policy Centre, Belgium, 2023 – Present
• Senior Associate (Non-Resident), Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), United States of America, 2022 – Present
• Elected Board Member, Trans European Policy Science Association (TEPSA), Belgium, 2020 – Present
• CATS Fellow, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Brussels Office, Belgium, 2020 – 2022
• Analyst of European Affairs, Real Instituto Elcano, Spain, 2017 – 2022
• Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, 2017 – 2023
• Visiting Researcher, Brookings Institution, CUSE, United States of America, 2018
• Mercator-IPC Fellow, Istanbul Policy Center, Sabanci University, Turkey, 2015 – 2016
• Researcher, Universidad Autonomous University of Madrid, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Spain, 2011 – 2015
• Researcher, European Affairs, Economic Development Foundation (İKV), Turkey & Belgium, 2008 – 2010
Academic Experience
• Professor of Practice, European Politics, IE University, Spain, 2023 – Present
• Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Carlos III University of Madrid, Spain, 2017 – 2023
• Lecturer, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain, 2011 – 2015
Academic Background
• PhD in Law and Political Science (Thesis Title: The Changing Relevance of Europe in Times of Crisis: Parties, Party Systems, and Voting), Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain, 2016
• Visiting Scholar, University of Mannheim, Germany, 2014
• Visiting Scholar, European University Institute, Italy, 2013
• MA in Democracy and Government, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain, 2011
• MA in Economics, Sabanci University, Turkey, 2008
• Erasmus Student Exchange Program, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Austria, 2007
• BS in Economics, Hacettepe University, Turkey, 2006
