Istanbul Kültür University has joined the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Sustainability Platform, which brings together public and private sector organizations and civil society organizations in the areas of sustainable development, climate action, and green transition.
As part of this membership, our Vice Rector and SÜRKAM Director, Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil, attended the Sustainability Platform Meeting held at ISO Odakule on June 19, 2026, representing Istanbul Kültür University.

During the meeting, current developments in the field of sustainability and opportunities for collaboration were discussed, and information was shared regarding initiatives carried out by ISO as part of Zero Waste Week. Additionally, preparations that could be undertaken for the COP31 Climate Change Conference—to be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya in the coming period—and potential collaboration opportunities among various stakeholders were explored.

Multi-Stakeholder Sustainability Collaborations

Membership in the ISO Sustainability Platform represents a significant step for Istanbul Kültür University in strengthening multi-stakeholder collaborations in the field of sustainable development.

The platform facilitates the sharing of knowledge and experience among stakeholders from various sectors in areas such as sustainable production and consumption, combating climate change, resource efficiency, the circular economy, and the green transition.

Istanbul Kültür University aims to expand the reach of its academic expertise to a broader audience through collaborative efforts with the public sector, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

In this regard, membership in the platform offers significant opportunities to increase the sharing of knowledge and experience, develop joint projects and events, disseminate best practices in sustainability, and support initiatives aimed at climate action.

IKU-SPECTRA researchers represented Istanbul Kültür University at the 21st European Conference on the Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules (ECSBM 2026), held in Romania from 30 August to 3 September 2026.

At the congress, Vice Rector & Director of the Center Prof. Gülce Öğrüç Martins Ribeiro Da Silva Lourenço delivered a presentation as an invited speaker, while Deputy Director of the Center Prof. Rui Fausto contributed to the scientific program as a plenary speaker. IKU-SPECTRA researchers also presented their ongoing research through poster presentations.

An academic article titled “Evaluating the Decarbonisation Process of Growth in Türkiye in the Context of the Environmental Kuznets Curve,” authored by Vice Rector & Director of SÜRKAM Prof. Dr. Burcu Yavuz Tiftikçigil, Dr. Burak Beder, and Sunay Çıralı, has been published in the Istanbul Journal of Economics.

The study examines Türkiye’s decarbonisation process in the context of the Environmental Kuznets Curve approach. It investigates the relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions while empirically evaluating the key factors contributing to increases and decreases in carbon emissions in Türkiye.

The findings indicate that the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis holds for Türkiye. The study also highlights the importance of the quality of energy resources and energy-use efficiency in the decarbonisation process.

The findings show that increasing the use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency play an important role in reducing carbon emissions, while the use of fossil fuels has an increasing effect on carbon emissions.

These results provide important insights into strengthening the relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability and supporting Türkiye’s transition toward low-carbon development.

With Türkiye set to host COP31 in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026, issues including climate change mitigation, the energy transition, decarbonisation, and sustainable economic growth have become even more prominent on Türkiye’s agenda.

In this context, the study aims to contribute to scientific and data-driven assessments of Türkiye’s decarbonisation process, support academic discussions on the development of climate and energy policies, and provide a useful resource for stakeholders working toward sustainable growth.

Within the scope of the Istanbul Kültür University Dean of Students Office Peer Mentoring Project, an online "Mentoring Training" was held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 14:00.

As part of the program conducted by Assistant Dean of Students Doğa Kurtyiğit, mentor candidates were informed about effective communication in mentor-mentee relationships, the roles and responsibilities of a mentor, support mechanisms available to students, and key considerations regarding the process of adapting to university life.

As part of the training, Competence and Digital Media Specialist Efe Angın provided information on the digitalization of the peer mentoring process and the management of this process via the PUMA system.

104 mentor candidates participated in the training. Mentors who complete the training will guide students starting university in the 2026–2027 academic year, supporting their adjustment to university life.

The international anthology “Immanuel Kant, damals und jetzt Zu seinem dreihundertsten Geburtstag / Kant, Then and Now On the Tricentenary of His Birth,” prepared in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of Immanuel Kant’s birth and co-authored by our Department of General Education Chair, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selda Salman Sakızlı, has been published. 

An article titled “Emotional Stereotypes of Crime Victims: A Cross-Cultural Replication of the Emotional Victim Effect in Türkiye,” co-authored by Head of the Department of Psychology Assoc. Prof. Ayhan Erbay, has been published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

The 2026-2027 Academic Year at Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) will commence with a ceremony to be held on Monday, September 14, at 10:30 in the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center. Following the moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, the opening speeches will be delivered by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver. The program will conclude with an address by academician and author Prof. Dr. h.c. (mult.) A.M. Celâl Şengör.

Istanbul Kültür University’s 2026–2027 Academic Year General Orientation Program will be held on Monday, 14 September, at 13:00 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. The program will provide students with information about our University, which will become their new home throughout their higher education journey. As part of the General Orientation Program, workshops and student club introductions will also be held in the backyard of the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus from 14 to 18 September.

An event titled "GAME ON: Prize-Winning Competition and Hello to Campus" will be held in collaboration with PUMA and the Design Factory. Offering students the chance to get to know PUMA and the Design Factory up close, meet new people, and have plenty of fun, the event will take place on Monday, September 14, from 16:00 to 17:30 at the Design Factory located in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.

The opening lecture for the Faculty of Law’s 2026-2027 academic year will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 10:00 in the Faculty of Law Amphitheater 7 at the Bahçelievler Campus. As part of the event, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Hakan Pekcanıtez will deliver a seminar titled “The Attire of Justice: The Robe.”

As part of the Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) 2026-2027 Academic Year General Orientation Program, the " Department of Common Courses Orientation Program" will be held on Tuesday, September 15, from 13:00 to 14:00 at the Akıngüç Auditorium and Art Center, located in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus. The program will feature presentations on the "Turkish Language," "History," and "Career Planning" courses.

The "Student Clubs Orientation Program" is being organized by the Kültür Point of the Dean of Students Office for students newly enrolled at our university. The event—featuring concerts, DJ performances, and dance shows, as well as information booths about student clubs—will take place from September 15 to 18 in the backyard of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

As part of the Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) 2026-2027 Academic Year General Orientation Program, an "Orientation Program for Students with Special Needs" will be held on Wednesday, September 16, from 13:00 to 14:00, in the 4th-floor multi-purpose hall of the Ataköy building at the Bakırköy Campus.

As part of the Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) 2026-2027 Academic Year General Orientation Program, a seminar titled "Being the Parent of a University Student" will be held. The seminar, to be conducted by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Alim Kaya, will take place on Wednesday, September 16, between 16:30 and 17:30 at the Önder Öztunalı Conference Hall, located in the Ataköy building of the Bakırköy Campus.