İstanbul Gelişim University Strengthens International Partnerships at NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo

İstanbul Gelişim University, which draws attention for its investments in sport, its modern infrastructure, and the support it provides to national athletes alongside its academic achievements, continues to bring pride on the international stage. Believing that sport is not merely a physical achievement but also a matter of discipline, determination, and character development, IGU continues to contribute to Turkish sport through the successful athletes it produces. One of the latest examples of these achievements is Elif Sude Akgül. The national athlete, a second-year student in the Coaching Education Department of Istanbul Gelisim University's Faculty of Sport Sciences, won the European Championship in the women's 49 kg category at the European Senior Taekwondo Championships held in Germany, bringing immense pride to both Türkiye and her university.

IGU which draws attention for its internationalization vision, industry-focused educational approach, and academic events bringing students together with the leading names of the business world, continues to bring students together with inspiring figures on their career journeys. As part of events that support the university's applied education approach and contribute to students' direct experience of current industry dynamics, Doğan Group Family Companies Board of Directors Chair M. Erol Çamur met with students at the "Leadership Meetings" event organized by İstanbul Gelişim University's Faculty of Economics, Administrative, and Social Sciences. Held in the Ötüken Conference Hall, the event examined important topics of our time including leadership, the changing business world, technological transformation, continuous development, and financial literacy. The program, which attracted strong student interest, drew attention as an example of the strong bond between academia and industry.

İstanbul Gelişim University continues to draw attention not only through its students' academic achievements but also through their active work in social responsibility, sustainability, and societal impact. Batuhan Aysan, a student in the Visual Communication Design Department of IGU's Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), served as a host at the Green for Youth Summit, organized by the Green for Youth Association, which encourages young people to take an active role in sustainability and social impact. At the event held at Yıldız Technical University Davutpaşa Congress Center, Batuhan Aysan co-hosted the program alongside Elif Ecrin, one of the association's volunteers, playing an active role in the summit's communication and interaction processes. The role taken on by the IGU student at this event, where young people came together on topics of environmental awareness, sustainability, and societal transformation, once again demonstrated the university's student profile focused on social impact.

While continuing its work toward international quality standards, Istanbul Gelisim University has achieved another important milestone. The international accreditations of six (6) departments in various faculties of the university have been renewed and their certificates updated. As a result of the evaluation process carried out by AQAS (Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs), the accreditations of the departments were reconfirmed. As part of the process, the programs' compliance with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) was verified.

İstanbul Gelişim University, which strengthens its understanding of social responsibility not only through academic achievement but also through social solidarity projects, continues to touch society through its students' volunteer-based work. One of the most meaningful examples of these initiatives, which prioritize young people's development in humanitarian and moral values as well as their professional growth, was the "Hatay Children's Festival" project carried out in Hatay.

İstanbul Gelişim University (IGU) participated in the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, held in Orlando, Florida, USA from May 26–29, 2026, making important contacts in line with its internationalization goals. At the event, regarded as one of the world's largest and most prestigious international higher education gatherings, IGU was represented among the 89 higher education institutions and 3 public bodies representing Türkiye under the "Study in Türkiye" Pavilion.

The Public Relations and Promotion Department of İstanbul Gelişim University has launched an exhibition titled "Small Details in Sustainability" (Sürdürülebilirlikte Küçük Detaylar) that brings together environmental awareness and sustainability through art, as part of the "June 1–7 İstanbul Zero Waste Week." The exhibition "Small Details in Sustainability," prepared within the framework of the "Sustainability and Communication" course taught in the department and aimed at raising awareness in the area of sustainability, opened its doors to visitors. Designed by department students Gamze Günde and Özkan Kuru under the coordination of Asst. Prof. İlknur Gümüş, the exhibition will be open for visitors from June 2–5 in the Tower Building, 2nd Floor Foyer Area of İstanbul Gelisim University.

The Gastronomy Festival, organized as a tradition by İstanbul Gelişim University, was held this year under the theme "Street Foods." The event, which brings together experienced figures from the world of gastronomy with students, featured a variety of content from talks to tasting areas. The event, held in the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Hall, was attended by İstanbul Gelişim University Board of Trustees Chair Abdülkadir Gayretli, Rector Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin, Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Serdar Egeli, academics, and students. During the talk organized as part of the program, industry professionals shared their experiences while students had the opportunity to learn about current developments in the field of gastronomy.

İstanbul Gelişim University Board of Trustees Chair Abdulkadir Gayretli, Vice Rector Prof. Arda Öztürkcan, SATMER Director Asst. Prof. Mustafa Günay, and Ramazan Eroğlu paid a courtesy call on Istanbul Governor Davut Gül at his office. The courtesy visit included a comprehensive assessment of İstanbul Gelişim University's development in recent years in the fields of education, science, technology, internationalization, and the arts. The meeting particularly focused on the university's international student potential, its global academic visibility, and its rise in world university rankings.

Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU), which continually expands its competencies in education, research, and applied fields, has added an important new authorization to its institutional standing in civil aviation. IGU has been authorized as a "Training Resource Provider Organization" and "Examination Center" under the Institutional Transformation Model (ITM - KDM) implemented by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA - SHGM).