The Magna Charta Universitatum 2020 Document, the international declaration that sets out the basic principles in the missions of universities, was signed at a ceremony held at King's College London Strand Campus. At the signing ceremony attended by 6 universities from Türkiye, Istanbul Kültür University was represented by our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe. The event, which also hosted a series of conferences on academic freedom, ethics, faculty and student interaction and research and governance between November 11-13, discussed the universal mission of the academy.

Our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, who signed the Magna Charta Universitatum 2020, summarized the importance of the document for our university as follows:

"Universities have responsibilities in transforming the world into a better place as well as their science and research missions. Magna Charta Universitatum is a universal statement that emphasizes these principles of universities. At the ceremony, we represented our country's higher education as well as our universities."

Drawing attention to the universal mission of Magna Carta Universitatum, our Rector Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe said, "MCU has also opened an important window for our own field of duty. The importance of leadership training programs for rectors was discussed. The importance of playing a good role that transforms society and providing support for the development of leadership skills were among the topics underlined. In addition, the emphasis on diversity, inclusion and equality in universities was also discussed."

In cooperation with ATAMER and Atatürkist Thought Club, accompanied by Club Advisor Lecturer Ceren Çilek, a visit to Anıtkabir was organized on November 15, 2025.

Our students, in the spiritual presence of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, commemorated their ancestor with feelings of gratitude and respect. During the visit held at Anıtkabir, the students had the opportunity to observe the importance of Atatürk's principles and reforms once again.

Within the scope of the program, after the visit to Anıtkabir, the participants visited the First and Second Grand National Assembly buildings and Ankara Palace, which left their mark on Turkish political history and the cultural atmosphere of the first years of the Republic, and made detailed examinations. Students had the chance to get to know the role of these historical buildings in the founding process of the Republic and the social-political structure of their periods.

The visit was an extremely meaningful experience for the students in terms of both historical awareness and commitment to the values of the Republic.

The international workshop session of “ECIT 2025 – Engaging with Contemporary Issues in Türkiye” was held on Friday, November 14, under the coordination of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and in collaboration with the Department of Economics, with the participation of students and academics from the University of Westminster (UK) and Kasetsart University (Thailand).

The session featured academic contributions from faculty members of the University of Westminster, Kasetsart University, and Balıkesir University. In addition, Assist. Prof. Ahmet Ertürk from our Department of Political Science and International Relations, and Dr. Şerif Yüksel from our Department of International Trade and Finance delivered presentations. Bringing together our faculty members, students, and guest participants, the event concluded with a productive Q&A session, after which participating students received their certificates.

The Program of Tourism and Hotel Management at Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) Vocational School has successfully completed the accreditation process.

The special screening and discussion of our Department of Radio, Television and Cinema student Orçun Poyraz's short film "Everett Yorumu", which was a finalist at the Los Angeles Fantasia Film Festival, was successfully held on November 17, 2025.

International Success Was Celebrated on Campus
Our student Orçun Poyraz, who achieved international success with "Everett Yorumu," which he wrote and directed, met with the audience at the event organised by the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema.

The screening took place at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building on the IKU Bakırköy Campus.

Director Discusses Behind-the-Scenes of the Film
The discussion segment of the event was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Gizem Şimşek Kaya, at the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema. Orçun Poyraz, writer and director of the film, gave a detailed account of the film's creative process to the audience.

Poyraz shared his approach to combining science fiction and drama genres, the theme of the multiverse (Everett Interpretation) at the core of the work, and the challenges of independent filmmaking. Participants asked the director questions about both the acting process and technical issues.

Contributing Student Team

Producer: Mert Hançer
Director of Photography: Nihat Mamedov
Assistant Directors: Selin Karakurt and Shawqe Ahmed
Sound: Eren Asılbay and Tunahan Yalçınkaya
Camera Assistant: Mustafa Paşa
Lighting Assistant: Arda Çatak
Editing: Shawqe Ahmed
Art Direction: Duru Güre and Sudenur Bozkurt
Runner/DIT: Emirhan Özgöz
Supervisor: Halil Berat Aydın

As Istanbul Kültür University, we once again congratulate our student Orçun Poyraz and his valuable team, and wish them a continued success.

The ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program, conducted by IKUANTS TEKMER, continues to equip entrepreneurs with the competencies they need throughout their journey from the idea stage to commercialization. During the program’s first week, both an introductory meeting and a series of valuable training sessions were held with the contributions of experts in their fields.

Following the introductory and informatory meeting on November 17, 2025, entrepreneurs embarked on an intensive training schedule.

On November 18, 2025, the training session titled “Entrepreneurship 101: Fundamental Concepts” was delivered by Assist. Prof. Artür Yetvart Mumcu, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, who is widely recognized for his experience in the ecosystem.

On November 20, 2025, the training session titled “Entrepreneurship: Steps from Idea to Venture” was successfully conducted by field expert Nizamettin Sami Harputlu.

A full schedule awaits the entrepreneurs in the program’s second week:

- November 24, 2025, 15.00-18.00 – “Business Model Canvas & Lean Canvas Training” – Müge Bezgin
- November 25, 2025, 15.00-18.00 – “Market Research and Feasibility of Ideas Training” – Filiz Aksoy
- November 27, 2025, 15.00-18.00 – “Psychological Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Flexibility Development Workshop” – Assist. Prof. Meryem Demir Güdül

IKUANTS TEKMER aims not only to provide entrepreneurs with technical knowledge, but also to cultivate essential competencies for a strong entrepreneurial journey, including mental resilience, market-oriented thinking, and business model development skills. The ANTSPARK Pre-Incubation Program will continue to support entrepreneurs in the upcoming weeks with comprehensive training sessions and mentorship.

In cooperation with the Department of Nursing, the Ministry of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey and the Mor Çatı Women's Shelter Foundation, a symposium titled "The Right to a Safe Life: Approaches That Make a Difference in Combating Violence Against Women" was held. In the symposium held on Tuesday, November 18 at our Bahçelievler Campus, Psychologist Tuğçe Dülger, Psychologist Miray Özden Kıran Nirgiz and Expert Psychologist Ayşegül Özadak attended as speakers.

The 13th Architecture and Education Congress, organised biennially since 2001 and bringing its achievements to the forefront of the architectural agenda, was held at Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts on November 14-15, in memory of Prof. Dr. Orhan Hacıhasanoğlu, under the theme "Architecture and Education in the Face of Disasters". The congress, which addresses the issues of architectural education and architecture based on formation, restructuring, continuity, transition, authority and responsibility, development and diversification, looks for solutions through cooperation between the architectural society and universities.

At the 13th conference, Prof. Dr. Neslihan Dostoğlu, a faculty member of the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, gave a presentation titled "Architecture and Admission to the Profession Commission (MİMeKK): Goals and Expectations" as a member of the Architects' Chamber Architecture and Admission to the Profession Commission (MİMeKK).

The Diploma Projects Exhibition organised as part of the congress featured the project of Abdulrahman Al Tayeb, who graduated in the Spring Semester of 2024-25 and is currently pursuing his master's degree at Politecnico di Milano.

As part of the symposium titled “The Right to a Safe Life: Approaches that Make a Difference in Combatting Violence Against Women” organized in collaboration with the Department of Nursing, the Ministry of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye, and the Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation, a poster design competition on the theme “Violence Against Women” was organized. The first-place award went to Melisa Karaduman, the second-place award to Ebru Ülkün Kurt, and the third-place award to Esma Aydoğdu. We congratulate our students and wish them continued success.

In collaboration with Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School (MYO) and Design Factory, a conference titled "The Strange World of Quantum: How Real is Reality?" was held on November 18, 2025, at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. The event, featuring a speech by the Director of the Vocational School, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özer, took participants on a wonderful journey through the complex and fascinating world of quantum physics.

The project titled "Design of an Electronic Nose-Based Pesticide Detection System," prepared by Res. Assist. Ahmet Aytuğ Ayrancı, one of our faculty members in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, has been deemed worthy of support by the Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Unit.

The project aims to detect pesticide residues in agricultural products quickly, reliably and portably using an electronic nose system. The prototype system to be developed is expected to make significant contributions to both academic research and the development of smart agriculture technologies.

We congratulate Res. Assist. Ahmet Aytuğ Ayrancı on this important achievement and wish him success in the process.

Prof. Dr. Neslihan Dostoğlu, a faculty member of the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, served as moderator at the Historical Bazaar and Caravanserai District Workshop held on November 5, 2025, with the aim of making the Historical Bazaar and Caravanserai District, located in the heart of Bursa and one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, to become resilient to disasters by preserving its historical, cultural, social and economic values and to transfer it to the future with confidence.

Students from the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema met with representatives from the SETEM Film Production Workshop on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, as part of the course “STV 1004 Screenwriting Techniques.” Conducted under the instruction of Assoc. Prof. Perihan Taş Öz, the workshop offered students an opportunity to closely explore current production support mechanisms in the film industry.

During the workshop, comprehensive information was provided on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s film production supports, application requirements, evaluation process, and sectoral trends. Students were able to receive direct expert feedback on key strategic points to consider in their own project development processes.

With its interactive format, the workshop provided future filmmakers with both theoretical and practical perspectives, making a slight contribution to the course’s learning objectives.

On Monday, November 17, 2025, IKU Vocational School organised an event titled "Those Who Make a Difference: Aret Vartanyan" at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Centre in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. The event, which saw a high turnout, offered rich content in terms of both knowledge and raising awareness.

Aret Vartanyan addressed topics such as individual awareness, staying in the moment, and personal transformation using examples from real life, providing participants with intellectual depth. The event was moderated by Lecturer Gökay Kalaycıoğlu.

At the end of the event, Vartanyan sincerely answered participants' questions, clarifying points of interest.

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering held a seminar titled "Acrome Automatic Control and Robotics Systems" on Friday, November 7, with the participation of representatives from Acrome, a company conducting research on automatic control and robotics systems.

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) held an informational presentation for students of the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema regarding the TÜBİTAK 2209-A and 2209-B Undergraduate Research Projects Support Program.

During the session, the purpose of the program which encourages undergraduate students to develop research projects in collaboration with their academic advisors, along with its application procedures, evaluation criteria, and scope of support were shared with students. It was also emphasized that this program, which aims to strengthen research culture, offers an important experiential opportunity for students.

TTO specialists noted that our university achieved a total of 33 successful projects last year, including 31 under the 2209-A program and 2 under the 2209-B program, and stated that this year a minimum target of three successful projects has been set for each department. Students asked questions regarding developing research ideas in their fields, preparing applications, and advisory processes, gaining insight for designing their future projects.

The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering held a seminar on “Lifelong Learning” on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The seminar, featuring Alen Güler, Senior DevOps Engineer at Turknet, as the speaker, took place in Amphitheatre 1 on the B1 floor of the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus.

The Department of Radio, Television and Cinema organized a technical field trip on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with the participation of first-year students, aiming to strengthen the department’s hands-on-learning approach.

As part of the event, students had the opportunity to conduct practical exercises on outdoor filming techniques, natural light usage, creative image production with mobile devices, and planning shoots under field conditions. Through on-site applications carries out in real environments, they enhanced their essential practical skills in cinematography, visual aesthetics, and editing disciplines.

Throughout the technical trip, students practiced various shooting scenarios under the guidance of their instructors, carrying out exercises on camera movements, framing, and achieving professional-quality visuals using mobile devices.

In cooperation with the Faculty of Education and the Teachers Academy Foundation (ÖRAV), an event will be held on Monday, November 24 between 10.00-17.00 at the Küçükçekmece Campus Conference Hall to celebrate "November 24 Teachers Day".

As part of the "IFS on Campus" event organised in collaboration between Istanbul Film Station and Cineshort, the "BerlinAle Carte" selection, comprising short films from the Berlinale, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, will be screened at Istanbul Kültür University (IKU). The event, featuring İstanbul Film Station Curator Çiğdem Beder as a speaker, will be held on Monday, November 24, at 14:00 in the Film Studio on the ground floor of the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with the Societal Gender Equality Club and the Child Studies Club, a workshop titled "Letters of Equality: A Letter to the Teachers of the Future" will be held on Monday, November 24, at 14:00 in the multipurpose hall on the first floor. During the workshop, letters will be written to the potential teachers of the future, and the sealed letters will be placed in a time capsule box to be opened at a later date.

As part of the Istanbul Kültür University Department of Architecture events, a talk and exhibition titled "Balkan Architecture" will be held. The event, featuring Bosnian Architect Nedim Mutevelic as the speaker, will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 15:30 at INNside in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus. The event will also feature a presentation on the region by Hatidza Çapkın, a faculty member of the Department of Architecture, and will include local refreshments and a musical performance.

The Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point will organise "Turkish Sign Language Training" to support healthy communication with hearing-impaired individuals, raise social awareness, and instil a sense of social responsibility in our students. The training, to be delivered by instructor Ahmet Tombul, will be held online via the CATS platform on November 24-25, 2025, from 17:00 to 20:00.

A panel discussion titled "Digital Violence Against Women: IN OUR MIDST" will be organized by Istanbul Kültür University Women and Social Research Unit (İKÜ-KAD). Aiming to raise awareness of the concept of digital violence against women, define new forms of violence emerging in the digital environment, and raise awareness, the event will be held on Tuesday, November 25, at 13:00 in the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

IKU Women's Solidarity Club will organise an event with Attorney Yağmur Birdal from the Istanbul Bar Association Women's Rights Centre as the speaker to discuss the role of law in dealing with violence against women and to strengthen women's solidarity. Following the event, which will be held on Tuesday, November 25, at 14:00 in the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall in the Ataköy building, a "Solidarity Letters" workshop will be carried out, during which letters of support and hope will be written to women who have experienced violence.

In collaboration with the New Media and Communication Club and the Department of New Media and Communication, a talk titled "Brand Marketing and Social Media Dynamics" will be held to provide students with information about brand marketing and social media dynamics in an agency environment. The event, featuring Campfire Istanbul Account Manager Elif Saatcı as the speaker, will be held on Tuesday, November 25, at 15:00 in the AK B15 classroom in the Ataköy building on the Bakırköy Campus.

The Dean of Students Office - Kültür Point will organise "3DS MAX Introductory Training" to enable participants to gain professional skills in three-dimensional modelling, architectural visualisation, animation and rendering techniques. The training sessions, which will be instructed by Interior Designer & 3DS Max Instructor Vasfiye Çelik, will be held online via Microsoft Teams on November 25 and 28, 2025, at 20.00.

The Program of Court Office Services will hold a seminar titled “A Journey Story: From Clerkship to Law Practice” to inform students about the stages of the court clerkship profession and pathways for career advancement in the field. The event will feature Attorney Hatice Çatladı, Court Clerk at the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Provincial Execution Bureau, as the guest speaker. The seminar will take place on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 12.00 in Amphitheatre 2 on the basement floor of the Faculty of Law Building at the Bahçelievler Campus.

An "Alumni Panel" will be organized by the Department of Turkish Language and Literature in order to enable our graduates to share their experiences with our students. The event, where our graduates Dilek Işıkal and Rıza Oylum will be speakers, will be held on Wednesday, November 26 at 13.00 at the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Department of Digital Game Design will organize a talk to introduce students to Games for Change Türkiye, which aims to create positive effects in education, social, art and cultural fields with games. The event, where Zeynep Burcu Kaya Alpan and Meral Didar Ağlaç from Games for Change Türkiye will be speakers, will be held on Wednesday, November 26 at 13.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

IKU Faculty of Science and Letters continues to organize "Coffee is Just an Excuse" meetings in order to share studies that are important in terms of research and examination in the field of Basic Science and Social Sciences. The seminar titled "Physics Studies From the Start of the Republic to the Present and Our Physicists Who Contributed to These Studies", in which Prof. Dr. Melek Yılmaz Şengül from the Department of Physics will be the speaker, will be held on Wednesday, November 26 at 15.00 at the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall in the Ataköy building.

In order to meet the clinical and nutritiona needs of our little friends in our campuses, a donation bazaar will be organized by the Animal Protection and Sustenance Club on Thursday, November 27, in the stand area of the B1 floor of the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

A conference titled "Mother Slaughter and Dismembered Babies" will be organized by the Department of Psychology in order to inform students about the effects of the death of the mother figure on the creativity of individuals. The event, where one of our academicians from the Department of Psychology, Lecturer Engin Eker will be the speaker, will be held on Thursday, November 27 at 13.00 at the Erdal İnönü Seminar Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

An "Erasmus Talk" event will be organized by the Industrial Engineering Club in order for our students participating in the Erasmus program to share their experiences. The event, where our students Emirhan Kılıç, Ebru Büyük and Zeynep Sude Taytan will be speakers, will be held on Thursday, November 27 at 13.00 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

In cooperation with the Human Resources Club, Program of E-Commerce and Marketing, the Program of Foreign Trade, and the Program of Business Management, an interview titled "HR Talks-1" will be held to support students' career planning processes. The event, where Albayrak Holding Senior Recruitment Specialist Fatma Nur Güneş will be the speaker, will be held on Thursday, November 27 at 14.00 in the 4A-02 amphitheater in the İncirli building of the Bakırköy Campus.

Within the scope of the "Factory Acoustic Concerts" organized by Orchestra IKU, the "Sertab Erener Tribute Concert" will be held on Thursday, November 27 at 14.00 at the Design Factory in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The Faculty of Science and Letters will hold an “Erasmus+ Information Session” to address all questions regarding Erasmus+. The event, featuring Miray Akaydın, Senior Specialist at the IKU International Relations Office, will take place on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 15.00 in the classroom 5B-06/08/10 of the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with Face Psychology, the Department of Psychology will organize a panel titled “Recovery from Eating Disorders: Body-Mind Balance and Healing with Dietitian Guidance” to inform students about eating disorders. The event, featuring Dr. Yunus Emre Ayna from Face Psychology and Dietitian Ayşenur Saral Gül as speakers, will be held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 15.15 in the Erdal İnönü Conference Hall in the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus.

The play RAN “Severmişim Meğer”, adapted for the stage by renowned actor Yurdaer Okur from the poems and letters of Nazım Hikmet, will be performed on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 19.30 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center in the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus. The event is organized by the IKU Fine Arts Application and Research Centre (GSUAM). Tickets can be purchased with a 25% discount using the code “IKUAILEM”.

As part of the ELICIA  Project, the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) will deliver a training session titled “Immersive Media & Creative Solutions” on Friday, November 28, between 10.00 and 17.00. The program will take place in the 4th-floor multipurpose hall of the Ataköy building, Bakırköy Campus.

In collaboration with the Civil Aviation Club and the Program of Flight Operations Management, the event titled “Conversation with a Captain Pilot on Aviation” will be held to support our students in their career planning processes. The event, featuring Captain Pilot Murat Ersoy from Turkish Airlines as the speaker, will take place on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 11.00 in the Amphitheatre 1A-01 of the İncirli building, Bakırköy Campus.