The fourth virtual University Presidents Meeting (UPM 2026), organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), was held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 14:00 to 16:00.

Organized for the regions of Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, the meeting featured a speech by Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, Rector of Istanbul Kültür University (IKU).

The meeting brought together university rectors, presidents and senior executives, as well as representatives of the United Nations and national governments, SDSN Network Presidents and Directors, and members of the SDSN Leadership Council. Discussions focused on the evolving role of higher education in advancing sustainable development.

Regional Cooperation, the Science-Policy Interface and Emerging Technologies

Discussions at the meeting centered on strengthening regional cooperation, reinforcing the science-policy interface, and exploring the transformative potential of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in shaping the future of higher education, research and innovation. The meeting also addressed the impact of increased energy consumption and carbon footprints associated with artificial intelligence and digitalization on climate change, emphasizing the importance of sustainable technological approaches to mitigating these effects.

The meeting also provided an important platform for assessing the implications of new leadership at the United Nations, examining the contributions of universities to global development beyond the 2030 Agenda, and identifying common pathways to accelerate evidence-based solutions, multilateral cooperation and long-term sustainability initiatives.

Representing Istanbul Kültür University, Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil, Vice Rector and Director of the Sustainability Research and Application Center (SÜRKAM), and Gizem Selgün Moran, SÜRKAM Specialist, attended the meeting.

Istanbul Kültür University continues to strengthen its work in sustainable development through national and international collaborations.

An education and cooperation protocol was signed between our University and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Küçükçekmece Courthouse on Monday, October 5, 2026. The signing ceremony took place at the Küçükçekmece Courthouse. Representing our University were our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe; Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Cemile Gökyayla; and Legal Counsel, Attorney and Mediator İmren Öner Topaloğlu (LL.M.). Representing Küçükçekmece Courthouse were Chief Public Prosecutor Vedat Bilgin, President of the Judicial Commission of the Küçükçekmece First Instance Criminal Court, Ümit Kartlı, and Permanent Commission Member Judge Eren Saykun.

Our Secretary General, Zuhal Çıtır, and our Information Security Officer and Director of Systems Management and Business Development, Barış Dereli, represented our University at the 6th e-BEYAS 2026 Symposium, hosted by Ankara University on October 8–9, 2026, at the Technopark Conference Hall on Ankara University’s Gölbaşı 50th Anniversary Campus.

Supported by TÜRKSAT Informatics, the symposium was held under the main and subthemes “The Future of Electronic Documents and the Documents of the Future: Electronic Document Management Systems, Corporate E-Archive Data Centers, Artificial Intelligence and Information Security.” Bringing together researchers and practitioners working in areas such as digital transformation, information management, electronic document management, e-archives, artificial intelligence, information technology management, data centers and information security, the symposium adopted an interdisciplinary approach and provided opportunities for developing new solutions in these fields.

The XI. National Symposium on Logic, Mathematics and Philosophy, organized from October 1 to 3 in Selçuk, İzmir, through a collaboration between the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Istanbul Kültür University (IKU), the Turkish Mathematical Society and Selçuk Municipality, brought together academics from various disciplines and provided a platform for current research in scientific thought, logic, mathematics, philosophy and the humanities.

The ceremony at which Prof. Dr. Çimen Atak was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor took place on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with the participation of the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver; our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe; our Vice Rectors, Prof. Dr. Gülce Öğrüç Martins Ribeiro da Silva Lourenço and Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil; our deans; the Director of the Institute, Prof. Dr. Sinan Alçın; our faculty members; and invited guests.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver, and our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, noted that the title of Emeritus Professor was being awarded for the first time at our university and highlighted the valuable contributions Prof. Dr. Çimen Atak has made to the university's academic and scientific development.

It was stated that, in addition to her scientific work, Prof. Dr. Atak has made significant contributions to the university's academic heritage through the students she has mentored and the knowledge and experience she has passed on to young academics. It was noted that the scientific studies she conducted, the academic and administrative roles she undertook, and the educational and research activities she carried out throughout her career have added lasting value to the university's development.

The title of Emeritus Professor which signifies appreciation for the scientific and academic services of faculty members who have made significant contributions to our university and to science throughout their academic lives also serves as an important academic designation that enables the university community to continue benefiting from the knowledge and experience of these academics. We congratulate Prof. Dr. Çimen Atak and extend our thanks to her for her valuable contributions to our university, science, and academic life, as well as for her efforts in the establishment and development of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics.

Within the scope of the Diploma Project (Graduation Project) course carried out at the Department of Architecture of Istanbul Kültür University, at the invitation of the project managers Prof. Dr. Neslihan Dostoğlu, Assist. Prof. Member Ceren Göğüş, Lecturer Dr. Suzan Sanlı Esin and Res. Assist. Berkay Oksay, an online seminar was held by Portuguese Architect Alexandre Silva on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Silva gave a presentation focusing on the work of Álvaro Siza at the event titled “Architecture Against Forgetting - An Open Library at the Edge of the Lima River: Siza's Contemporary Gesture. The seminar, which was held with the participation of the students of the Department of Architecture and its academic staff, opened new horizons for the participants.

The IKU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences opened the Fall Semester of the 2026–2027 Academic Year with an inaugural lecture delivered by Prof. Dr. Laura Herta from Babeș-Bolyai University. During the lecture, Prof. Dr. Laura Herta provided a comprehensive assessment of international ethics and offered students valuable insights into the importance of ethics in the context of international relations and global issues.

As the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, we wish all our students and academic and administrative staff a successful, productive and inspiring 2026–2027 Academic Year.

Faculty members from our Department of Common Courses participated in the 11th National Symposium on Logic, Mathematics, and Philosophy, held in the Selçuk district of İzmir from October 1 to 3, where they shared their academic work.

Organized through the collaboration of our Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Turkish Mathematical Society, and the Selçuk Municipality, the 11th National Symposium on Logic, Mathematics, and Philosophy brought together academics from various disciplines and showcased current research in the fields of scientific thought, logic, mathematics, philosophy, and the humanities. This symposium—a traditional event serving as a significant gathering for the academic community—fostered the exchange of knowledge and ideas across disciplines while providing researchers with a platform to share their work at a national level.

As part of the symposium, Lecturer Dr. Emine Eren Çağlar served on the Organizing Committee and presented a paper titled "A People in Limbo: Hatay Between the Motherland and Captivity." In her presentation, Lecturer Dr. Çağlar shared her insights regarding the historical and social status of Hatay with the participants.

Lecturer Dr. Ceren Çilek also participated in the symposium, presenting a paper titled "Between Tradition and Modernization: A Brief Overview of Armenian Healthcare Institutions in Ottoman Istanbul in Terms of Organization and Administration." In her study, Lecturer Dr. Çilek examined Armenian healthcare institutions in Ottoman Istanbul from the perspectives of organization and administration, offering an assessment of their development over time.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Güler Uğur Melikoğlu, a faculty member from our department, also contributed to the symposium with a paper titled “A Discipline in Limbo: On the Fictional Nature of Turkish Literary Historiography.” Through her research—which focuses on the processes of formation and construction in Turkish literary historiography—Assist. Prof. Dr. Melikoğlu shared her insights with the participants within the context of literary history and interdisciplinary studies.

The third event of the Introductory and Informational Seminar Series, organized by the Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Design Factory regarding the 2026–2027 application period, was held under the title "The Interview Process."

While previous sessions of the series covered the Design Factory’s structure, areas of work, programs, and application process, the third seminar focused on the interview and evaluation stages awaiting students after they apply.

It was emphasized during the seminar that interviews at the Design Factory are not exams or merely a screening process; rather, they serve as a mutual get-to-know-you process aimed at understanding the students, their interests, and their expectations. As the stages of the interview process were outlined, evaluation criteria—such as interest in and motivation for the program, eagerness to learn, areas of interest, existing projects or ideas (if any), and approach to teamwork—were discussed.

The seminar also covered the topics and types of questions students applying to different programs might encounter during interviews. It was noted that students who do not yet have a specific project or idea are still encouraged to apply, as curiosity and a desire to learn and grow are key factors.

At the conclusion of the seminar, the topics discussed in the previous two sessions were briefly recapped. Subsequently, participants' questions regarding the application and interview processes were answered, and students received individual attention to address their specific inquiries.

The seminar concluded with insights designed to help students approach the interview process with greater preparedness.

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Department of International Trade and Finance held a comprehensive orientation program and opening course for 1st year students who have just started our university in the 2026-2027 Academic Year.

At the event held at the Küçükçekmece Campus Conference Hall on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, students who have just joined the Turkish and English programs came together. In the orientation sessions held with the participation of the faculty members of the department, detailed information about the academic structure of the department, education processes, internship and career opportunities and campus life was shared.

After the orientation presentations, the Opening Course of the 2026-2027 Academic Year was held with the participation of Instructor, Advisor and Speaker Beşir Kemal Ustaoğlu. In the opening lecture titled “International Ethics and the Picture”, Ustaoğlu gave an inspiring speech by sharing his valuable experience in international business ethics, global trade dynamics and professional vision with the students. The course, which the students followed with interest, ended with a question-and-answer section.

The Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Underwater Club (IKUSAT) conducted training and development dives in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir a premier destination for underwater enthusiasts. Guided by Club Advisor Cemal Turan and the ProDivers Ayvalık Diving Center, the event took place on October 3–4, 2026, with the participation of 11 students.

“Bocuk: An Ancient Ritual,” a documentary supported by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and directed by Res. Assist.Buğra Mert Alkayalar, a faculty member of the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, received the Best Film Award in the National Short Documentary Film Competition held as part of the 3rd International Yalova Film Festival.

Exploring Bocuk Night, one of the ancient rituals of Balkan-Turkish culture, the documentary achieved significant success among the national short documentaries featured in the festival.

We congratulate Res. Assist. Buğra Mert Alkayalar on this achievement and wish “Bocuk: An Ancient Ritual” continued success throughout its festival journey.

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Department of International Trade and Finance continues to bring its students together with experienced names in the sector in the 2026-2027 Academic Year. Within the scope of the "Luxury Marketing" course conducted by one of our faculty members Assoc. Prof. Meri Taksi Deveciyan, Gülten Karaca Çoban will contribute to our students throughout the semester with her experience in the field of brand management and marketing communication.

Çoban, who met with our students at the opening meeting of the period, shared valuable sharings on luxury consumption dynamics, brand management strategies and sector practices. In the course, where the academic perspective is enriched with sectoral insights, the current dynamics of luxury marketing were discussed comprehensively.

In the interview, Çoban shared her career advice for our students, her sectoral experiences and her views on the contributions that the course process will make to the professional vision of the students.

We would like to thank the executor of the course Assoc. Dr. Meri Taksi Deveciyan and Gülten Karaca Çoban, who will add value to the lesson with her knowledge and experience throughout the semester and we wish our students a productive academic semester.

The works of our Head of the Department of Arts and Cultural Management, Prof. Dr. Reyhan Uludağ, were featured in the international group exhibition titled “BİR BİR DEN Farklı Diller Ortak Bir Mekân.” Held at Bayrampaşa Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cultural Center between September 28 and October 4, the exhibition brought together paintings and sculptures by different artists. The event, to which Prof. Dr. Reyhan Uludağ was invited as a VIP guest and in which her works were also exhibited, brought different artistic approaches and personal interpretations together under one roof while also drawing attention to the universal language of art that transcends boundaries.

The Office of the Dean of Students organized a beginning-of-term meeting for student club presidents on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy Building on the Bakırköy Campus. Conducted under the coordination of Tuğba Özışık, Deputy Dean of Students; Ecem Uçar, Career Specialist; and Oğuzhan Gergin, Assistant Specialist for Student Life and Clubs, the meeting provided students with information about student clubs’ operational processes, activities planned for the semester, and matters concerning club management. Questions from club presidents were answered, and their views and suggestions were heard.

A jury session was held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as part of the Graduation Project course in the Department of Architecture at Istanbul Kültür University. The course is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Neslihan Dostoğlu, Assist. Prof. Ceren Göğüş, Lecturer Dr. Suzan Sanlı Esin and Res. Assist. Berkay Oskay.

Lecturer Kerem Ganiç and Almira Uğurlu, an alumna of the Department of Architecture and a professional architect, attended the event as guest jury members. During the session, students’ ideas and proposals for an innovative library project on the shores of the Golden Horn were discussed.

The second of the jury sessions, which are open to all students, will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 10:00 in the multi-purpose hall on the third floor.

An informative and introductory presentation for students of the Department of Industrial Engineering was held by Istanbul Kültür University Design Factory on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Z-D-4 amphitheater on the Bakırköy Campus.

As part of the event, students were informed about the activities of the Design Factory, its collaborations with companies and institutions in the sector, and the internship, project, mentoring, and career opportunities offered through these collaborations.

The event aimed to strengthen students’ connections with the sector and raise awareness of opportunities that would contribute to their professional development, and the opportunities offered within the Design Factory were introduced.

The “MICE Management” course offered within the Tourism and Hotel Management Program is supported by practical activities conducted every week with experts in their fields and professional teams in order to improve students’ sectoral knowledge and experience.

In the fourth week of the course, Elmas Özler, Founder of Bluechip, and her team met with our students as part of the event titled “From Brief to Concept: Research, Strategy, and Experience Design.” Using Garanti BBVA’s 80th anniversary events as an example, the processes of analyzing the brief, developing research and strategy, creating creative concepts, and designing experiences in event management were discussed.

This practical training, conducted through a sectoral example, made a significant contribution to helping our students relate their theoretical knowledge of event management to real project experiences and develop their professional perspectives.

The Alumni Relations Unit of Istanbul Kültür University will organize “IKU Alumni Day 2026 & Back to Kültür” on Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 13:00 to 19:00, in the rear garden of the Ataköy Building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club will organize a podcast event titled “Entrepreneurship Desk” on Monday, October 12, from 13:00 to 15:00 at the Design Factory in the Ataköy Building on the Bakırköy Campus. The event will feature Dr. İbrahim Ethem Tarhan, a faculty member of the Department of Industrial Engineering. The discussion will provide a comprehensive overview of the establishment, development and growth of a venture from the initial idea stage onward, the opportunities and challenges that may arise throughout these processes, and the outcomes achieved by the venture.

The Office of the Dean of Students – Kültür Point will organize “Turkish Sign Language Training” to support effective communication with individuals with hearing impairments, raise social awareness and foster a sense of social responsibility among students. The training, delivered by instructor Ahmet Tombul, will take place online via the CATS platform on October 12–13, 2026, from 17:00 to 20:00.

The Office of the Dean of Students – Kültür Point will organize a Kızılay Blood Donation Drive on Tuesday, October 13, from 09:00 to 18:00 at the Ataköy Building on the Bakırköy Campus and at the Bahçelievler Campus. The event aims to raise awareness among students, staff and academics about blood donation and encourage voluntary blood donations.

The Cultural Heritage Preservation Club, in collaboration with Üsküdar Municipality, will organize a Bosphorus cruise aboard the Üsküdar Valide Sultan on Thursday, October 15, from 14:00 to 16:00. The event aims to strengthen communication and interaction among students of the Faculty of Law.

In collaboration with Atelier Roshe, the IKU Workshop Club will organize a perfume-making workshop where participants will create their own fragrances. The workshop, led by Gülşah Devrin, chemist and educator at Atelier Roshe, will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 17:00 at What The Coffee in Yeşilköy.

The Construction Club is organizing a technical visit to the IKU Ataköy II Campus construction site on Friday, October 16, between 09:00 and 12:00.

The Department of Electrical-Electronics Engineering is organizing a seminar titled "Engineering Standards for Electrical-Electronics Engineers" to teach students about the standards commonly used in the field. The event, featuring Res. Assist. Ahmet Aytuğ Ayrancı from the department's academic staff as the speaker, will take place on Friday, October 16, at 11:00 in Amphitheater 6 (B16), located on the B1 floor of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

The Dance Club is organizing a meet-and-greet event on Friday, October 16, from 16:00 to 19:00 at INNSide—located in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus to enable members to socialize and strengthen internal communication at the start of the new academic term.