Istanbul Kültür University; Civil Aviation Cabin Services and Flight Operations Management Programs have been authorized as "Training Resource Providers (ICS)" by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 

The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in line with the dynamics of the rapidly transforming aviation sector on a global scale, is building a holistic ecosystem that directs the sector with the "Digital Transformation Project in Civil Aviation", which enables effective and safe process management independent of distance, time and place. This vision is based on sustainable quality and standardization in all processes from education to measurement and evaluation, from accessibility to information security. 

As Istanbul Kültür University; we are very pleased and proud to receive the Training Resource Provider authorization by fully fulfilling all the requirements determined by the DGCA in line with our approach that closely follows the changing industry expectations, integrates the contemporary education approach with technological developments and is based on continuous improvement. With this authorization, our aviation programs will continue to strengthen their training and evaluation activities on a transparent, traceable and secure infrastructure that is fully compliant with national and international regulations.

Our university, in this digital and institutional transformation ecosystem created by DGCA, considers it a fundamental responsibility to make a strategic contribution to the development of Turkish civil aviation and to bring qualified, well-equipped and compatible human resources to the sector in line with the requirements of the current age. In this direction; we will continue to support all kinds of strategies, projects and collaborations that center on modern education models, digitalization, simulation and technology-supported learning approaches at the institutional and sectoral level. 

With the strength from Turkish aviation's deep-rooted history; we are taking firm steps forward and reinforcing our vision of being among the few institutions that are preferred nationally and internationally who make a difference with their alumni and offer world-class education, with our digital competencies. We believe that this authorization will give a significant acceleration to new projects and sustainable successes that will bring our university's academic knowledge together with the sector more strongly.

We would like to thank all our academicians and stakeholders, especially the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, who contributed and contributed to this process; we respectfully announce to the public that we are honored to move forward together in works that will add value to Turkish Civil Aviation.

The first workshop of the "Corporate Sustainability and Sectoral Transformation Meetings" series, organized in collaboration between Istanbul Kültür University Sustainable Development Center (IKU SÜRKAM) and the Sustainable Education Development and Excellence Association (SEGM), was held on February 12, 2026, at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building of Istanbul Kültür University's Bakırköy Campus, with high attendance.

A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Sectoral Transformation

Organized in partnership with PLASFED - Plastics Industry Federation, the workshop addressed the sustainable transformation agenda of the plastics sector from a multi-dimensional perspective.

Increasing environmental obligations on a global scale, regulations within the framework of the European Green Deal, carbon footprint management, circular economy practices, and ESG reporting standards directly affect all processes of the plastics industry, from production to export.

In this context, the workshop covered:

- Resource efficiency and waste management in production processes
- Integration of sustainability into the supply chain
- Regulatory compliance and risk management
- ESG performance indicators and corporate reporting
- Competitive strength and strategic positioning.

These matters were comprehensively evaluated with contributions from academics, industry representatives, and expert participants.

Sustainability is Kültür!
Together for a sustainable future!

Organized within the scope of the ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program conducted by IKUANTS TEKMER, ANTSPARK Demoday 2026 brought together key stakeholders of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, including investors, mentors, and public sector representatives. At the event held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the entrepreneurs who received training and mentorship during the program found the opportunity to present their projects in front of the jury members and investors.

ANTSPARK Demoday began with a networking session. During this session, entrepreneurs engaged in one-on-one interactions with jury members, investors, mentors, and ecosystem representatives, introducing their projects and initiating initial contacts for potential collaborations and investment processes.

The event continued with opening speeches. In the opening session, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, Rector of Istanbul Kültür University; Duygu Yücesoy Manyaslı, Director of KOSGEB İkitelli; and Gülce Öğrüç Ildız, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of IKUANTS TEKMER, emphasized the importance of university–public–entrepreneurship ecosystem collaborations and highlighted the contributions of pre-incubation programs to entrepreneurs.

Following the opening speeches, the stage was given to the entrepreneurs participating in the ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program. The entrepreneurs presented their projects—developed through months of intensive training and mentorship—to jury members and investors.

The event was successfully conducted through the presentations of Alperen Tağman, Coordinator of the ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program. During the presentations, jury members and investors asked interactive questions focusing on business models, market strategies, scalability, and investment potential, and carried out their evaluations accordingly.
After the completion of the entrepreneur presentations, the jury evaluation process concluded. Following the evaluations, jury members delivered short remarks and shared their feedback with the entrepreneurs. As a token of appreciation for their valuable contributions, gifts were presented to the jury members by the IKUANTS TEKMER team.

During the award ceremony held as part of the Demoday event, cash prizes were awarded to the entrepreneurs who ranked among the top teams, provided by IKUANTS TEKMER. In addition, AKINSOFT, recognized for its valuable contributions to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, provided TaskPano and CMS Software awards to the top three entrepreneurs.

Throughout the ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program, collaborations carried out with Startup Centrum and Malogra Consulting, which significantly contributed to the development of the entrepreneurs, strengthened the program’s training and mentorship structure.

In the closing speech, gratitude was extended to the investors, mentors, jury members, and all stakeholders who contributed to the program, and it was emphasized that IKUANTS TEKMER will continue to support entrepreneurs and prepare them for the next stage of incubation.

ANTSPARK Demoday 2026 was successfully concluded as a strong organization that brought entrepreneurs together with investors, fostered meaningful collaborations, and added value to the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

We have added a new milestone to our efforts carried out with the vision of a sustainable future.

In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), you can explore the activities we conducted throughout the year and the outcomes we achieved in our 2025 Sustainability Report.

In this report, you will find:

- Our initiatives implemented within the scope of the UN SDGs
- The University’s current position in international rankings and indices such as THE Impact -Rankings, UI GreenMetric, SCImago, and EduRank
- Sustainability-themed scientific publications produced with the contributions of our academic units and research centers
- SDG-focused course content integrated into our curriculum.

The report is available under the “Reports and Publications” section on the website of the Sustainable Development Center (IKU SÜRKAM).

Sustainability is Kültür!
Together for a sustainable future!

The exhibition and pop concert event, organized in cooperation with Bakırköy Municipality and Istanbul Kültür University, brought art lovers together and once again revealed the unifying power of culture and art in Bakırköy. 

The event held on Wednesday, February 18 was attended by many including Bakırköy Municipality Council Deputy Chairman Çiğdem Kırıkoğlu, Cultural Affairs Director Mitat Yolcu, IKU Department Head of Art and Cultural Management Prof. Dr. Reyhan Uludağ, İspirtohane Cultural Center Art Teacher Gökhan Uğur and IKU General Music Coordinator Timuçin Sezerel. 

The group exhibition consisting of 40 works prepared by İspirtohane Cultural Center Art Teacher Gökhan Uğur and his students was highly appreciated. These works were included in the exhibition as a powerful reflection of disciplined labor and creative expression. 

IKU General Music Coordinator Timuçin Sezerel and his students Orchestra IKU added color to the night with a concert of Turkish pop songs. 

The event drew attention to the importance of supporting art through local governments and academic institutions, and the sustainability of cultural collaborations was underlined. While the exhibition and concert program reinforced the cultural dynamism of Bakırköy they also reminded once again the power of art to establish social bonds and produce common value.

Assist. Prof. Pelin Özfiliz Kılbaş and Assist. Prof. Sinan Meriç, faculty members of MOBIGEN, were awarded the First Prize at the ANTSPARK Demo Day event held on February 18, 2026, with the entrepreneurial ideas they developed within the scope of the Pre-Incubation Program they joined three months ago under IKUANTS TEKMER.

We congratulate our faculty members on this significant achievement, obtained by combining their academic expertise with an entrepreneurial vision, and wish them continued success in their efforts to produce, innovate, and create added value.

Organized by the Dean of Students Office Kültür Point, the "Red Bull Basement" event was held on February 11-12 at the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. In the "Red Bull Basement" event, a global ideas competition that encourages students to produce innovative and sustainable solutions to global and local problems, students presented their ideas in English for 2-3 minutes via tablet in a specially set up booth.

The event, which aims to develop solutions to social problems such as drought and earthquakes with a focus on technology and innovation, attracted great interest from students. A total of 240 students applied for the project and participated in the organization over two days.

The winning team selected from Türkiye will have the opportunity to present their projects in Silicon Valley. As it is a global company organization, the process is conducted in line with the principles of idea security and transparency.

The “Patentnovation 2026” event, organized in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office and the Vocational School, was successfully completed by bringing together representatives from academia and industry on the same platform. Within the scope of the program, which addressed the journey from idea to patent through practical discussions, comprehensive information was provided on patent awareness, patentable fields, national and international application processes, and the preparation of invention disclosure forms.

At the event held on Wednesday, February 18, Patent Experts Ozan Garipoğlu and İlker Erken participated as speakers, sharing technical details and field experience regarding application processes and making valuable contributions to the program.

Res. Assist. Buğra Mert Alkayalar, a faculty member of the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, has been awarded support by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cinema, for his animation film project titled “Kitab-ül Gayb,” which he will direct and write.

The film, with animation work to be carried out by illustrator Mustafa Göçmezler, is a free adaptation of Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar’s novel “Ölüler Yaşıyorlar mı?” and tells a Lovecraftian horror story set in 1890s Istanbul. The project holds the distinction of being Türkiye’s first animated film in the horror genre.

We congratulate our faculty member and wish him continued success in the journey of his film.

The project titled “Protection of Cultural Heritage in Disasters – Network Building 2 (PROCULTHER-NET 2)”, which aims to establish a multinational, multi-stakeholder, and multi-sectoral structure capable of providing guidance to support preparedness measures and response efforts for the protection of cultural heritage in disasters and emergencies, is carried out by the Italian Civil Protection Department. Within the scope of the project, in which Türkiye participates as a beneficiary country, an international workshop titled “Development of a European-Level Damage and Impact Assessment Tool for Endangered Cultural Heritage” was organized in Bursa between 9–12 February 2026 under the coordination of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

Hosted by the Bursa Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management, the event brought together 80 experts in the field of cultural heritage from 19 countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and Sweden). As part of the workshop, a common European methodology for assessing potential damage to cultural heritage assets following disasters was evaluated at a technical level. This event aimed to strengthen the integration of cultural heritage into disaster management systems, enhance technical harmonization among countries, and contribute to the development of a standardized methodology applicable across Europe.

Prof. Dr. Neslihan Dostoğlu, faculty member of the Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, participated in the international technical workshop and field exercise and delivered a presentation at the opening session.

Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School continues its determined efforts to improve students' foreign language proficiency. In this context, an evaluation meeting was held regarding the collaboration processes that could be carried out with Pearson.

The meeting was attended by Assist. Prof. Özay Şeker, Deputy Director of the School of Foreign Languages; Lecturer Ayşegül Gezek; Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özer, Director of the Vocational School; our Vocational School Deputy Directors; and our Program of Aviation teaching staff.

The meeting discussed initiatives that could be implemented to support the foreign language development of Vocational School students, particularly Program of Aviation students. In this context, the assessment of students' foreign language levels, the conduct of needs analyses, the planning of preparations for internationally recognized exams and certification processes, and applications that would contribute to students' career development were evaluated.

The Istanbul Kültür University Continuous Education Application and Research Center (IKUSEM) has been authorized by the Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK) to conduct personnel certification activities under the 15UY0215-6/01 Coach Level 6 National Qualification.

In line with this authorization, the audit process conducted by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) was successfully completed. Following the audit conducted by Lead Auditor Doğu Sarhan Demir and Auditor Canan Topçu, IKUSEM successfully passed the evaluation process.

Simultaneously with the audit process, the first certification exam in this field was also successfully conducted, thus officially commencing IKUSEM's certification activities under the Coach Level 6 National Qualification.

IKUSEM will continue to contribute to the sector and certify the competencies of qualified professionals through its certification activities conducted within the framework of quality assurance and national qualifications.

Didem Özdemir, a 2022 graduate of the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Kültür University (IKU); She earned an award in a competition held as part of the "16th Concrete Prefabrication Symposium" organized by the Turkish Prefabricated Association with her master's thesis titled "Structural Analysis of High-Rise Prefabricated Reinforced Concrete Systems," which she completed in 2025 under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Kuruşcu at Yıldız Technical University's Department of Construction.

We congratulate our graduate and wish her continued success.

The Program of Public Relations and Promotion at Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School held a talk titled "Global Trends in Public Relations and the Changing Communication Ecosystem" on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 14:00.

The event, featuring Bahar Ünal Communication Consultancy Agency President Gürsu Bahar Önel as the speaker, addressed current approaches that stand out globally in the field of public relations, the effects of digitalization on the communication ecosystem, and the changing dynamics of the sector.

The talk, which attracted significant interest from students, offered an inspiring perspective by blending theoretical knowledge with sectoral experience. Conducted interactively with a question-and-answer session, the event provided an important opportunity for students to enhance their professional awareness.

Assist. Prof. Ayşe Duygu Atasoy Aktaş, a faculty member of the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, has published her book titled “Artificial Intelligence Technologies and Digital Platforms” through Kriter Publishing.

Addressing the rise of digital broadcasting and the transformation created by artificial intelligence technologies in the media world, the book examines how digital platforms which rapidly reshape viewing habits operate, how they influence user behaviour, and how they redefine the boundaries of content consumption.

We congratulate our faculty member and wish her continued success.

The Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School 2025-2026 Spring Semester Academic Board Meeting was held on February 17, 2026.

During the meeting, general planning for the new semester, academic processes, and development-oriented working topics were comprehensively evaluated. Views were exchanged on further strengthening the quality of education and training activities in line with the institutional goals. At the end of the meeting, our academicians who had completed their doctoral processes were congratulated, and this significant academic achievement was shared.

Our Men's Football Team, which will compete in the Istanbul Group of the Turkish University Sports Federation (TÜSF) Intercollegiate 1. League, faced Istanbul Atlas University in a friendly match on Thursday, February 19 at 12.00 at Bahçelievler Special Provincial Administration Stadium. Our football team, which will play its first league match against Istanbul Galata University on February 24, 2026, continues their work without slowing down. 

Our student Şahan Samet Bodur, who successfully represented our university in the Turkish University Sports Federation (TÜSF) Unilig Turkey Universities Muay Thai Championship, won the Silver Medal for our university as second place in Turkey. As every year, we congratulate our student who received a medal this year and wish him continued success.

Students who have successfully completed their studies in the Program of Civil Aviation Cabin Services and the Program of Civil Air Transportation Management have begun their 2025-2026 Spring Semester internship programs at TGS Ground Services Inc., one of the leading companies in the aviation sector.

Educated by a competent academic staff, with a practice-oriented approach and strong industry collaborations, our students will have the opportunity to transform their theoretical knowledge and professional skills into practical experience within a professional working environment.

We wish our students success in their internship processes and extend our sincere thanks to TGS Ground Services Inc. for their valuable contributions and collaboration.

On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MOBIGEN) hosted Dr. Jan Yağız AKDAŞ, one of our 2016 alumni. Dr. Jan Yağız AKDAŞ, a Post-Doc at the Technical University of Munich, gave detailed information about the roles of CTBP1 in cellular energy and cancer metabolism with his presentation titled "The Role of CTBP1 in Cellular Energetics". He also shared his experiences with postgraduate education in Germany.

Students of the Program of E-Commerce and Marketing at the IKU Vocational School participated in the Global Career Summit held at Taksim Grand Pera between February 10-12, 2026.

Bringing together leading figures of the sector and executives of global companies, the summit provided our students with the opportunity to closely follow current developments in digital transformation, strategic planning, and the future of the business world.

Offering a valuable platform to reinforce their academic knowledge with sectoral experience and to expand their professional networks, this visionary organization proved to be a highly productive and inspiring experience for our students.

IKU Vocational School organized an event titled “Becoming a Flight Dispatcher in the New DGCA System” on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Held with the contributions of the Civil Aviation Club, the event brought together experienced professionals from the sector with our students, who shared valuable insights into the new DGCA system, the flight operations specialist process, and career opportunities in the field.

A “Business English” training session will be organized by the Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point on Monday, February 23, via the CATS platform to support our students and alumni in their career planning processes.

Organized by the Psychology Club, the “7th Psychology Days,” themed “The Courage of Vulnerability: Psychological Flexibility,” will be held with the aim of enhancing students’ professional competencies, introducing them to different areas of specialization, and supporting them in developing a vision grounded in ethical principles. The event will feature distinguished experts in their respective fields, and will take place on February 23-24 between 10.30 and 16.30 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center, located in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

"Career Preparation Trainings" will be organized by the Dean of Students-Kültür Point on Tuesday, February 24 on the CATS platform in order to support the career planning processes of our students and alumni.

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering will organize an "Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awareness Seminar" in order to raise awareness about entrepreneurship and innovation in our students. The event, where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meri Taksi Deveciyan, one of our academicians from the Department of International Trade and Finance will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 11.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus

By the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design; a talk titled "Colors I_archisections" will be held in order to create a dialectical discussion environment on "Culture and Color Codes" in the context of art, architecture and environment. The event, where Art Historian & Writer Serda Büyükkoyuncu and Lecturer Dr. Architect Sevinç Ormancı will be the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, February 24 at 13.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The Program of Graphic Design will host a talk titled "From Practice to Profession: Graphic Design Experiences" to support our students in their career planning processes. The event, featuring Proba Media Founder Kağan Tiftik as the speaker, will take place on Tuesday, February 24, at 15:00 in the 1A01 amphitheater of the İncirli building on the Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with the IKU Creative Club and the Department of Public Relations and Advertising, the "Creative Talks VI" event will be held to inform students on topics such as "Digital Marketing," "Social Media," and "Advertising Strategies." The event, featuring speakers Akın Aksekili, Mert Berke Civan, Yeşim Yeşilcimen, Sena Fırat, and Ceren Beypınar, will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 11:00  in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall at the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

IKU Faculty of Science and Letters continues to organize "Coffee is Just an Excuse Meetings" with the aim of sharing important research and studies in the field of Basic Science and Social Sciences. The seminar titled "The Game of Chess from an Esoteric Perspective," featuring Prof. Dr. Tunç Mısırlıoğlu from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 15:00 in the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Department of English Language and Literature will organize an "Alumni Panel" for our graduates to share their experiences with our students. The event, featuring our graduates Dilşah Selanik Görede, Eda Sönmez, Rahman Görede, Alicem Elverdi, Sena Damla Özer, and Mustafa Kurtuldu as speakers, will be held on Thursday, February 26, at 13:00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall at the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Vocational School will hold an "Erasmus Staff Mobility Information Meeting" to answer all questions related to Erasmus. The event, featuring IKU International Relations Unit Senior Specialist Miray Akaydın as the speaker, will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 13:30 at the İncirli building on the Bakırköy Campus.