We would like to thank all researchers and scholars who applied for the Akıngüç 2025 Award on the topic of "Tools for the Future of Education: Artificial Intelligence and Beyond."

It was very valuable for our Selection Committee to review all the works prepared with hard work and dedication. 

It was determined that nineteen (19) applications were submitted for the Akıngüç 2025 Award; nine of these were articles published in Q1 journals, and ten were TÜBİTAK 1001, 1002, 1003, 1005, 1507, 3005, 4004, 2219 (2 items) and TÜBİTAK TÜSEB projects. Each article and project was individually evaluated and scored by the selection committee members based on its relevance to the announced topic of the Akıngüç 2025 Award, content, original value, widespread impact, and citations received. In addition, the requirement that the publications be published in SCI-indexed journals within the last 5 years, information on ongoing research in the relevant field, and the CVs of the applicants were also evaluated. 

As a result of the careful evaluation by our Selection Committee, the Akıngüç 2025 First Prize was awarded to the project titled "Artificial Intelligence-Based Individualized Treatment Planning for Cancer Patients," led by Prof. Dr. K. Zülfikar DENİZ and supported by TÜBİTAK under the 1507-SME R&D Start-up Support Program, titled "Artificial Intelligence-Supported Individualized Learning System," was unanimously selected for the Akıngüç 2025 First Prize.

The Akıngüç 2025 Honorable Mention Award was unanimously selected for the project titled "User Error Analysis and Interactive Guidance Using Dialogue-Based Intelligent Agents," led by Prof. Dr. Turgay Tugay BİLGİN and supported by TÜBİTAK 1003 -Priority Areas R&D Projects, titled "Turkish Python Code Editor (PyNar) Capable of Interactive Guidance Using Dialogue-Based Intelligent Agents by Analyzing User Errors," was selected unanimously.

We kindly bring this to your attention. 
AKINGÜÇ AWARD 2025 
SELECTION COMMITTEE

Istanbul Kültür University (IKU); The Faculty of Education hosted the "School Climate Summit Sensitive to Freedom from Addiction" organized in cooperation with Bakırköy District Directorate of National Education and Yeşilay.

The summit, held on December 23, 2025, at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus, brought together academic and practical solutions in the fight against addiction.

Protocol Participation and Opening

In the protocol part of the event; our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Yüksektepe, President of the Turkish Yeşilay Society Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç, Bakırköy District Director of National Education Dr. Kürşat Arzuoğlu and Bakırköy Yeşilay Branch President Serdar Yeniceri made the opening speeches. Our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil made a speech introducing the general structure and graduate programs of our university. Our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Gülce Öğrüç Ildız was among the participants.

The New Year’s Party, organized by the Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point on Friday, December 19, 2025, hosted pleasant and energetic moments on the campus. While the DJ Club and Orchestra IKU performed on stage, creating moments filled with music and entertainment, the students shook off the fatigue of the year together.

Within the scope of the event, pasta was served to students through the collaboration of the Career Club and Chipassa. In addition, AI-based outfit combination contest organized by Y-Studio highlighted students’ creativity and their interaction with technology.

With high participation, the event brought the New Year’s spirit to the campus and offered an enjoyable social gathering environment among students.

The musical children’s theatre adaptation of Charles Dickens’s immortal work Oliver Twist, organized by the IKU Fine Arts Application and Research Centre (GSUAM), met our young audiences on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 14.00 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Centre in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. In the play, which was instructive in terms of values, children became part of Oliver’s adventure and helped him along the way. Participating in the play in an interactive manner, children both learned and had fun with concepts such as solidarity, hope, and kindness. The play was met with applause and appreciation from the young audience.

In collaboration with IKU Vocational School and the Turkish Association of Private Schools (TÖZOK), the "Early Childhood Education Conference" was held on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Held under the theme "Age 2 at School: Educational and Developmental Foundations," the event addressed the educational and developmental aspects of the 2-year-old age group, one of the most critical periods in preschool education.

With the contribution of Dr. Eylem Bayram Tuncay and the participation of expert trainers and academics in their fields, the conference made significant contributions to the field of preschool education.

In collaboration with the Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point and IKU Fine Arts Application and Research Centre (GSUAM), the “New Year’s Ceramics Workshop” was held on Friday, December 19, 2025.

Conducted in two separate sessions under the guidance of Instructor Özhan Pak, participants who experienced the art of ceramics had the opportunity to produce original New Year themed works.

Final-year students from the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, provided health training at the Presidency of Darülaceze between November 1 and December 3, 2025, as part of the "HEM7001 Public Health Nursing" course. Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Kübra İncirkuş, presentations were made to Darülaceze residents on "Proper Hand Washing," "Oral Hygiene and Dental Health," and "Prevention of Smoking." After the presentations, questions from the residents participating in the training were answered, and brochures on the subject were distributed.

The Department of Economics held a "Self-Assessment Meeting" on Wednesday, December 17, in the conference hall of the Küçükçekmece Campus. The meeting, chaired by our Head of the Department of Economics, Prof. Dr. Deniz Dereli, shared the 5-factor model and self-assessment results. The meeting concluded with a discussion of the assessment results and self-assessments.

An event titled “Current Works, Methods, and Academic Collaborations in the Field of Architecture and Urban Design” was held by the Department of Architecture of the Faculty of Architecture on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Participating in the event as a speaker, Senior Architect Erhan Vural shared his current works and experiences in the fields of architecture and urban design with the participants.

Assoc. Prof. Gizem Akyol and Dr. Yakup Türkdil, faculty members of the Department of Common Courses, met with students on Friday, December 19, 2025, prior to the final exams as part of the “Turkish Course Gatherings,” where they evaluated the semester and answered students’ questions.

Last year students of the Department of Nursing of the Faculty of Health Sciences gave health training at Family Health Centers affiliated to Bağcılar District Health Directorate between November 1 and December 3, 2025, as part of the "HEM7001 Public Health Nursing" course. With the help of Assist. Prof. Kübra İncirkuş to individuals who receive service from the relevant centers; trainings on "Healthy Nutrition and Exercise", "Proper Hand Washing", "Oral Hygiene and Dental Health", "Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Diagnosis", "The Importance of Breast Milk and Correct Breastfeeding Techniques", "Family Planning" and "Chronic Disease Management" were presented, the questions of the individuals were answered and brochures prepared about the trainings were given to all participants.

An introductory meeting regarding the graduate programs affiliated with the Department of Economics was held online on Monday, December 22, 2025. In the presentation delivered by Dr. Aras Yolusever, a faculty member of the department, undergraduate students and graduates were provided with information about graduate education.

In collaboration with the Program of Medical Documentation and Secretarial and the Health Club, a technical tour was organized to Marmara University Prof. Dr. Orhan Oğuz Library on Friday, December 19.

Coordinated by Dr. Canan Bulut, the visit was part of the "Health Sciences Librarianship" course, and our students had the opportunity to examine library archive management, documentation processes, and the academic work environment firsthand.

In collaboration with the Program of Medical Documentation and Secretarial Studies and the Health Club, a technical visit to the archive unit of a public health institution was organized on Friday, December 19, 2025.

Coordinated by Dr. Canan Bulut, our students had the opportunity to examine document flow processes and the functioning of archiving systems during the visit, which was carried out as part of the "Document and Archive Management" course.

The "İzmit - Yuvacık Beşkayalar Valley and Şahin Tepe Walk" event will be held in cooperation with IKU Underwater Club and Istanbul Kültür University Alumni and Members Association (İKÜMED). You can contact Cemal Turan (0 545 647 57 57) to join the trip, which will start on Saturday, December 27, at 7.30 in the morning from the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The Faculty of Health Sciences will organize a training titled "Combatting Addiction" in order to increase the professional knowledge and awareness of our students. The event, where Narko Guide Police Officer Ozan Yelgel will be the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, December 31, at 13.30 at the B1 Seminar Hall of the Bahçelievler Campus.