IGU Storm on the International Stage: Bronze Medal from Ahmet Yağan!

Hosted by Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), the International Symposium on the Black Sea and Caspian Basin Countries brought to the forefront key issues such as regional cooperation, energy policies, and the future of the Turkic world. Opening remarks were delivered by Abdülkadir Gayretli, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Gelisim University; Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı, Vice Rector of IGU; and Prof. Volkan Öngel, Rector of Istanbul Beykent University.

Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as part of the Diyarbakır Culture Road Festival, the 3rd International Dicle Documentary and Short Film Festival has opened its doors to cinema enthusiasts in Diyarbakır. Organized in collaboration with Istanbul Gelisim University, SineAkademi, and Dicle University, the festival will take place between October 14–17, 2025, featuring film screenings, panels, workshops, special talks, and social responsibility events — bringing four days of vibrant cultural and artistic activity to the city.

As part of the art events organized by the Istanbul Gelisim University Art and Design Application and Research Center (SATMER), a project painting exhibition by artist Prof. Mustafa Işık was opened at the Istanbul Gelisim Art Gallery. The opening was attended by Vice-Rector Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Prof. Şükran Güzin Ilıcak Aydınalp, and SATMER Director Asst. Prof. Mustafa Günay. The exhibition attracted great interest from art enthusiasts.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) continues to develop new partnerships worldwide in the fields of education, research, and cultural exchange. Within this scope, an IGU delegation signed a Cooperation Protocol with Al-Kunooze University, located in Basra, Iraq, to strengthen academic collaboration between the two institutions. Through this protocol, the two universities aim to take joint steps in various areas, including student and faculty exchange programs, collaborative research projects, scientific publications, online education programs, and community-oriented sustainability initiatives.

Standing out with its initiatives that strengthen social responsibility awareness, Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) is once again preparing to host a comprehensive blood donation campaign this year. The university aims to raise its donation target in 2025 to achieve the Gold Medal. Before the event, teams from the Turkish Red Crescent visited IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin in his office. During the meeting, the Silver Plaque—awarded to the university for its successful blood donation campaign in 2024—was presented to Prof. Şahin. The visit also highlighted the importance of sustainable blood donation initiatives in fostering social solidarity.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2025–2026 Higher Education Academic Year was held at the Presidential Complex with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the ceremony, which brought together university representatives from across Türkiye, the importance of the internationalization of the higher education system, the capacity for scientific production, and the qualified human resources being trained in the defense industry were emphasized.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) participated in the opening ceremony of the Barrier-Free Life House project, initiated by Bakırköy Municipality. The ceremony was attended by IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Şahin, Vice Director of the Vocational School of Health Services Asst. Prof. Nurcihan Tan Erkoç, and Head of the Digital Health Systems Technician Program Lect. Ebru Cengiz. As part of the project, IGU will develop a special educational program to provide various training courses for individuals with disabilities. The programs, conducted by IGU academicians, aim to support the active participation of disabled individuals in social life and enhance their quality of life.

Organized for the first time this year as part of TEKNOFEST 2025, the Quantum Technologies Software Competition was held between September 1–3, 2025, at Gebze Informatics Valley. Out of 94 teams that applied from all over Turkey, 65 teams were selected after the preliminary round, and 10 of them advanced to the finals. The finalists competed over a challenging three-day hackathon to develop innovative solutions in the field of quantum technologies.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Disaster and Emergency Coordination Unit organized a “Disaster and Awareness Training for Staff and Students” in line with the official directive sent by the Istanbul Governorship and the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate. During the training, participants were informed about the “Drop-Cover-Hold On” technique and building evacuation procedures within the framework of workplace emergency plans.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) has achieved another significant success in the 2026 World University Rankings announced by the international higher education ranking organization Times Higher Education (THE). According to the 2026 results, IGU maintained its position in the 1001–1200 band worldwide, ranking 9th among foundation universities, 16th in Türkiye overall, and 2nd in Turkey in the Research Quality category. In the international visibility category, IGU ranked 6th, right after Bogazici University, strengthening Turkey’s position in global higher education with its research strength and international impact capacity.