At the award ceremony organized by the Sustainable Education Development and Excellence Association (SEGM), leading institutions and organizations from across Türkiye competed in a highly competitive environment. Among prominent participants such as LC Waikiki and the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye, IKU PUMA was awarded first place in the top category of the “Sustainable Education Development Awards,” representing the highest level of achievement.

Receiving the top award in such a competitive field, alongside large-scale and well-established institutions, clearly highlights the strength of IKU PUMA’s sustainability-focused model.

This achievement was driven by the innovative and sustainable education and development practices implemented within the institution. In particular, IKU PUMA’s tangible contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)—played a significant role in the evaluation process. Its initiatives under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) further reinforced its holistic sustainability approach.

Developed at Istanbul Kültür University, PUMA – Performance & Upskilling Management Application offers an innovative model that enables the measurement and tracking of students’ extracurricular learning experiences, social engagement, and competency development. More than just a digital platform, it functions as a comprehensive education and development ecosystem that supports data-driven decision-making, enhances visibility of competencies, and promotes lifelong learning.

The Istanbul Kültür University Sustainable Development Application and Research Center (SÜRKAM) has published its 2025 Activity Report as part of its ongoing efforts toward a sustainable future.

The report provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the Center’s activities and outputs during the relevant period, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also reflects the Center’s commitment to institutional transparency and knowledge sharing with its stakeholders.

Report Scope

The report covers the following:

- The institutional structure, mission, and core areas of activity of IKU SÜRKAM
- Information on the Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and team structure
- The university’s current standing in international rankings (THE Impact Rankings, UI GreenMetric, SCImago, EduRank)
- International memberships and an overview of previous sustainability reports
- Conferences, invitations, and panel activities held during the period
- Ongoing projects and research initiatives
- Protocols and agreements signed within the scope of institutional collaborations

Sustainability is a culture.
To a sustainable future, together!

As part of April Autism Awareness Month, the Department of Special Education of the Faculty of Education at Istanbul Kültür University organized an awareness event on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The event aimed to raise awareness of the needs and demands of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly in areas such as inclusive education, equality, and employment.

As part of the "IKU Science Cafe" events organized by IKU Vocational School (MYO), a talk titled "In Pursuit of Light: Where Science and Art Intersect" was held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. The event, featuring our MYO Director Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özer and Assist. Prof. Emin Sansarcı, an academic from our Graphic Design Program, conveyed to the participants how science and aesthetics intertwine. The interactive event once again demonstrated the power of an interdisciplinary perspective.

In collaboration with the Department of Public Relations and Advertising and the IKU Creative Club, an event titled “Creative Workshop 3” was organized on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The event, held in two sessions at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus, featured speakers Anıl Börtlüoğlu and Çağatay Gültekin from WPP Media, and İpek Şurdum and Burak Gürses from Medina Turgul. Within the scope of the event, our students gained information on topics such as “strategy in advertising,” “the creative side of agencies,” and “agency operations.”

The "Memory of Water: Historical Waterways of Istanbul" photography exhibition, realized in collaboration with İSKİ and İFSAK (Istanbul Amateur Photography and Cinema Association) and displayed at the IKU Art Gallery, was visited by the Yurt Gezginleri Group on Saturday, April 18, accompanied by Cemal Turan, the Publishing and Printing Manager of YA/BA. The group members stated that seeing the aqueducts, dams, and the Museum of Water Civilizations, which they had previously visited during their "Pearl Necklaces of Istanbul: Aqueducts and Dams" city tours, through the eyes of photographers provided a unique contribution to their heritage. The Yurt Gezginleri Group expressed their sincere gratitude to the IKU Fine Arts Application and Research Center, İSKİ, and İFSAK photographers who organized the exhibition.

In collaboration with the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design and the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, a talk titled “Colors III” was held on Friday, April 17, at 13.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. Architect Gökhan Avcıoğlu participated as a speaker in the event, which was moderated by Lecturer Dr. Sevinç Ormancı. During the event, it was emphasized that color is not just an aesthetic choice but a powerful narrative tool. Furthermore, the role of color in spatial composition was also discussed.

An “Applied Emergency and Fire Training” was carried out by the Department of Support Services on Saturday, April 18, in order to increase the awareness level and strengthen the intervention capabilities of our cleaning personnel working at our campuses against emergencies. Following the training held at the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus, a practical fire drill was conducted at our Ataköy-2 construction site.

The announcement and award ceremony for the most successful projects of the 2025-2026 Fall Semester was held by the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design on Friday, April 17, at 15.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus, with the participation of Architect Gökhan Avcıoğlu.

Organized by the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, the seminar titled “After Graduation: What Awaits You in the Industry?” was held on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 13:00 in classroom 5B060810 at the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The event featured Electrical and Electronics Engineer Onur Gökdemir from Topkapı Endüstri as the guest speaker.

In collaboration with the Trekking and Camping Club and the Program of Child Development, an event titled "Crisis Management in Nature" was organized on Monday, April 20, 2026. Our Head of the Medical Documentation and Secretarial Program, Lecturer Emin Aksan, participated as a speaker in the event held at INNSide in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. During the event, comprehensive information was shared regarding correct intervention methods during crisis moments in nature, basic first aid information, and vital decision-making processes.

Game Marketer & Multidisciplinary Producer Ata Deniz Oktay participated in the fourteenth meeting of the "GameTalks" event series organized by the Department of Digital Game Design.

The event, held on Thursday, April 16, at 13.00 in classroom AK-B1-1 of the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus, addressed the importance of marketing strategies for independent (indie) games. Oktay explained in detail how developers with limited resources can establish effective communication and create sustainable visibility to reach the right target audience with their games.

In the first part of the interview, Ata Deniz Oktay discussed the key elements in marketing indie games. Topics such as brand identity creation, target audience analysis, social media usage, content strategy, and community management were evaluated through current industry examples and practical approaches.

The event also emphasized the importance of creative and strategic thinking for indie developers to compete with large-budget projects. It was stated that marketing is not just a promotional process, but a holistic approach that runs parallel to the game's development process. In this context, participants gained a comprehensive perspective on the strong relationship between game design and marketing.

Sharing examples from his professional experience, Oktay explained practical methods students could use to make their projects stand out. He particularly emphasized the importance of gathering feedback early on, building a community, and being visible on the right platforms.

During the interactive Q&A session held at the end of the event, students had the opportunity to gain direct information by asking questions about indie game marketing strategies, the use of digital platforms, building a player community, and career opportunities. In this respect, the event offered a productive sharing environment that provided both creative and industry-specific perspectives.

Through events like “GameTalks #14,” the Department of Digital Game Design continues to bring students together with industry professionals and contribute to their multifaceted development.

The 12th "MEKAN2025 National Interior Architecture Students Graduation Projects Competition," organized by the IKU Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, has concluded. The award ceremony and colloquium of the competition, in which students from Interior Architecture / Interior Architecture and Environmental Design departments in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus participated with their graduation/diploma projects, was held on Monday, April 20, at 15.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The 2nd National Interdisciplinary Cinema Symposium of the Çalı Village Film Festival, with Res. Assist. Dr. Eda Dindar and Res. Assist. Sezer Ağgez from the Department of Communication and Design, Faculty of Art and Design, on the organizing committee, will be held on August 20, 2026 in Nilüfer-Bursa. The symposium, open for abstract submissions until July 12, 2026, will also feature contributions from our university faculty members Prof. Dr. Mehmet Üstünipek, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Koçer Göztepe, Assist. Prof. M. Orhan Göztepe, Assist. Prof. Duygu Nazlı Assoy, Res. Assist. Dr. Emel Oturak Seymen, Res. Assist. Dr. Kübra Karapınar Eyvel, and Lecturer Dr. Elif Gelmez as members of the Scientific Committee.

For abstract submission and other information, please visit https://www.califilmfest.com/sempozyum.

In collaboration with the Department of Public Relations and Advertising and the IKU Creative Club, a "Havas Agency Visit" was organized on Friday, April 17, 2026. Agency employees Selin Pervan, Özlem Milor İslam, Kerem Yalçın, Yavuzhan Gel, İdil Yalçınöz, Galip Makarnacı, and Senem Şen provided students with information on agency operations, creative processes, and the role of artificial intelligence in the industry.

An event titled "Brand Management in the Age of AI: Algorithm? Human?" was organized by the Department of Public Relations and Advertising on Friday, April 17, at 15.00. Brand Consultant Simge Mertoğlu participated as a speaker in the event moderated by Assist. Prof. Sezgi Turfanda. The event addressed how artificial intelligence can be strategically integrated into brand management processes. By demonstrating ways to structure the human-machine relationship for a brand management approach that uses AI correctly without distancing humans from the center, the event provided significant contributions to the students.

The Program of Flight Operations Management organized a technical field trip to the Atatürk Airport General Aviation Terminal on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Students had the opportunity to reinforce the theoretical knowledge they learned in class with practical experience and observe the workings of the sector firsthand.

The Department of Foreign Language Education at the Faculty of Education organized a "Postgraduate Research Projects" event on Tuesday, April 21. Our English Language Education Master's Program students participated as speakers, sharing their research and contributing to the production of academic knowledge.

In collaboration with IKUMED and the Industrial Engineering Club, a "Risk Management Awareness Training" was held on Tuesday, April 21, at 14.00 in the multipurpose hall on the 3rd floor of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus. The event, featuring Gülden Bahar Yıldırım, Founding Director of BYNETACADEMY and a 2005 alumni, addressed risk management, one of the most critical topics in the business world, in all its dimensions.

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema organized an "Alumni Panel" where our students received information and shared experiences on many topics, from the process of entering the sector to the conditions in working life. Our students, who had the opportunity to ask our alumni questions on various topics, gained a guiding perspective on their career planning.

Istanbul Kültür University Alumni Association (IKUMED) organized a "Speaking Club" event for our alumni and students to practice their language skills on Wednesday, April 22, at INNSide in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Within the scope of the "Architectural Simulation" course offered by the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, a "pCon.planner Certified Training Program" will be held online on Saturday, May 25, at 10.00, moderated by Assist. Prof. Aslıhan Coşkun. The training, which will be provided by Interior Architect & Training Specialist Hazel Çağlar, covers the basic and applied use of the pCon.planner software, which is widely used in interior design and 3D modeling processes.

The Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point will be organizing a "Business English" training session on Monday, April 27, via the CATS platform, to support our students and alumni in their career planning processes.

A conference titled "IR in the Trumpian World" will be organized by the Department of Political Science and International Relations to analyze the international relations dynamics shaped by the Trump era and their effects on the global system. The event, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Sylvia Tiryaki, will be held on Monday, April 27, at 11.00 in classroom B-502 at the Küçükçekmece Campus.

A conference titled "Artificial Intelligence Applications" will be organized by the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences to support students' personal development. The event, featuring Eda Karakaya, Chairperson of the Board of EPA A.Ş., as the speaker, will be held on Monday, April 27, at 13.00 in classroom L-04 at the Küçükçekmece Campus.

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) will host the "Sanataevet Honorary Awards" on Monday, April 27. The event will be held between 13.00-15.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

A "Book Analysis: The Picture of Dorian Gray" event will be organized by the Kültürhane Club on Monday, April 27, at 15.00 in classroom A404 at the Küçükçekmece Campus.

In collaboration with the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design and the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, a talk titled "Colors IV" will be organized to demonstrate that color is not just an aesthetic choice but a powerful narrative tool and to discuss its role in spatial composition. The event, featuring Painter Bedri Baykam as the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, April 28, at 13.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

A charity bazaar will be organized by the Animal Protection and Sustenance Club to meet the clinic and food needs of our little friends at our campuses. The backyard of the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus will host the bazaar, held within the scope of the "AntsFusion" event, on Tuesday, April 28, between 09.00-18.00.

In collaboration with the Design Factory, Mathematics and Computer Club, Creative Industries Club, Creative Club, and Cartoon and Animation Club, the "Ants Fusion Indie Game Festival" will be organized. The event, which will bring together leading names in the digital game world, will be held on Tuesday, April 28, between 10.00-19.00 at the Design Factory and the backyard in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Within the scope of the "Community Service Practices" course offered in the Department of Special Education, the "1st Kültür Special Education Meetings" event will be organized, where our students will come together with expert names in the field of special education. The event, featuring Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Sena Ürper Özkan, Specialist Psychological Counselor Kübra Parım Açıkalın, and Child Development Specialist Hediye Karaarslan Karakaş as speakers, will be held on Tuesday, April 28, at 10.00 in the Küçükçekmece Campus Conference Hall.

A "April 25 World DNA Day" event will be organized by the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics on Tuesday, April 28, at 11.00 on the B1 floor of the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus to increase awareness regarding the discovery, structure, and function of DNA.

In collaboration with the Program of Flight Operations Management and the Civil Aviation Club, a technical trip to the Atatürk Airport General Aviation Apron will be organized on Tuesday, April 28, at 13.00, for students to observe general aviation operations on-site.

In collaboration with UZEMER and the Dean of Students Office, "Python Programming Training" will be organized for students preparing for TEKNOFEST competitions and those interested in the subject. The training, to be provided by Computer Engineer Boran Toktay, will be held on Tuesday, April 28, between 14.00-18.00 in the 4th-floor multi-purpose hall of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

An "IKU Alumni Information System Launch Cocktail" will be organized by the Alumni Relations Unit on Tuesday, April 28, at 14.00 at INNSide in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Orchestra IKU will give a concert on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, between 14.00-16.30 at the İncirli building of the Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with the IKU Sustainable Development Center (SÜRKAM) and the Circular Impact Institute, a summit titled "Triple Transformation: Threats - Opportunities" will be organized to discuss current developments within the scope of sustainability, reduction of environmental impacts, and the green economy. The event, featuring experts in the field as speakers, will be held on Wednesday, April 29, between 10.00-16.30 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Organized by the Undergraduate Program of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, this conference aims to inform students about play therapy and game-based intervention methods. Specialist Psychological Counselor Kübra Parım Açıkalın will be the speaker. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 29 at 13:00 in classroom Z-01 at the Küçükçekmece Campus.

Organized in collaboration between the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design and the Chamber of Interior Architects, this seminar aims to support students’ professional development, foster direct engagement with the sector, and enhance their understanding of current approaches in the field. Interior Architect Ruken Güngör will be the speaker. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 14:30 at INNSide in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The Faculty of Science and Letters at IKU continues its “Coffee Talks” series, aimed at sharing significant research in the fields of basic and social sciences. The seminar titled “Rare Diseases and Bioentrepreneurship in Türkiye,” featuring Asst. Prof. Kübra Telli from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 15:00 in the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall at the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The Cinema Club will host an open-air cinema event on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 16:00 in the front garden of the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Organized by the Faculty of Law, this event aims to inform participants about the Artificial Intelligence Act. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yayla, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Law and Ethics Application and Research Center at Bahçeşehir University, will be the speaker. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 29 at 16:00 via Microsoft Teams.

As part of World Dance Day, the IKU Fine Arts Application and Research Center (GSUAM) will present the “GONG” Theatrical Dance Performance.

The performance, which tells a story of growth through the themes of awareness and transformation, will be staged on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 19:30 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Event tickets are available with a 25% discount using the code “IKUAILEM”.

Organized by the Department of Primary Education, the ÇABAÇAM and Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial Visit will take place on Thursday, April 30. The visit will begin with a tour of the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Early Childhood Education Research and Application Center (ÇABAÇAM), where students will observe early childhood education practices on-site. This will be followed by a visit to the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, aimed at fostering awareness of historical and social values through observation and reflection.

Organized by the Program of Flight Operations Management, a technical visit to the Atatürk Airport Approach Control Tower will be held on Thursday, April 30 between 10:00–16:00, offering students the opportunity to observe the working systems of Air Traffic Controllers on-site.

The Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design will organize a visit to the Construction Fair at TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center on Thursday, April 30 between 10:00–17:00. The visit aims to provide students with the opportunity to observe current materials, technologies, and design approaches in the construction sector.

In collaboration with IKU Vocational School and the Health Club, a talk will be organized to introduce the Georgian healthcare system and increase students' awareness of comparative healthcare systems. The event, featuring Alisa Arslan, a Senior Pharmaceutical Industry Executive (Europharma Georgia), will take place on Thursday, April 30, at 11.00 in Amphitheater 1A01 of the İncirli building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Program of E-Commerce and Marketing will organize a field trip to B2Press Agency on Thursday, April 30, at 14.00, to allow students to observe digital marketing communication and media distribution processes firsthand.

The Psychology Club will be organizing an event titled "Persuasion in the Digital Age: Social Media" with the aim of understanding how information and behavior are shaped in the digital world, conveying the persuasion mechanisms and user psychology of social media, and fostering a critical and aware perspective towards digital platforms. Psychologist Yaren Karaca will be the speaker at the event, which will take place on Thursday, April 30, at 14.00 in the multipurpose hall on the first floor of the Ataköy building.

In collaboration with the Faculty of Law and ISTAC (Istanbul Arbitration Center), a symposium on "Construction Disputes and Arbitration" will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 14.00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with UZEMER and the Dean of Students Office, an "LLM and NLP Training" will be organized for students preparing for and interested in the TEKNOFEST competitions. The training, given by Computer Engineer Boran Toktay, will take place on Thursday, April 30th, between 14.00-18.00 in the multipurpose hall on the 4th floor of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

MOBIGEN will be organizing a conference titled "Machine Learning for Genomics: From Fundamentals to Explainable Deep Models," which will introduce the application areas of machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence approaches in genomic data analysis, from fundamental principles to clinical applications. The event, featuring Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melih Ağraz (Brown University, Giresun University) as a speaker, will take place on Thursday, April 30, at 15.00 in the Atilla Özalpan Seminar Hall at the Ataköy building.

The Istanbul Kültür University Turkish Folk Music Choir, under the direction of conductor Bülent Kılıçaslan, will meet with art lovers at the "Giving Voice to Hope" concert organized for the benefit of LÖSEV (Turkish Leukemia Foundation). This meaningful evening, to be held on April 30, 2026 at 20.00 in the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center, will donate all proceeds to benefit children with leukemia. We invite you to share in the hope through the unifying power of music and to support this solidarity concert.

The third guest speaker at the "Clinical Psychology Development Seminars" organized by the Department of Psychology will be Clinical Psychologist Doğan Yılmaz, who will give a talk titled "Addiction from the Perspective of EMDR". The event will be held online via Google Meets on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 9.00.