A cooperation protocol was signed on March 12, 2026, between Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) and LÖSEV (The Foundation for Children with Leukemia), with the aim of increasing our students’ awareness of social responsibility and solidarity. The protocol was signed by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, and Ece Kuray, Deputy Provincial Coordinator of LÖSEV Istanbul.

Within the scope of the cooperation, the LSV Shop, an initiative of LÖSEV, will be open at our Ataköy Building, Bakırköy Campus on April 29-30, where products will be available for sale.

Our Turkish Folk Music Choir will give a meaningful concert for the benefit of LÖSEV on April 30, 2026, at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Centre.

In addition, as of April 30, 2026, we will continue to bring hope to more children through a LÖSEV donation box to be placed in the front garden of our Ataköy Building.

The “Türkiye Violence Map 2025” report, prepared by Assoc. Prof. Ayhan Erbay, Head of the Department of Psychology and Director of ASLAB, under the Istanbul Kültür University Justice and Crime Psychology Laboratory (ASLAB), has been published.

Organized in collaboration between İSKİ and İFSAK (Istanbul Association of Amateur Photographers and Filmmakers), the “Memory of Water: Istanbul’s Historic Waterways” photography exhibition opened on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 15:00 at the IKU Art Gallery in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus of Istanbul Kültür University.

Featuring opening remarks by our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yükseltepe, İSKİ General Manager Assoc. Prof. Şafak Başa, and İFSAK Board Chair Tania Sisa, the exhibition traces the water structures that have shaped Istanbul’s life over the centuries. Arches, dams, cisterns, and fountains are reinterpreted through the medium of photography, reminding visitors of the city’s deep connection with water. The exhibition aims not only to offer a visual experience but also to raise awareness about Istanbul’s water civilization. Curated with contributions from 48 photographers, the exhibition explores the city’s water structures—which hold a significant place in its collective memory—from diverse perspectives through a wide selection of photographs. In this regard, the exhibition holds both aesthetic and documentary value. Open at the İKÜSAG Exhibition Hall until April 24, 2026, the exhibition welcomes everyone who wishes to view Istanbul’s past through a different lens.

The Istanbul Kültür University Faculty of Law, in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Development (SURKAM) and the Center for Criminal Law Application and Research (CEHAMER), organized an event titled “A Global Deadlock: Why Can’t We Make Progress on Gender Equality?” Held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus, the event featured leading experts in the field as speakers.

The opening remarks were delivered by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe; CEHAMER Director, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Bahri Öztürk; and our Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Cemile Gökyayla. Our Vice Rector & SURKAM Director Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil served as the keynote speaker at the event.

Within the scope of the event:

- Structural barriers to gender equality,
- Inequalities created by socio-economic factors,
- The practical implications of legal regulations,
- Gaps between policy formulation and implementation,

were evaluated from a multidimensional perspective.

The program featured discussions on current issues in the field of gender equality through an interdisciplinary approach, alongside evaluations that could contribute to solution-oriented policy development processes. It was emphasized that universities are not merely institutions where education and research activities are conducted; rather, they are pioneering structures where social issues are analyzed, contributions are made to solution-generation processes, and sustainable social impact is created.

Istanbul Kültür University is steadfastly continuing its efforts to develop interdisciplinary collaborations and raise social awareness, particularly in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Although gender equality is one of the most frequently discussed issues on a global scale, the pace of progress still falls short of the desired level. This situation once again demonstrates that the issue is not merely a matter of awareness; it requires a structural, multi-layered, and profound transformation.

In cooperation with the Directorate of Support Services, the Dean of Students Office, and the Turkish Red Crescent, the “Disasters and Protection Awareness Seminar” was held on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 10:00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall at the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. Within the scope of the seminar, information was provided on topics such as the precautions to be taken before a disaster, the correct behaviors during a disaster, and the actions to be taken after a disaster.

Organized by the IKU Psychology Club, a talk titled “The Silent Epidemic of Gambling: Discussing the Hidden Crisis During Gambling Awareness Month” was held on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the multipurpose hall on the first floor of the Ataköy Building, Bakırköy Campus. Clinical Psychologist Bilal Kalender and Specialist Psychologist Helin Laçin participated as speakers. During the event, the psychological, social, and economic effects of gambling addiction, an increasingly widespread yet often invisible problem today, were discussed in detail.

The "MEKAN2025 National Interior Architecture Students Graduation Projects Competition," organized for the twelfth time by the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Istanbul Kültür University, serves as an open call for young interior architecture candidates to introduce themselves and their design philosophies through graduation/diploma projects, which represent a threshold between the education process and the transition to professional formation.

The competition's jury, composed of leading figures from academia and professional practice, convened on Monday, March 16, 2026, to evaluate the participating projects. This year, 38 projects from 15 different universities participated in the competition, which featured graduation/diploma projects from students studying Interior Architecture / Interior Architecture and Environmental Design in Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The projects that won awards, honorable mentions, and jury encouragement awards as a result of the jury's evaluation are as follows:

First Place Award - Kaan Ege Ceylan | MEF University
Second Place Award - Kardelen Usanmaz & Ali Arda Gültekin & Yağmur Tunay | TED University
Third Place Award - Asude Kısaarslan & Rana Kaplan | TED University
Honorable Mention - Aysu Tunç | Istanbul Kültür University
Honorable Mention - Elif Buse Erdoğan | Istanbul Technical University
Honorable Mention - Selin Çiçek | Istanbul Technical University
Jury Encouragement Award - Doğa Akpulat | Yaşar University
Jury Encouragement Award - Alara Aluç & Hazal Buse Bardakcı | TED University
Jury Encouragement Award - Ayşe Aybüke Sert | Istanbul Technical University
Jury Encouragement Award - Süleyman Yıldırım | Hacettepe University | Jury Encouragement Award

The awards ceremony and colloquium for the competition will be held on April 20, 2026, in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall at the Ataköy building on the IKU Bakırköy Campus.

The first event in the “New Trends in Economics” congress series, organized by the Department of Economics at Istanbul Kültür University, will be held on May 13, 2026, at the Küçükçekmece Campus in both face-to-face and online formats.

Within the scope of the first congress, original research papers are invited on topics including, but not limited to, those framed from a Gender Studies perspective: Transformation of Labour Markets, Care Economy, Time Use, Invisible Labour, Poverty, Income Distribution, Education and Human Capital, Finance and Economic Decision-Making, Digital Economy, Migration and Demography, Climate Change and Green Economy, Public Policies, and Institutional Structures.

Registration details, important dates, submission guidelines, abstract and full-text submission information, and other details are available at the link below: https://ekonomi.iku.edu.tr/tr/ekonomide-yeni-egilimler-kongresi

Assoc. Prof. Perihan Taş Öz, Head of the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, was a guest on the program “Gidilmeyen Yol”, prepared and hosted by Prof. Dr. Aslı Kotaman. Broadcast on Apaçık Radio on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 18.00, the program focused on “the traces of unlived lives in literature, cinema, and art.” In this context, our faculty member evaluated the films Aftersun (2022, Charlotte Wells), The Worst Person in the World (2021, Joachim Trier), and Eternity and a Day (1998, Theo Angelopoulos).

Organized by the IKU Vocational School on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the event titled “General Aviation Operations and Career Opportunities” was held with contributions from the IKU Civil Aviation Club. The event was moderated by Lecturer Evren Yılmaz, Head of the Program of Flight Operations Management. Guest speaker Burak Dökme, Ground Services Manager at BONAIR, shared valuable insights and experiences from the aviation sector with our students.

The Department of New Media and Communication organized a “Basic Photography Workshop” on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to improve students’ photography production skills. The workshop, held at the Photography Studio of the Faculty of Art and Design, featured Ahmet Yiğit Ayünal, Founder and Agency President of Fikir Yapım, as the guest speaker. As part of the workshop, students gained hands-on studio experience while learning fundamental elements such as camera and lighting use, framing, and composition.

Eyewear designs prepared by the Istanbul Kültür University Program of Opticianry for the exhibition to be held at our University on April 19, in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy, have been completed. Inspired by Chinese culture, the designs incorporate distinctive Chinese elements as well as themes related to the Year of the Horse.

In collaboration with the Program of Graphic Design and the Awareness Club, a talk titled "Graphic Workshops 1: Reproducible Art and Sustainable Printing" was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Auditorium 4A01 of the İncirli Building at the Bakırköy Campus. Led by Project Coordinator Dr. Ömür Kınay Alkan, the event featured multidisciplinary artist Çiğdem Şenyürek as the speaker. The session included a comprehensive discussion on reproducible art, sustainable printing techniques, and alternative production methods. Throughout the talk, participants had the opportunity to gain theoretical knowledge about sustainable art and printing techniques.

The hands-on workshop planned as part of the Graphic Workshops will take place on March 31, 2026, in Workshop 3A10 at the İncirli Building on the Bakırköy Campus.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the Department of Economics hosted a seminar titled "The Art of Economics," moderated by Assistant Professor Aras Yolusever and featuring a presentation by Professor Ercan Eren. During the seminar, the historical origins of the science of economics were examined from a broad perspective spanning from ancient civilizations to the present day. The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session following Prof. Dr. Ercan Eren’s presentation and the presentation of a commemorative plaque.

In collaboration with the Department of Public Relations and Advertising and the Effective Communication Club, an event titled “Strong Idea, Influential Branding” was held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 13:00.

At the event, which featured Ali İhsan Ozan, Creative Director of H20 Agency, as a guest speaker, students were informed about how a strong idea transforms into a brand identity, the background of creative processes, and the strategic perspective required to make a difference in the industry. Students who attended the event had the opportunity to gain a close understanding of the role of creativity in brand building and the fundamental dynamics of being effective in the world of communication.

Students from the Department of Communication and Design attended the event titled "Botanical Illustration and Application Techniques," held on Monday, March 23. The program, organized with the participation of Banu Kovulmaz, explored the intricacies of botanical illustration, technical details, and the artistic processes of this discipline. During her presentation, Kovulmaz shared her knowledge on the application methods used in botanical illustration and conveyed her experiences regarding observation and practical application in this field to the students.

The “Machine Learning Workshop” was organized on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in collaboration with the IKU Roverium Club and Techcareer.net, with the participation of Instructor Ömer Faruk Doğan.

Our men's football team faced Koç University in a TÜSF Regional 1st League match played at Beykoz Kanlıca Football Field. Our team won the very competitive match 1-0.

Ömür Yağız, a student from the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema of our Faculty of Arts and Design, participated in the American Grappling Championship held in Germany, defeating his opponents and reaching the finals. Our student finished the championship in 3rd place, winning a bronze medal.

We congratulate our students and wish them continued success.

The traditional “Kültür Alumni Breakfast” will be organized by the Istanbul Kültür University Alumni Association (İKÜMED) on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 10.30 in the backyard of the Ataköy Building, Bakırköy Campus.

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

Organized by the Department of Common Courses, the “Atatürk’s Principles and History of Turkish Revolution Course Gatherings” event will be held to provide a general review of topics before the midterm exam of the course. The event will be held in two sessions on Monday, March 30, between 10.00-11.00 and 16.00-17.00 at the Ataköy Building, Bakırköy Campus.

As part of the “Endometriosis Awareness Month,” the Program of Opticianry will organize a talk titled “Women’s Health, Hygiene, and Endometriosis Awareness.” The event, featuring Op. Dr. Salih Yılmaz as the guest speaker, will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 13.00 in classroom 1A01 at the İncirli Building, Bakırköy Campus.

The event titled “Entrepreneurial Economics: Niche Sectors,” organized by the Department of Economics, will explore the practical and theoretical aspects of entrepreneurship in niche markets, drawing on the experiences of Ceylan Yazıcıoğlu, Founder of Maritera. Moderated by Assist. Prof. N. Merve Hamzaoğlu, the event will take place on Monday, March 30th, at 14:00 PM in the Conference Hall of the Küçükçekmece Campus.

Organized by the Department of Library and Documentation as part of the 62nd Library Week, the “Pride and Prejudice” Film Screening event will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 14.00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall at the Ataköy Building, Bakırköy Campus.

The Law Club and the Atatürkist Thought Club are collaborating to organize "Career Talks in Law" to support students' professional development. The event, featuring speakers Lawyer Çağrı Doğan, Lawyer Emir Okur, and Res. Assist. Dr. Caner Gazi, will take place on Monday, March 30, at 16.30 at Kalo's Coffee in Ataköy.

The Program of E-Commerce and Marketing will be organizing an event titled "E-Commerce Operations in Turkish Marketplaces: Trendyol Panel Application," where panel management processes, product listing, and order management stages—considered the backbone of an e-commerce operation—will be demonstrated practically using the Trendyol panel. The event, featuring Digital Transformation Expert M. Levent Elmas as a speaker, will take place on Tuesday, March 31, at 10.00  in classroom 1A01 of the İncirli building at the Bakırköy Campus.

The Department of Library and Documentation will be organizing a guessing game event titled "Unlock the Secrets of Poetry with Artificial Intelligence" on Tuesday, March 31 at 14.00 in the library on the ground floor of the Ataköy building in the Bakırköy Campus, as part of the "62nd Library Week".

Organized by the Political Science and International Relations Club to provide students with discipline-based foreign language practice, the "Speaking Club" event will take place on Tuesday, March 31, from 16:00 to 18:00  in Room A301 at the Küçükçekmece Campus. The event will consist of two separate sessions on the topics "Can war ever be justified?" and "Does social media influence elections?"

The "11th Family Business Congress," organized by the Istanbul Kültür University Family Business and Entrepreneurship Application and Research Center (AGMER), will address the academic and practical dimensions of family business sustainability, intergenerational management, and corporate transformation processes. The congress, themed "The Codes of Successful Family Businesses - Continuity Across Generations, Culture, and Digital Transformation," will take place on April 1–2, 2026, at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Arts Center.

Organized by the Program of Tourism and Hotel Management to support students in their career planning processes, the "Career Days" event will be held on Wednesday, April 1, from 13:00 to 17:00 at the Sheraton Hotel in Levent.

The Departmentof Library and Documentation will be holding a "Silent Reading + Coffee & Chocolate" event on Wednesday, April 1 at 15.00 in the mezzanine library of the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus, as part of the "62nd Library Week".

The Faculty of Law will be organizing a conference titled "Startup Law and Venture Capital Investments" to provide students, alumni, and other participants with theoretical and practical knowledge about startups. The event, featuring Managing Attorney Mustafa Oğuz Madran from Aksan Law Firm as the speaker, will be held online via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, April 1, at 18.00.

The Program of Public Relations and Promotion will be organizing a talk titled "Personal Branding Concept & Digital Leadership" to inform students about data, algorithm, and platform-focused visibility in the new generation of public relations disciplines. The event, featuring Selin Oran, President of Piar Communication Agency, will take place on Thursday, April 2, at 11.30 in the 1A01 amphitheater in the İncirli building at the Bakırköy Campus.

The Department of Digital Game Design will be organizing "Spring Game Jam 2026," an event where students will complete the paper prototyping and play testing process of their game projects under the mentorship of department instructors. The event will take place between April 3-5 in classrooms 1C-11/13 and 1C-07/09, as well as the Game Room on the first floor of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

The IKU Technology Transfer Office will organize an "Erasmus Projects Information Training" to provide information on the general structure of Erasmus projects, application processes, project development stages, and how to establish international collaborations. The program, featuring Grant Projects Coordinator Alican Oktay as the speaker, will be held on Friday, April 3, at 10.00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.