Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) hosted another special event where historical heritage meets the present day. The exhibition titled “Steppe Flavours from Past to Present: Kagans, Tigins, Konchuys,” organized with the cooperation of the Fine Arts Application and Research Center (GSUAM), Atatürk Principles and Revolution History Research and Application Center (ATAMER), the Department of Common Courses, Atatürkist Thought Club, and Trakya University Ancient Turkish Culture and History Society, met with art lovers at the IKU Art Gallery in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy campus on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 15:00.

Speaking at the opening, Rector of Istanbul Kültür University, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, pointed out the importance of preserving cultural values and transferring them to younger generations. She stated that encouraging such interdisciplinary studies in universities plays an important role in both the academic and artistic development of students.

Another speaker of the event was Trakya University faculty member and exhibition advisor Prof. Dr. Tilla Deniz Baykuzu. Prof. Dr. Baykuzu provided information about the preparation process of the exhibition and shared how students brought together the reconstructions they made based on archaeological data with their historical contexts. She stated that this process was carried out with an educational model that aimed to make knowledge experiential through historical reenactments.

Hosted by Istanbul Kültür University and organized in collaboration with Marmara Technopark, IDEA Incubation, Serhat Technopark, and CPA International, the "Sustainability Spark-25" competition — where innovative ideas focused on sustainability competed — was held on Wednesday, April 16, with the participation of our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe.

The event started with the opening speeches of our Vice Rector & SÜRKAM Director Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil and IKUANTS TEKMER Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors Cüneyt Genç and was followed by presentations by TÜBİTAK MARTEK experts Rasim Keskin and Kutadgu Parıltı.

Facilitators and student groups started working on their projects that produce solutions in the fields of Sustainability on Campuses, Reducing Water Consumption, Reducing Carbon Footprint, Circular Economy and Waste Reduction, and Green Energy Solutions. In the last part of the program, they presented their projects in front of the jury consisting of Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil (IKU Vice Rector), Prof. Dr. E. Müge Çetiner (IKU Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences), Prof. Dr. Metin Duyar (Serhat Teknopark General Manager), Assoc. Prof. Gamze Alptekin (IKU Dean of Students), Assoc. Prof. Meri Taksi Deveciyan (IKU Head of the Department of International Trade and Finance), Assist. Prof. Artür Yetvart Mumcu (IKU Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship), Assist. Prof. Ethem Tarhan (IKU Department of Industrial Engineering), Dr. Tuğba İnanç Horuz (Marmara Teknokent TTO Unit Manager), Ergin Muş (Marmara Teknokent Senior Incubation Specialist), Emre Cebecioğlu (CPA International Founding Partner), and Cüneyt Genç (IKUANTS TEKMER Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors).

As a result of the evaluation, the teams that ranked received the following awards:

1)      The Biosense Team was awarded 40,000 TL,
2)      The Turnikem Team was awarded 25,000 TL,
3)      The Döngü Bahçem Team was awarded 15,000 TL.

The awards were presented to the winning teams by our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, CPA International Founding Partner Emre Cebecioğlu, Serhat Teknopark General Manager Prof. Dr. Metin Duyar, and Marmara Teknokent TTO Unit Manager Dr. Tuğba İnanç Horuz.

We would like to thank Marmara Teknokent, IDEA Incubation, Serhat Teknopark, CPA International, Istanbul Kültür University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Student Dean's Office, Technology Transfer Office, and IKUANTS TEKMER representatives, our jury members, and all student teams who added value to the process with their projects and contributed to the realization of this meaningful event.

Organized by the Dean of Students Office Kültür Point, the Career Days event organized with the aim to prepare students for the professional world under the theme “The Future of Business: People, Technology, and Sustainability” was held on April 16-17 in the backyard of the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus. The event welcomed participation from over 30 companies.

Bringing together firms from various sectors, the event offered students opportunities to learn about internship and job openings, submit their CVs, and take part in preliminary interviews. This allowed them to gain firsthand experience in recruitment processes.

Through this event, students had the chance to meet with companies from diverse industries, actively engage in internship and recruitment processes, build strong networks through direct interaction with professionals, and boost their motivation with gifts and surprise raffles.

Career Days helped students take confident steps toward their future careers while offering meaningful opportunities to connect directly with the professional world.

Lawyer Tutku Dinçer, one of our 2010 alumni from the Faculty of Law, has been appointed as the Chess Branch Manager of Galatasaray Sports Club.
In a statement made by Galatasaray Sports Club regarding our graduate—who made significant contributions to the numerous cups and medals won by our university in the chess branch as a student between 2006–2010, and as IKU Chess Coach between 2016–2020 and in 2022—the following remarks were made:

“Attorney Tutku Dinçer has been appointed as the Chess Branch Officer of Galatasaray Sports Club.

Starting in 1994, Attorney Tutku Dinçer has been a licensed chess player for various clubs in the Super League, 1st League, and Club Championship competitions since 2003. He continues his coaching career as a Senior Chess Coach, which he began in 2009, and as a Provincial Referee, a role he has held since 2010.

Dinçer has also served as the Vice President of the Legal and Ethics Committee of the Turkish Chess Federation, a member of the Disciplinary Board of the Turkish Chess Federation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Chess Coaches Association.
Since 2011, Tutku Dinçer has been working as a lawyer at the law firm he founded and has served as the Chairperson of the Sports and Sports Law Commission of the Istanbul Bar Association, as well as the Secretary General of the Sports Law Commission of the Turkish Bar Association.

We welcome lawyer Tutku Dinçer and wish him success in his new position.”

We congratulate our alumni and wish him continued success.

The "Game On" event organized by the Department of Digital Game Design met with players with its second session held on Thursday, April 17. In the practical leg of the "Game On! | FRP Day" title, four different Dungeon Masters (DMs) visited our university and offered different FRP (Fantasy Role-Playing) experiences to the participants.

Tabletop role-playing games were played using a variety of FRP systems, ranging from high fantasy worlds to modern science fiction universes. In addition to classic systems based on the first edition Dungeons & Dragons rules, students had the chance to encounter different narrative styles with new version game mechanics and modern-themed scenarios.

The workshop, in which Dr. Mehmet Şükrü Kuran, Dr. Burçin Adısönmez, Metin Ünüvar, and Ege Kırlıoğlu took part as Dungeon Masters, provided participants with direct gaming experience. Both students and faculty members enjoyed this session, which attracted attention with its interactive structure.

The event once again demonstrated the creative narrative possibilities and intra-group interaction potential of tabletop role-playing games.

As part of the “IKU Career Days 2025” organized by the Dean of Students Office Kültür Point, an “Interview Simulation” event was held in cooperation with QNB Insurance on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The event, which offered a unique experiential opportunity for our students, featured one-on-one interview simulations conducted with 10 selected students by Serkan Arslan, Senior Recruitment Specialist at QNB Insurance. Each student’s CV was evaluated in detail, feedback was provided on the interview process, and suggestions were shared to support their personal development.

The students had the opportunity to experience firsthand how a real recruitment process works and were evaluated from a professional human resources perspective. This interaction helped them build self-confidence and feel better equipped for their career journey.

On April 15, 2025, Istanbul Kültür University Technology Transfer Office (IKU TTO) took part in the event titled “The Commercialization Journey of Patents: Real Experiences and Strategies” which was organized in collaboration with Entertech, TÜRKPATENT, and Istanbul Technopark.

Within the scope of the event, important topics such as “Patents as an Investment Tool and Patent Investment”, “Industrial Property Portfolio Management Strategies”, “Developing Value Through Industrial Property” and “Roadmaps for Patent-Based Technology Transfer with Client Organizations” were addressed. The event featured many experts who shared their knowledge and experiences, creating an environment for participants to interact and exchange their knowledge.

Led by Assist. Prof. Sevil Momeni Shabani, one of the academicians of the Department of Educational Sciences, a workshop titled “Synectics and Forced Association: Developing Creativity in Children” was organized for our alumni students on Thursday, April 10 at 16.00.

The "Interview Simulation" event was held by the Kültür Point of the Dean of Students Office on Tuesday, April 15th, between 15:00–17:00. Students had the opportunity to experience the interview processes firsthand at the event, which was held with the participation of Human Resources Specialist Tuğçe Kirmanoğlu.

Participants had the chance to ask Tuğçe Kirmanoğlu questions about the recruitment process and gained valuable experience in the interview environment through simulation. The Prioritization Inventory was also implemented during the event so that students could better prepare for the assessment centers. Thanks to this application, students had the opportunity to observe and develop their decision-making and priority-setting skills.

The event helped students take a more equipped step into their professional life.

The Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema organized an “Alumni Panel” to bring together its graduates and current students. The event, which was moderated by Assist. Prof. Ayşe Duygu Atasoy Aktaş, took place on Tuesday, April 15, in the multi-purpose hall on the 1st floor of the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus. Alumni Vuslat Vurucu and Oğuzhan Demir, who spoke at the event, shared their academic and practical experiences which they gained during their university years, their preparation for entering the industry, their career journeys after graduation, and their insights into media sector with the students.

The panel, which proved to be both inspiring and insightful for students, concluded with the alumni’s advice and a Q&A session.

Within the scope of the "Financial Management" and "Financial Literacy" courses given in the Department of International Trade and Finance (Turkish-English), the AGORA FINTECH Fair held at the Istanbul (Yeşilköy) Fair Center was visited. The visit, which took place on Thursday, April 17, was coordinated by Assist. Prof. Didem Kayalıdere, one of our academicians from the Department of International Trade and Finance.

Our students, who had the opportunity to come together with many technology and financial institution professionals from Türkiye and abroad, also attended the "Financial Awareness Seminar." Those who achieved the minimum score determined by the test applied at the end of the seminar were entitled to receive a participation certificate approved by TÖDEB (Turkish Payment and Electronic Money Institutions Association).

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering organized a technical visit to Özdisan Elektronik A.Ş. on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Within the scope of the visit, detailed information was given to our students by Automotive Department Manager Ömer Berat Noyan and Education Specialist Semih Atakuru.

The Program of Flight Operations Management will organize a visit to the Atatürk Airport Approach Tower on Monday, April 21, between 11.00-16.00 to inform students about the duties of Air Traffic Controllers and the operation of the approach tower.

The Gender Equality club will organize the “SHUDER - Blue Guide Workshop” to inform the participants about gender norms, dating violence, and sexually transmitted diseases. The event, which will consist of two sessions and three parts, will be held on Monday, April 21 between 16.00-18.00 at the 2nd floor multi-purpose hall in the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus.

The IKU IEEE Club will organize the “Aviation and Space Talk” to support students’ career planning processes. The event, where experts in their fields will be the guest speakers, will be held on Tuesday, April 22, between 10.00-16.00 at Ataköy International Youth Centre.

World-renowned pianist and composer Fazıl Say will meet with art enthusiasts at Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Centre on Thursday, April 24, at 19.00. In the program, Fazıl Say will be accompanied by flutist Aslıhan And. The recital will feature Klaros “Temple of Prophecies”, Op. 112, a ten-minute virtuosic piano piece composed by Fazıl Say in 2024, “Little Black Fish”, Op. 117, inspired by the work of Samed Behrengi, and a piano version of “Insan Insan.”

The Creative Club will organize “Creative Talks-2” to share innovative ideas in the world of design and digital media and enable participants to discover their creative potential. The event, where Graphic Designer Berfin Baldan and Digital Marketing Specialist Buse Nur Acar will be the speakers, will be held on Thursday, April 24, at 13.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Bakırköy campus Ataköy building.

In cooperation with the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the Design Factory, and the Mathematics-Computer Club, the “Software and Innovation Summit” will be organized to bring together young talents interested in technology and software with the industry. The event, where Software Trainer & Entrepreneur Naz Şimşek, Senior Software Engineer and AI Developer Semih Sipahi, and Tekin Altun from Turkcell Global Bilgi will be speakers, will take place on Friday, April 25 at 10:00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall.

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MOBIGEN) will organize the “April 25th World DNA Day” event to raise awareness about the discovery, structure, and function of DNA, which forms the foundation of the field of Molecular Biology and Genetics. The event will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025, between 11:00 and 14:00 on the B1 floor of the Bakırköy Campus Ataköy Building.

The Department of Cartoon and Animation will organize the “Animation Talks-I” event to convey the basic principles of game design and current technologies in this field to students.  The event, where Lecturer Özgür Bulut Gümrükçü will be the speaker, will be held on Friday, April 25 at 11:00 am in the classroom numbered 1B-03/05 of the Bakırköy campus Ataköy building.

The Program of Banking and Insurance will organize a talk titled "Agency/Brokerage Career Journey" to provide a general perspective on the insurance sector and information about agency and brokerage processes to young people who see their future in this sector. The event, which will feature expert speakers in the field, will take place on Friday, April 25th, at 13:00 in the 4A01 amphitheatre in the Incirli building of the Bakırköy campus.

The "Speaking Club" event will be organized in cooperation with the Kültür Point of the Dean of Students Office and the English Language Teaching Club, in order to provide language practice with instructors for students who want to improve their English-speaking skills. The event will be held on Friday, April 25th, between 17:00–19:00 in the multi-purpose conference hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy campus.