Great News for 2.5 Million University Candidates

Istanbul Gelisim University continues to bring the world's cultures together on its campus in line with its internationalization vision. The “7th International Student Culture Day”, organized by the International Students Directorate and now a cherished tradition, was held with great enthusiasm in the Section A Garden on May 21, 2026.

Istanbul Gelisim University hosted an important program shedding light on Türkiye's space vision. At a talk titled “Türkiye's First Crewed Space Mission: ISS”, Türkiye's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı came together with students. Held to a large audience, the event addressed Türkiye’s space journey, the National Space Program, and technological developments in the defense industry. The program’s opening remarks were delivered by IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin, who noted that Türkiye has achieved important momentum in space and aviation in recent years and drew attention to the role universities play in this process. Alper Gezeravcı then took the floor and shared his assessments on Türkiye's space activities.

Istanbul Gelisim University continues its career-focused events aimed at preparing students for professional life after graduation. The event titled "Bridging Graduation and Working Life: Career Planning" aimed to help students gain a closer understanding of industry dynamics and contribute to their career planning. Guest speaker Özge Özkan Gezergen, Founder and Human Resources Consultant at Leap Up Career, shared examples from her own career journey and offered important assessments on recruitment processes, the competencies sought in candidates, and career development. In the event, which progressed interactively through a Q&A session, students aimed to gain awareness about the transition from academia to professional life.

Istanbul Gelisim University continues to host cultural and arts events where art meets academia. As part of this tradition, the solo painting exhibition titled "A Touch of the Past 2" (Geçmişe Dokunuş 2) by Prof. İsmail Keskin, Chair of the Graphic Design Department and faculty member at Kocaeli University Faculty of Fine Arts, has opened to a large audience at Istanbul Gelisim Art Gallery, organized in collaboration between Istanbul Gelisim University’s Center for Art and Design (SATMER) and the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA). The opening ceremony was attended by important figures from the art world and numerous art lovers, including IGU FFA Dean Prof. Şükran Güzin Ilıcak Aydınalp, SATMER Director Asst. Prof. Mustafa Günay, renowned painter Basri Erdem, vice deans, academics, and students. As curator Prof. İsmet Çavuşoğlu was abroad and unable to attend the opening, the curatorial address was delivered by Prof. Metin Kuş.

Istanbul Gelisim University continues its academic and industry-oriented events aimed at preparing students for the transforming business world of the future. As part of this effort, the seminar titled “Sustainability: Young Entrepreneurship in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, organized by the Economics and Finance Department of FEASS and the Economics and Finance Student Club, was held to strong student attendance. At the event held in the K Block Firnas Auditorium, the development of AI, its impact on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, sustainable business models, and the working domains of the future were examined.

The “A Symbolic Beginning for Tomorrow's Occupational Safety Specialists: 2nd Hard Hat Ceremony” organized by the Occupational Health and Safety Program at Istanbul Gelisim Vocational School, was held to strong student attendance. In addition to Occupational Health and Safety Program students, numerous students from different programs within the Vocational School attended the event, held at the Istanbul Gelisim University Section G Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar Conference Hall.

The May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day event, organized by Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), was held to a large audience and with great enthusiasm. The program, enriched with musical performances and dance shows reflecting different cultures, gave participants unforgettable moments. At the event held at Istanbul Gelisim University, students and academics came together in a special program bringing the spirit of independence carried by May 19 together with the arts. The IGU Youth Choir took to the stage with its wide repertoire, offering the audience an impressive musical performance. Throughout the program, the IGU Dance Club performed modern dance, Georgian dance, tango, and zeybek (a traditional Turkish folk dance), with the stage performances receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The social responsibility, education, and public awareness-focused work carried out between Istanbul Gelisim University and Bakırköy Municipality was addressed at a special event. Organized by the Career and Alumni Commission of Istanbul Gelisim University’s School of Health Services and the Digital Health Systems Technician Program, the event examined the contribution of university-municipality cooperation to young people's role in community projects. Prior to the program, Bakırköy Mayor Assoc. Prof. Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu paid a visit to IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin at his office. The meeting included assessments on the contribution of university–municipality cooperation to social development, the importance of young people taking an active role in social projects, and the pursuit of sustainable initiatives between local authorities and academic institutions.

"Vicinanza / Nähe," the 85th solo exhibition by Prof. İsmet Çavuşoğlu, a faculty member in the Graphic Design Department of Istanbul Gelisim University's Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), has opened to art lovers in the city of Aosta, Italy. Bringing together abstract and figurative elements, the exhibition reinterprets the concept of "closeness" through an aesthetic language on the international art stage. Organized by Estopia Art Gallery and carrying the title "Vicinanza / Nähe" (Closeness), the exhibition presents the artist's distinctive style, which brings together different disciplines and cultures, to an international audience. Drawing on the multilingual and tourist-friendly character of Aosta, nestled at the foot of the Alps, the exhibition will be on view until May 30.

The "Sustainability"-themed special issues of the Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Social Sciences (IGUSBD) have been published. Prepared under the editorship of Assoc. Prof. Serdar Egeli, the special issues examined the sustainability approach, which prioritizes planning for today with an eye on future generations’ needs, from an academic perspective. A total of 54 studies were published across the special issues, comprising 48 original research articles and 6 review articles. It was reported that approximately 100 submissions were received for the special issues, and that around half of the articles were accepted for publication following the review process.