IGU Student Ahmet Yağan Claims Silver at European Wrestling Championship

The award ceremony for the "700 Years of Bursa" Photography Competition, organized by the Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Center for Art and Design Studies (SATMER) for middle and high school students in Bursa, was held at Bursa Gökkuşağı College on March 25, 2026. Students who placed in the competition, in which young talents captured Bursa's historical and cultural heritage through their lenses, received their awards.

Ahmet Yağan, a student in the Exercise and Sport Sciences Department of Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul Gelisim University, achieved a remarkable result at the U23 European Wrestling Championship held in Serbia. Competing in the freestyle 86 kg category, the national athlete finished the tournament as the European runner-up, claiming the silver medal.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) participated for the first time in the APAIE 2026 International Education Fair, held in Hong Kong from February 24-26, 2026, one of the most prestigious international higher education events in the Asia-Pacific region. IGU was represented at the fair by a delegation comprising Vice Rector for Research and Development Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı, Vice Rector for Education, Training, and Planning Prof. Nuri Kuruoğlu, International Exchange and Cooperation Office (IECO) Director Alisa Usubova, and IECO Assistant Specialist Yaren Ergenç. Over the course of the four-day event, the university delegation held one-on-one meetings with approximately 60 universities. Discussions covered topics including student and academic exchanges under the Erasmus+ program, bilateral cooperation agreements, joint research projects, double degree opportunities, and short-term academic programs.

Istanbul Gelisim University has achieved a significant milestone under Erasmus+, one of the European Union’s most important programs in education, youth, and innovation. The university submitted its first project application as a coordinating institution to the KA220-VET program, the Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training call, with a focus on Gastronomy and Culinary Arts education in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. This initiative presents an international cooperation model aimed both at advancing digitalization in gastronomy education and at developing innovative solutions to the infrastructure and cost challenges encountered in vocational training processes.

The project titled “Development of a Device for Creating Controlled-Modified Atmosphere in Refrigerators and Its Application in Extending the Shelf Life of Different Food Groups” has been selected for support under the Research Universities Project (ADEP). The project is led by Assoc. Prof. Hasan Cankurt of Yıldız Technical University, with Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Vice Rector Prof. S. Arda Öztürkcan and other IGU academics serving as researchers. Carrying a total budget of 2,390,000 TL and running over 24 months, the project aims to develop an innovative device capable of extending the freshness of different food groups by creating a controlled and modified atmosphere inside refrigerators.

Asst. Prof. Bülent Tansel from the Psychology Department of Istanbul Gelisim University’s Faculty of Economics, Administrative, and Social Sciences has been invited as a keynote speaker to the International Conference on Mental Health and Intercultural Communities (ICONIC 2026), organized by the Psychology Doctoral Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang. The conference, to be held in Indonesia from September 9-11, 2026, aims to bring together international scholars on the topics of mental health and intercultural communities. Asst. Prof. Tansel is expected to make significant contributions to the conference through his academic work in the field of mental health and his interdisciplinary approach.

The SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) 2026 results, which evaluate universities based on research performance, innovation, and societal impact using the Scopus database, have been announced. Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) stood out in the results for its rising research performance and strong position in engineering. According to SCImago 2026, Istanbul Gelisim University ranked 29th overall in Türkiye. Among foundation universities, IGU retained its 6th-place standing, as it had the previous year.

The Webometrics World University Rankings, which evaluate universities on the basis of academic performance, scientific output, digital visibility, and open-access policies, have been announced. Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) posted a standout performance in the 2026 results of this ranking, which reflects higher education institutions’ standing on a global scale. In line with its “Research University” vision, IGU placed 1,364th in the world rankings, 28th in Türkiye, and 4th among foundation universities.

Istanbul Gelisim University Women's Volleyball Team delivered a dominant performance from start to finish against Istanbul Biruni University. Standing out with their effective serves, powerful attacks, and strong team cohesion on the court, the IGU side gave their opponents no opportunities and finished the match with a 3-0 victory.

The project titled "Disaster Logistics Field Preparedness: Warehouse Setup and Distribution Process Training with Youth," prepared by the IGU Supply Chain Club under the University Student Communities Cooperation and Support Program administered by the General Directorate of Youth Services, has been accepted. The project is advised by Lecturer Emine Öztürk Koçali from the Logistics Program at Istanbul Gelisim Vocational School, and will be carried out under the direction of Hatice Fıçıcı, a Logistics Department student at Istanbul Gelisim Vocational School. Lecturer Vefa Sümeyye Korkmaz from the Air Logistics program and Asst. Prof. Kaan Koçali from the Occupational Health and Safety program, both at Istanbul Gelisim Vocational School, will serve as instructors in activities focused on training content, field applications, and site preparedness. The project will also include training sessions with participants from AFAD, Avcılar Municipality, and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipatily.