The "6th SineKültür Interuniversity Short Film Festival," organized by the IKU Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, ended with the awards ceremony held on Friday, May 16, 2025. During the three-day festival, university filmmakers had the opportunity to share their productions through short film screenings, workshops, and talks.

The closing event of the festival, the award ceremony, began with the opening speech of IKU Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe. Drawing attention to the importance of supporting the production of young artists, Prof. Dr. Yüksektepe stated that she appreciated the development of the festival. She also emphasized the festival's commitment to the principle of sustainability in terms of both content and organization and expressed that it was valuable for this approach to become widespread in cultural events. The ceremony was also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Üstünipek.

Assoc. Prof. Perihan Taş Öz, Head of the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, could not physically attend the ceremony due to health problems. However, she thanked all the students and academic staff who contributed to the realization of the festival through a video message she sent and congratulated the young directors who contributed with their films.

As a result of the jury evaluation, the "Best Documentary Film Award" was given to the film "Uzunkol" directed by Cemal Karaaslan. The "Best Narrative Film Award" went to the production "Umrumda Değil" directed by Deniz Mıdık. In the "Narrative Film" category, Ahmet Toğaç’s "Aç Açına" and Ecre Begüm Bayrak’s "Kurtlar" also received "Honorable Mention" awards.

The festival program ended in a joyful atmosphere, accompanied by DJ performances and refreshments organized in the backyard of the Ataköy building of the Istanbul Kültür University Bakırköy campus.

The 6th SineKültür Interuniversity Short Film Festival was completed this year as an important platform supporting interuniversity cultural sharing, the creative productions of young filmmakers, and sustainable cultural events.

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) hosted an unforgettable concert on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. In the event held in the backyard of Bakırköy campus Ataköy building, our students, alumni and members enjoyed an evening full of music.

The concert program, organized by the Kültür Point of the Dean of Students Office, started with an energetic DJ performance. Later in the night, Orchestra IKU took the stage and increased the enthusiasm with popular songs. The most anticipated moment of the night was when the PERA band, which was chosen by student voting, took the stage. PERA, which was selected as the winner with 731 votes in the voting process in which 1,450 people voted in total, offered a musical feast to the audience with its stage performance.

This special concert, organized within the framework of Istanbul Kültür University's “Art Tunnel 2025” activities, gave the participants both a fun and unforgettable night. The organization, which was held in line with IKU's student-oriented and participatory activity approach, was highly appreciated.

As Istanbul Kültür University, within the scope of disaster awareness and emergency preparations, we conducted a comprehensive Earthquake Drill on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10.30 in all our campuses and student dormitories. In the drill, where our students, academic and administrative staff were made aware of how they should act in case of a possible earthquake, we once again reviewed our preparedness against possible disasters.

Our students from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MOBIGEN) received multiple awards at the “IKU Faculty of Science and Letters Student Achievement Awards Ceremony,” held at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall on May 14, 2025. Following the speech delivered by one of our students, Duru Karakuş, on behalf of MOBIGEN under the title “Taking part in an internally/externally supported project or application”, students were recognized under the following categories:

- “To have received an award in a competition, event, sports competition, or artistic event (theatre, dance, exhibition, etc.) related to the field,”
- “To have served on the organizing committee and/or represented and/or performed as a participant in a competition, event, sports competition, or artistic event (theatre, dance, exhibition, etc.) related to the field,”
- “To have presented an oral/poster presentation or published a paper at a national/international scientific meeting related to the field,”
- “To have taken part in an internally/externally supported project or application,”
- “To have taken part in the management of or actively participated in an IKU student club.”

We congratulate our students who received awards under these categories and wish them continued success.

Within the scope of the “Student Achievement Awards Ceremony” organized by the Faculty of Science and Letters on Wednesday, May 14, students who demonstrated their competence in different fields were honored with awards. At the ceremony, our students from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science achieved a significant success by being awarded in five main categories: Award, Performance, Publication, Project and Club.

These awards were a concrete indicator of the disciplined work, productivity and responsible activities of our students during their undergraduate education.

“TÜBİTAK Science Talks”, organized by TÜBİTAK Science and Society Directorate, brings together scientists with primary, middle and high school students and citizens who closely follow scientific developments.

Our Head of Nursing Department, Assist. Prof. Mukaddes Turan Miral came together with 9th grade students at Beşiktaş Anatolian Imam Hatip High School on May 16, 2025 within the scope of “TÜBİTAK Science Talks” and gave a talk on “Healthy Growth and Development”. 120 students attended the talk, which focused on the controllable factors affecting healthy growth and development.

The Mathematics and Computer Club organized the “Software and Innovation Summit 2.0” to share the developments in software, entrepreneurship, and technology with the participants. The summit, which was held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, hosted esteemed speakers from leading companies in the industry, including LCW Digital, IBM, Teknevia, and ISERA Academy. The guest speakers shared their experiences on topics such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, entrepreneurial culture, innovation processes, and career journeys with participants, and answered their questions. The second part of the event featured a panel titled “Technology Entrepreneurship in Türkiye”, which attracted great interest. In the foyer area, participant companies, entrepreneurial start-ups, socially impactful projects met with students through dedicated booths. Attendees had the opportunity to connect directly with industry representatives, gather information, and explore career opportunities.

Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School hosted representatives of the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Brochier Group delegation at the Incirli building of the Bakırköy campus. The meeting, which was held as part of the visit and attended by delegation members—especially Oya Dinçdoğdu, Alexander Gräf, and Christian Waitz—was also attended by the Director of the IKU Vocational School, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özer, and the Assistant Director, Lecturer Kerem Yücesan. During the meetings, information was shared focusing on HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) technologies, and comprehensive assessments were made regarding the current needs of the sector and workforce expectations.

At the meeting, new opportunities to strengthen cooperation between vocational education and the industrial sector were discussed. Attaching great importance to the development of applied, education-based models compatible with sectoral requirements, IKU Vocational School emphasized that it is open to all kinds of cooperation to be continued in this direction.

The visit was also attended by Lecturer H. Serpil Karakuş, Head of the Program of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology. Lecturer Karakuş shared insights into the program’s practice-based educational structure and its strong connections with the industry.

Istanbul Kültür University Department of International Trade and Finance and the Association of Foreign Trade Leaders (DIŞYÖNDER) organized a panel titled “Between Giants in Global Trade: Tariffs, The USA and China” on Thursday, May 15, 2025. In the event where global trade wars, increasing taxes and Türkiye’s current situation was discussed, the development of international trade organizations from past to present, Türkiye’s becoming a logistics base and the adaptation processes to the changing paradigm were mentioned. The panel, where the most important topics of the era were discussed and trade policies were evaluated in depth, was moderated by Erdem İlbeyi, Program Producer of Ekotürk TV. Dr. Hakan Çınar, the Director of the Association of Foreign Trade Leaders, Dr. Şahin Yaman, former WTO Negotiator, and Tamer Dinçşahin, Deputy Director of the Association of Foreign Trade Leaders, shared their views and experiences as panelists.

The Department of Psychology organized the "Department of Psychology Alumni Day" event on Tuesday, May 20 at 13.00 at the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy campus. Participating in the event as speakers, Psychology Department alumni Psychologist Dr. Nida Ateş, Clinical Psychologist Damla Şevval Erkent and Psychologist Nursun Yaren Kalem shared their personal career experiences and informed students about various career opportunities.

As part of the “Sone Psychology Seminars” organized in collaboration with the Department of Psychology and the Division of Psychology, Clinical Psychologist Refika Çavuşoğlu delivered a talk titled “Child and Parent Interviews.” The online event, held via CATS on Tuesday, May 20, brought together undergraduate and graduate students from the department.

The Department of Public Relations and Advertising and the Creative Club organized “Creative Talks 2” event on Wednesday, May 21. DeFacto Senior Graphic Design Specialist Berfin Baldan and Digital Marketing Specialist Buse Nur Acar attended the event held at Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall as speakers. Our guests shared important information about digital marketing processes, how creative design processes progress in advertising, and the planning and implementation activities carried out in this process with the students of the Department of Public Relations and Advertising.

The Department of Communication and Design organized a trip to the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture on Tuesday, May 20, accompanied by Prof. Mehmet Üstünipek, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Design. After Prof. Dr. Mehmet Üstünipek's explanations on Contemporary Turkish Art, our students toured the museum collection and had the opportunity to learn important information about art history and museum practices.

The “Dev-Meets” event organized by the Department of Digital Game Design met with our students on Wednesday, May 21 with its first version. In line with the aim of the Dev-Meets event, students got to know the functioning of the game industry more closely and had the opportunity to meet with real world experiences. In the event where Mediazone was a participant, Efe Kethüda (CEO) and Rohat Önen (Game Designer) shared their experiences in the industry and the company with the students.

In their speeches, Kethüda and Önen explained how the game development process is shaped not only by the creative aspects but also by the commercial dimension of the business. They touched upon topics such as how a startup is funded, how business processes are carried out and how games are designed to meet customer demands.

Our students, who had the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on both game design and entrepreneurship, had the chance to listen to direct experience from professionals actively working in the industry. The event was both inspiring and instructive for our students.

As part of the personal exhibition titled “Little Digital Human and Tell Me About Your Line” by Assoc. Prof. Reyhan Uludağ, Head of the Department of Arts and Cultural Management, which was opened on May 17, 2025, a talk and book signing event will be held on Friday, May 24. The guest will be renowned actor Tamer Levent, who will present his book “Yes to Art”, published by Artshop Publishing. In addition, under the direction of curator Mojgan Dolatabadi, one of our graduate students, theater artist Ozan Fırat’s video, installation and performance show will meet with art lovers. The exhibition at GG Art Gallery – Beyaz Köşk (Göztepe-Kadıköy) will be open to visitors until May 31.

For further information: @ggsanatmerkezi, @sanataevet, @mojgandolatabadi (Instagram)

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics held an “Alumni Panel” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, under the moderation of Assist. Prof. Pelin Özfiliz Kılbaş. Our graduates, Zehragül Ergül Yüksek, Deputy Manager of Ulus Liv Hospital Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Production Center, Molecular Biologist İlayda Kumru, Co-Founder of Latissim, Dilara Kazancı, Marketing Specialist at Vefa Pharmaceuticals and Natura Medical, and Ezgi Alparslan, Clinical Research Coordinator at Atlas CRO, participated in the event as the guest speakers.

In the panel, which was attended by our undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, our alumni shared their experiences in various career fields such as private sector, entrepreneurship and health biotechnology, and provided information about their individual journeys and sectoral developments. Our alumni offered suggestions on career opportunities and answered questions from our students.

This productive meeting, which was held in a friendly and interactive atmosphere, was an inspiring experience for both graduates and students. At the end of the panel, Prof. Dr. Seyhan Altun, Head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Assist. Prof. Burcu Ayhan Şahin, Deputy Head of the Department, and our academicians Prof. Dr. Çimen Atak and Assist. Prof. Pelin Özfiliz Kılbaş presented our alumni with plaques.

IKU Vocational School (MYO) hosted one of the pioneers of the aviation sector, Çelebi Ground Handling General Manager Osman Yılmaz, at our university. In the event held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, under the title "Leading Aviation", our students both gained valuable insights into the sector and witnessed an inspiring career journey.

The Department of Special Education organized a seminar titled “Staying Safe in Education: Classroom First Aid Practices for Individuals with Special Needs” on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Lecturer Emin Aksan, Head of the Program of Medical Documentation and Secretarial, shared information about first aid practices in the classroom, which can be applied in adverse situations that may be encountered especially by prospective teachers.

Bekir Asil, one of our 2018 graduates, and Işılsu Becerir, one of our 2020 graduates, participated as speakers in the seminar held on Tuesday, May 20, within the scope of the “IE2401 – Introduction to Industrial Engineering” course given in the Department of Industrial Engineering.

Expert Clinical Psychologist Dilara Tahincioğlu came together with the students of the Program of Child Development and held a seminar titled “Privacy Education in Preschool Period.” The seminar, held on Wednesday, May 14, discussed the importance of raising privacy awareness in children during the preschool period and the role of educators in this process. Students had the opportunity to ask questions on the subject and obtain information about the application.

The exhibition of the graduation projects of the 2nd year students of the Program of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology was opened on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in the backyard of the Incirli building, Bakırköy Campus. The exhibition was attended by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özer, Director of Vocational School, Kerem Yücesan, Deputy Director of Vocational School, Lecturer Osman Koç, instructor of the “Graduation Project” course, and other academicians from the German–Turkish Chamber of Commerce and the German Brochier Group of Companies attended the exhibition. The projects in the exhibition and the students who made the projects are as follows:

1) Pan Ice Cream Machine: Karahan Mete Güneş, Reşit Bedirhan Baran, Berat Ağan, Osman Kuzu
2) Refrigerator: Furkan Ayhan, Ezgi Güner, Mehdi Aygün
3) Car Type Mini Refrigerator: Halil İbrahim Kaçan
4) Sherbet Machine: Berkay Erdoğan, Furkan, Koray Sezer
5) Cotton Candy Trolley: Eren Şimşek, Mert Yazıcı, Miraç İbrahim Kadak, Mustafa Efe Canoğlu
6) Mini Deep Freezer: Mustafa Kiziroğlu, Emirhan Tekin, Kerem İğdeli, Samed Kavak, Mulla Can Balta
7) Mini Refrigerator: Doğukan Karayaprak, Ulaş Çiftçi
8) Lemonade Machine: Kadir Olutürk

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Vocational School the Program of Public Relations and Publicity organized a talk titled “Creativity in Digital Advertising: From Idea to Execution” was organized. Semih Gümüş, Co-Founder of YouthSide, Osman Şamlı, CEO of Fppro, Selman Doğrusözlü, Founder of GoGrowth, and Serap Kamir, Manager of Gojob Agency participated in the event as the guest speakers. The speakers inspired the students by explaining the dynamics of digital advertising from idea generation to the implementation process through examples. The interview concluded with a question and answer session.

In collaboration with the Philosophy Club, the Gender Equality Club, and Women’s Solidarity Club, an event titled “A Radical Solution Proposal for Environmental Issues: Ecofeminism” was organized to discuss ecofeminist solutions to environmental problems and to raise awareness among students on the subject. The event, where Lecturer Dr. Tuğrul Özkaracalar from Kadir Has University was the guest speaker, was held on Tuesday, May 13 at 15.00 at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus.

Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School organized an interview in order to provide an overview of the insurance sector and to  provide information about agency and brokerage processes to young people who see their future in this sector. Atilla Ertekin from Anadolu Sigorta, Eda Alptekin from Fuzul Akva Sigorta, Mümin Oktay, CEO of Türksen Insurance Brokerage, Ümit Güven Akçakaya, Deputy General Manager of Auto King, and Lecturer Serpil Akyol Erden participated at the event as the guest speakers.

In the event, topics such as ways to make a career in the sector, criteria for becoming an agency, agency/brokerage establishment process, advantages and difficulties of being an agency and the differences between agency/brokerage were discussed.

Construction Club organized the "ISKI Historical Water Structures Trip" to examine Istanbul's historical water infrastructure systems and their architectural, engineering and urban planning aspects. As part of the trip on Wednesday, May 14, structures such as aqueducts, cisterns, dykes and treatment systems from the Ottoman and Byzantine periods were seen on site.

Kürşat Ulutaş, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Fugo Ground Services, and Akın Sülün, Operations Director, visited IKU Vocational School. Within the scope of the visit, current developments in the aviation industry, student internship opportunities and university-industry collaborations were discussed.

In cooperation with the English Language Teaching Club and the Department of Foreign Language Education, a trip to Florya Atatürk Forest was held on Tuesday, May 20, in order to enable our students to see Florya Atatürk Sea Mansion, one of the historical places that witnessed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s life.

The Program of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology organized a technical trip to Öztiryakiler Metal Goods Industry and Trade Inc. factory located in Ergene, Tekirdağ. On the trip that took place on Wednesday, May 14, students were accompanied by Lecturer Kerem Yücesan, Deputy Director of Vocational School, and Lecturer H. Serpil Karakuş, Head of the Program of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology. During the visit, Factory Manager Yavuz Top, who also gives lectures at our university as a part-time lecturer, shared valuable insights with the students as part of the tour.

In cooperation with the Marketing Club, the Program of E-Commerce and Marketing, and the Program of Foreign Trade organized a talk titled “Personal Data Protection and Cross-Border Data Transfer in International IT Law”. As the guest speaker, Lawyer Nursaç Katırcı attended the event held on Wednesday, April 30 at 14.00 in the lecture hall 1A01 of İncirli building, Bakırköy Campus.

Technology Transfer Office (TTO) will organize "Workshop on Innovative Applications in Health and Biotechnology" to improve university-industry cooperation. The event, where experts in their fields will be speakers, will be held on Wednesday, May 26, between 13.00-17.00 at INNSIDE in the Bakırköy campus Ataköy building.

The "Most Successful Project Awards Ceremony", organized annually by the Department of Architecture, will be held for the 2024-2025 Fall Semester projects on Tuesday, May 27 at 12.30 pm on the 2nd floor, corridor C. In the event, which is held every semester, the "Architectural Design Studio" projects of a semester are examined by juries and the most successful students are presented their certificates at a ceremony.

World-renowned pianist and composer Fazıl Say will meet with art lovers at Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 19.00. In the program where Fazıl Say will be accompanied by flutist Aslıhan And, there will be a ten-minute virtuoso piano piece composed by Say in 2024, Klaros “Temple of Prophecies”, Op. 112, Samed Behrengi's “Little Black Fish” Op.117, and “İnsan İnsan” piano version.

Istanbul Kültür University Department of Psychology will bring our students together with experts from Sone Psychology, one of its external stakeholders. The seminar on "Art Therapy" by Clinical Psychologist Cansu Metin Bozkurt from Sone Psychology will be held on Tuesday, May 27 between 18.00-19.30 on the CATS platform.