The Istanbul Kültür University Design Factory organized the "AntsJam 3.0 Game Development Marathon" on December 1-2, 2025. The opening speeches of the event, held at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus, were given by Our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Gülce Öğrüç Ildız, our Secretary General Ender Rıza Ekici, and the Deputy Director of the Department of Information Systems and Technologies & Software Development and Innovation Manager Dr. Ahmet Gökhan Uluçay. Held for the third time, the event witnessed high participation and creative energy. "ANTSJam 3.0" brought together young game developers, designers, and technology enthusiasts under one roof, paving the way for innovative projects.

Throughout the event, participants worked in teams to develop original game ideas within a limited time frame, guided by the theme of transformation. In this marathon, which brought together many disciplines such as design, software, scriptwriting, and music, the teams demonstrated both their technical skills and their team communication and problem-solving abilities.

Thanks to the creative atmosphere of the Design Factory and the professional mentoring support provided, the projects that emerged were evaluated by the jury according to criteria such as innovation, playability, and design aesthetics.

The play “Sevgili Arsız Ölüm – Dirmit," staged by Istanbul Culture University (ICU) Fine Arts Application and Research Center (GSUAM), met with art lovers on Thursday, December 4, 2025, starting at 19:30 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. Adapted for the stage from the work of the same name by master Turkish writer Latife Tekin, the play was directed by Hakan Emre Ünal, with the character of Dirmit brought to life by the talented actress Nezaket Erden.

"Sevgili Arsız Ölüm – Dirmit" offered the audience an impressive stage experience with its powerful story shaped around growing pains, family pressure, poverty, dreams, and the individual's struggle to establish their own identity. Dirmit's inner conflicts, her struggle to hold on to life, and her rebellion were conveyed on stage with an intense, poetic, and striking narrative. Throughout the play, the audience witnessed firsthand the inner voice of a young girl and her state of mind, caught between her dreams and reality.

Nezaket Erden's solo performance vividly reflected the character's fragility, anger, hope, and resilience on stage. The stage language, integrated with the actor's physical expression, voice, and emotional transitions, allowed the audience to form a deep connection with Dirmit. The lighting design and stage layout enhanced the atmosphere of the narrative, making the viewing experience even more impressive.

"Sevgili Arsız Ölüm – Dirmit" did not merely offer the audience a literary adaptation; it also powerfully conveyed the individual's struggle for existence in society, the burden of being a woman, and the desire for liberation. The play received a standing ovation from the audience.

Within the scope of Istanbul Kültür University Department of Architecture activities, a talk and exhibition titled "Balkan Architecture" was held. The event, featuring Nedim Mutevelic, a well-known Bosnian architect as a speaker, was held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at INNside in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. Bosnia and Herzegovina Istanbul Consul General Enisa Komar and ITU Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture faculty member Prof. Dr. Birgül Çolakoğlu also attended the event, where local treats and music concerts were held.

İKÜANTS Technology Development Center (TEKMER) participated in the Congress – Symposium – Fair organized by the University-Industry Cooperation Centers Platform (ÜSİMP), one of Türkiye's most competent platforms for university-industry cooperation, at Middle East Technical University (METU).

At this wide-ranging event, which addressed technology transfer, R&D capacity, entrepreneurship support mechanisms, and university-industry interactions in Türkiye, Alperen Tağman, IKUANTS TEKMER Specialist representing our university, established effective communication with relevant stakeholders and exchanged information related to the ecosystem.

During the event, Tağman was officially presented with the "Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP)" badge. This title is a prestigious badge awarded to individuals who meet international technology transfer professionalism standards, once again certifying our center's expertise and professional competence.

Within the scope of the congress:

-  Participation was secured in the Technology Transfer Office and TEKMER managers meeting organized by ÜSİMP.
-  Evaluations were made on university-industry cooperation models, intellectual property processes, technology transfer processes, and entrepreneurship support programs.
-  Multifaceted networking activities were carried out during visits to the exhibition area, and new cooperation opportunities were evaluated.
-  Participation in conferences and symposium sessions organized within the program to follow current developments and policies.

İKÜANTS TEKMER continues to play an active role in university-industry cooperation and entrepreneurship processes and to increase its visibility on national platforms with the aim of contributing to Türkiye's entrepreneurship and technology development ecosystem.

Our Department of Communication and Design alumni Yağmur Demiroğulları, Saliha Ayşe Saygın, and Fatmanur Melis Koçak participated in the 44th Graphic Designers Professional Association (GMK) Exhibition with the projects they prepared under the supervision of Lecturer Ali Nazım Beşikçi as part of the “Graduation Project.”

Dr. Ali Can Arıcı from Ekol Logistics attended the seminar held within the scope of the "IE5403-Facilities Design and Planning" course given in the Department of Industrial Engineering on Monday, December 1, as a speaker.

The twelfth GameTalks event organized by the Department of Digital Game Design took place on Thursday, November 27, featuring guest speaker Emre Gökçe Çimen, an accomplished artist.

During the session, Çimen explored the role of visual design in both board games and video games, demonstrating how art functions as a powerful storytelling and world-building tool. He discussed essential elements of visual design; such as character design, environmental storytelling, color theory, and composition, and explained how they shape the player’s experience.

In the first part of the event, Emre Gökçe Çimen outlined the similarities and differences between art production processes in tabletop and digital game projects, offering a detailed look into how each medium approaches visual creation. He then shared practical advice on building a strong visual identity in game design, providing students with actionable insights they could apply to their own projects. Drawing from his own professional work, Çimen highlighted how creative choices impact a game’s atmosphere, emotional tone, and overall playability.

Students attending the event engaged in an interactive Q&A session, asking questions about art pipelines, game aesthetics, visual style development, and industry experience.

On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, with the participation of 2nd grade students, a technical trip was organized by the Program of Air Conditioning and Cooling Technology to Aytek Chillers Domestic and Foreign Trade Inc. firm in Hadımköy.

The trip; which was accompanied by Head of the Program Lecturer H. Serpil Karakuş and “Cooling System Design” course instructor Lecturer Mustafa Ahmet Özbakan, our students were informed about the company structure, sector dynamics and cooling systems by Aytek Chillers Human Resources Officer İnan Savaş Turan.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2025, Aykut Demirkıran, Analytical Research and Development Manager at Abdi İbrahim İlaç Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., gave a presentation titled "Biological Product Manufacturing, Testing, and Legal Regulations" at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MOBİGEN). The event, attended by undergraduate and graduate students, provided comprehensive information on the development of biotechnological products and biosimilar drug production processes.

The ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program, carried out by İKÜANTS TEKMER, continues to equip entrepreneurs with the competencies they need on their journey from the idea stage to commercialization.

In the third week of the program:

- On December 1, 2025, the “Fundamental Structuring from Idea to Business Model” training was delivered by Çağrı Temel.
- On December 2, 2025, the “Idea Development for Financial Planning” training was successfully conducted by financial consultancy expert Bikem İnce İnanç.
- On December 3, 2025, all our entrepreneurs received one-hour individual mentoring sessions.
- On December 4, 2025, the “Psychological Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Developing Flexibility Workshop-2” training was successfully delivered by our Faculty of Education Vice Dean, Assist. Prof. Dr. Meryem Demir Güdül.

In the fourth week of the program, entrepreneurs will once again have a full schedule:

- December 8, 2025 | 15:00-18:00 – “Legal Framework Training for Entrepreneurs” – Av. İmren Öner Topaloğlu, Assist. Prof. Dr. Muharrem Tütüncü, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Ender Demir
- December 9, 2025 | 15:00-18:00 – “Digital Marketing Idea Presentation Training” – Haydar Özkömürcü
- December 11, 2025 | 15:00-18:00 – “Psychological Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Developing Flexibility Workshop-3” – Dr. İlker Çitli

İKÜANTS TEKMER aims not only to provide entrepreneurs with technical knowledge, but also to equip them with all the competencies required for a strong entrepreneurial journey—such as mental resilience, a market-oriented approach, and business model development skills. The ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program will continue to support entrepreneurs in the coming weeks with comprehensive training and mentoring.

You can follow İKÜANTS TEKMER on social media (@ikuantstekmer) to access announcements about the program.

Istanbul Kültür University Alumni and Members Association (İKÜMED) will organize the traditional "Kültür Alumni Breakfast" on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 10.30 in the backyard of the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

For detailed information and reservations, you can call 0212 498 48 49, send an e-mail to mezunlarofisi@iku.edu.tr or ikumed@iku.edu.tr.

The Industrial Engineering Club will organize the "18th Decision Support Systems Symposium" on December 8-9, 2025, between 11.00-15.00. The symposium, which will be held with the participation of experts in their fields, will be hosted by the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point will organize "Turkish Sign Language Training" in order to support healthy communication with hearing-impaired individuals, to increase social awareness and to raise social responsibility awareness among our students. The training, which will be given by trainer Ahmet Tombul, will be held online on the CATS platform on December 8-9, 2025, between 17.00-20.00.

A technical trip will be organized by the Construction Club to the Halkalı-Kirazlı metro construction site on Tuesday, December 9.

An event titled "A Strong Future with Early Struggle: Special Education Programs in Early Childhood" will be held in order to introduce the "Small Steps Early Education Program" developed by the Department of Special Education for students with special needs in early childhood aged 0-6. The event, where Prof. Dr. Emine Sema Batu from Maltepe University will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 9.30 at the Küçükçekmece Campus Conference Hall.

In cooperation with the Effective Communication Club and the Department of Public Relations and Advertising, a talk titled "The New Language of Design" will be held in order to inform students about the basic principles of graphic design by discussing current approaches in the field of design. The event, where Foodeyo Editor Salihanur Alakuş will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 11:00 in the 4th floor multi-purpose hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

In cooperation with the Department of New Media and Communication and the New Media and Communication Club, the "New Media and Career Management-5: Alumni Panel" event will be organized in order for our graduates to share their experiences with our students. The event, where our graduates Yiğit Arpacı, Yaprak Kordu and Dilan Taş will be speakers, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 11:00 in the AK-5B0810 classroom in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

IKU Creative Club will organize the "Creative Talks VI" event in order to inform students about the new day advertising approach. The event, where HAVAS Group Türkiye Vice President of Growth Cüneyt Devrim will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 13.00 in the 1st floor multi-purpose hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

In cooperation with IKU Technology Transfer Office, IKUANTS TEKMER and IEEE IKU, an event titled "Embedded System Technologies and Applications in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" will be held in order to discuss current developments in the field of technology and engineering. The event, where Özdisan Electronics Education Coordinator Semih Atakuru will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 13.00 in the 4th floor multi-purpose hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. You can scan the QR code to register for the event.

In cooperation with IKU Fine Arts Application and Research Center (GSUAM) and the Faculty of Art and Design, a conference titled "Professionalism and Artist Sensitivity in the Art of Painting" will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 13.00 in classroom 1C/7-9 in the Ataköy building of Bakırköy Campus. At the conference, where artist Prof. İhsan Doğrusöz will be the speaker, the importance of the artist's sensitivity in the formation and perception process of the work of art will be explained.

An event titled "Approach to Real-World Problems with Mathematica" will be organized by the Mathematics Computer Club in order to reinforce Engineering, Physics and Mathematics applications by introducing Mathematica to the participants. The event, where Technical Sales Engineer Ömer Köksel from Enorm Teknoloji will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 13.00 at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The IKU Turkish Folk Music (THM) Choir is preparing to offer an enjoyable evening to its audience with a concert featuring folk songs from different regions of Anatolia. Conducted by Bülent Kılıçaslan, the concert will be held on Tuesday, December 9, at 20:00, at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Dean of Students - Kültür Point is organizing "3DS MAX Introductory Training" to enable participants to gain professional skills in three-dimensional modeling, architectural visualization, animation, and rendering techniques. The training, to be given by Interior Designer & 3DS Max Trainer Vasfiye Çelik, will be held online via Microsoft Teams at 20:00 on December 9 and December 12.

In collaboration with the Performing Arts Club and the Department of Public Relations and Advertising, a talk titled "The Language of Images: In Pursuit of Meaning in Photography" will be held to analyze photography in a semiotic sense. The event, featuring speaker Koray Peközkay, a communicator and entrepreneur, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, at

10:00 in the multipurpose hall on the 1st floor of the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Program of Banking and Insurance will host a talk titled "Fundamentals of Interest-Free Finance and Career Opportunities in the Sector" to introduce the Turkish banking industry and the interest-free finance ecosystem. The event, featuring Albaraka Türk İncirli Branch Manager Serkan Şentürk as the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, at 11:00 in the 1A-01 amphitheater of the İncirli building at the Bakırköy Campus.

The Department of Cartoon and Animation will host a talk titled "Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontiers of Animation" to share with students the changing industry standards and current production methods enabled by artificial intelligence technologies. The event, featuring Digital Artist & Lecturer Dr. Murat Fırat as the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, at 11:00 in the multipurpose hall on the 2nd floor of the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy campus.

The Program of Medical Documentation and Secretarial will organize a workshop titled "Assessment of Problems Experienced in Health Tourism from the Perspective of

Stakeholders." The event, which will be attended by academics, managers of healthcare institutions, representatives of health tourism agencies, and officials from the Ministry of Health, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, at 13:00 at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with the Department of Basic Education and the Children's Studies Kültür Club, a talk titled "Picture Analysis in Preschool Education: Interpreting Children's Visual Expressions" will be held to raise awareness among prospective teachers about evaluating children's pictures from developmental, emotional, and cognitive perspectives. The event, featuring Associate Professor Gülçin Güven from Marmara University as the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, at 13:00 in the Küçükçekmece Campus Conference Hall.

In collaboration with the Department of Foreign Language Education and the ELT Club, an "Alumni Panel" will be organized for our graduates to share their experiences with our students. The event, featuring speakers Assoc. Prof. Hüdanur Türk (Istanbul Aydın

University) and English Teacher Emine Ağlamış (ITU Development Foundation Schools), will take place on Wednesday, December 10, at 13:30 in the Küçükçekmece Campus BK A-402 amphitheater.

Istanbul Kültür University Art Gallery (IKUSAG) will host the exhibition "Sailor's Diary: Minimal Images" by Painter İhsan Doğrusöz. In the exhibition, which will open on Wednesday, December 10, at 15.00, the painter uses minimalized visual images in paintings inspired by the increase in social disasters we have experienced in the last decade as our cities move away from aesthetic taste and people flee from metropolises. The exhibition can be visited until January 30, 2026.

By MOBIGEN; a conference titled "The Dark Side of the Genome: Codes Touching from Laboratory to Field, Clinic and Life" will be held in order to explain the applications of non-coding genome regions from agriculture to medicine and to reveal their innovative contributions to P&D processes in modern biotechnology. The event, where Prof. Dr. Sevgi Maraklı from Yıldız Technical University will be the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, December 10, at 14.00 at Atilla Özalpan Seminar Hall.

The English Language Teaching Club will organize the "Speaking Club" event on December 10-11, 2025, at 17:00 in the 1st floor multi-purpose hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus, in order to increase students' English speaking skills.

The Interior Architecture and Design Club will organize an event called "Alumni-Industry Meetings" to inform students about the industry and help them network. The event, featuring speakers Architect Umut Cem Çağlayan, Interior Architect Melike Karabulut, Architect Gülşen Merve Kocatepeli, and Interior Architect Eren Dere, will be held on December 11-12 at 12:00 in the multipurpose hall on the 4th floor of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

Organized by the Geek Club to promote student interaction, the "Mobile Legends Gaming Tournament" will be held on Friday, December 12, from 09:00 to 18:00 in the winter garden on the B1 floor of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

The International Students Club will organize an event to introduce the 13-year revolution (2011-2024) and the significance of the victory on December 8, 2024, and to tell the story of the Syrian people's sacrifices and struggle for freedom. The event, featuring a talk by Marya Öztürk, a second-year student in the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, will take place on Friday, December 12, at 15:00 in the Önder

Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Istanbul Kültür University Alumni and Members Association (IKUMED) will host a "New Year's Dinner" at Litera Restaurant on Wednesday, December 17, from 19:00 to 23:00, with the aim of strengthening the bond between our graduates.

For detailed information and reservations, please call 0212 498 48 49 or email mezunlarofisi@iku.edu.tr or ikumed@iku.edu.tr.