Dear Members and Esteemed Stakeholders of Özyeğin University,
The role of universities now extends far beyond education, research, and entrepreneurship. The institutions that will forge the future will be those capable of building collaborative ecosystems that bring together diverse disciplines, the public and private sectors, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and international partners to address complex global challenges. At Özyeğin University, we aspire to be at the forefront of this transformation.
For many years, care work and mental load have primarily been addressed within the context of gender equality. Today, however, they have emerged as strategic issues with far-reaching implications, spanning talent management, employee experience, organizational performance, and sustainable development. With this perspective, Özyeğin University approaches care work and mental load as a multidimensional field of research that calls for rigorous measurement, in-depth analysis of their impact on the business world, and the development of concrete policy recommendations.
Özyeğin University’s vision of becoming an “Entrepreneurial Research University with High Global Impact” is deeply rooted in a commitment to transforming the knowledge generated on campus into lasting social impact that extends far beyond the campus. In this issue of Beyond Research, we spotlight one of the latest examples of this vision in action: SICSS Istanbul 2026.
According to the results of the Turkish University Satisfaction Survey 2026 (TÜMA), released by ÜniAr, Özyeğin University ranked first in Türkiye for graduate satisfaction, achieving the highest score among universities nationwide. The University also continued its steady rise in overall student satisfaction, further demonstrating the strength of its educational experience.
According to the THE Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026, Özyeğin University ranked among the top three foundation universities in Türkiye for its sustainability performance, maintaining its position for the eighth consecutive year. This year, the University once again retained its third-place position among foundation universities and ranked among the top 200 universities worldwide in three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Özyeğin University ranked 4th among foundation universities in Türkiye in the QS World University Rankings 2027, while increasing its overall score compared with the previous year and maintaining strong performance in internationalization, sustainability, and employment outcomes.
Our Executive MBA Program ranked among the world’s leading programs in the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2026, placing among the top three in Türkiye.
As the only university from Türkiye selected for the Future Universities Alliance Innovation Sandbox, we are introducing our OzU-X model to the global higher education ecosystem.
Nine of our research projects were selected for funding under the 2026/1 cycle of the TÜBİTAK 1001 Program. For the first time, all of our faculties applied to the program, with funded projects spanning six faculties and diverse fields, highlighting the breadth of research excellence across the University and the strength of our research ecosystem.
Our Faculty of Architecture and Design has expanded its global partnerships as the Academic Partner of TraMod Awards 2026, an international architecture and design awards program.
We became the only university in Türkiye to receive a MERIT distinction at the International Safety Awards 2026, presented by the British Safety Council.
Özyeğin University ranked 12th among 167 universities nationwide and second among foundation universities in the overall standings of the Turkish University Sports Federation (TÜSF) for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Prof. M. Pınar Mengüç was honored with the Luikov Medal, one of the most prestigious international honors, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to heat and mass transfer.
Dr. Bahriye Cesaret received the BAGEP 2026 Award, one of Türkiye’s most prestigious honors supporting early-career researchers.
Quantum communication hardware developed by Qubitrium, founded by Assistant Prof. Kadir Durak, was successfully launched into space, marking a significant milestone for the emerging technology.
Dr. Aslı Zuluğ was named a “Rising Star” in the 2026 Halkbank Producing Women Competition for her innovative work at the intersection of scientific research and entrepreneurship.
The ReBuild-3D Project coordinated by Özyeğin University has achieved a significant milestone by receiving an outstanding 14.5 out of 15 in the European Union’s evaluation process. Backed by a total budget of €1.5 million, the project will bring leading European research organizations together to advance sustainable construction technologies.
Dr. Başak Ozan Özparlak has become the first and only legal professional to be named to Women in 6G’s “100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G” list for two consecutive years.
eBrandValue, co-founded by Prof. Tolga Akçura, placed third worldwide for its innovative work bringing together artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Recognized for her innovative approach to teaching, Işıl Özdemir won the Eaquals Teacher Award 2026.
Associate Prof. Susan Beth Rottmann from the Department of Anthropology at Özyeğin University is leading the Türkiye arm of the international MenBelong project, funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, together with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Dilek Üstünalan. Conducted simultaneously across five countries, the project aims to offer a new perspective to migration studies by examining how single migrant men experience and develop a sense of belonging.
Assoc. Prof. Zeynep Başaran Bundur, Chair of the Civil Engineering Department, has been honored with the Dr. Akın Çakmakcı Pioneer Researcher Award, presented by the Technology Development Foundation of Türkiye (TTGV) in recognition of her pioneering research in sustainable cement and sustainable, adaptive materials.
Our Artificial Intelligence master’s student Turgay Bulut achieved an international success by placing first in Türkiye in the IEEEXtreme Programming Competition.
Developed jointly by our Industrial Design and Gastronomy and Culinary Arts students, “Kıyı” was showcased to an international audience at the Milan Design Fair, one of the world’s leading design platforms.
Our Industrial Engineering alumna Begüm İndirkaş made history as Philips’ first female and non-Dutch plant manager.
Our Computer Science alumnus Eren Doğan received the prestigious CITRIS Spanos Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of semiconductor technologies.
Our almunus Erkan Yurdusever’s architectural project was selected among the top 10 projects in the international Designaddvance 2025 Competition.
Karaçam & Şir, co-founded by our alumni, has been named the exclusive author of the Türkiye chapter of the Legal 500 Technology M&A Comparative Guide.
Today, sustainability entails more than protecting natural resources. It represents a holistic approach that enables organizations to create long-term value across the environmental, social, and governance dimensions. At Özyeğin University, we see sustainability as a fundamental part of everything we do, from campus operations and research to education and social impact. Through our broad array of initiatives spanning water and energy efficiency, social impact, interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement, we continue to develop new practices that contribute to sustainable transformation.
At our 2025–2026 Commencement Ceremony, our 15th cohort of graduates received their diplomas in the presence of families, faculty, and guests, taking their first steps toward new journeys. Held at the Çekmeköy Campus, the ceremony brought together graduates from our doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate programs as they celebrated this milestone with their loved ones.
