The new “Stars” who joined us in the 2026–2027 academic year came together at the YTÜ Orientation Days events. At the opening ceremony held at the YTÜ Davutpaşa Campus, our new students had the opportunity to get to know the university administration, faculty members, and student clubs up close. Faculty and department orientation sessions will continue on September 29 at the Davutpaşa and Yıldız campuses.

Yıldız Technical University welcomed its new students with the Orientation Days program held at the Davutpaşa Campus Congress and Culture Center. Our new students, taking their first steps into university life, received information about academic opportunities, student clubs, scholarships, and project support. The program was attended by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik; our Vice Rectors, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Göksel Ağargün and Prof. Dr. Güleda Engin; our deans; and our institute directors.

The Orientation Program began with a musical performance featuring Dr. Emrah Uçar and Instructor Dr. Levent Kaya from our Faculty of Art and Design, along with Instructor Dr. Erdal Şahin from the Office of Corporate Communications. 

“Enrolling in university is a new beginning”

Addressing our students at the opening ceremony, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, stated that coming to YTÜ is a significant achievement and the beginning of a new journey. He advised our new students to attend their classes regularly, take advantage of the guidance offered by faculty members, and make the most of the opportunities provided by our university.

Emphasizing that university years also offer opportunities for collaboration and taking on responsibility, our Rector invited students to join clubs and technical teams. He reminded them of the importance of striking a balance between academic work and social activities.

The Right to Education and Social Responsibility in Gaza

In his speech, Rector Debik addressed the events unfolding in Gaza, noting that the region’s higher education infrastructure has suffered significant damage and that many young people are unable to continue their education.  Urging our students to remain sensitive to humanitarian developments, our Rector highlighted the importance of solidarity with Palestinian students studying at our university.

Our Rector also discussed efforts to strengthen the environment of peace and security in Turkey, noting that universities must contribute scientific knowledge to issues of public concern. Announcing that a symposium on “A Turkey Free of Terrorism” will be held at YTÜ on October 20, he invited our students to attend the event.

“Share your ideas with us”

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, asked our students to share their concerns and suggestions regarding university life with our administration. Noting that he personally follows up on requests submitted through the Satisfaction Management System, our Rector said that students’ proposed solutions would contribute to the development of our university.

Touching on YTÜ’s sustainability efforts, our Rector noted that our university ranked 45th globally and second in Turkey in the UI GreenMetric 2026 rankings. He emphasized that protecting our campuses is the shared responsibility of all YTÜ students.

Opportunities Ranging from Clubs to the Yıldız Explorers

Inviting our students to participate in club and technical team activities, Rector Eyüp Debik noted that last year, 52 YTÜ teams advanced to the finals at TEKNOFEST, and 27 of our teams won awards. He noted that these activities provide valuable experience in project development, collaborative production, and taking on responsibility.

Rector Debik also described the Yıldız Kaşifleri program, which supports our students in turning their ideas into projects, noting that young people can participate in research and project work starting from their first years at the university. He cited the world championship title won by our YTÜ Stars of Hydro team in France as an example of the international successes achieved by YTÜ students.

Highlighting the entrepreneurial opportunities at YTÜ Yıldız Technopark, Rector Debik noted that approximately 750 companies operate within the Technopark. He explained that our students can benefit from the university’s support during the processes of developing ideas, creating prototypes, and launching startups.

Scholarship Support for Our Students

Rector Debik announced that the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, intended for students in need, will be awarded to 1,500 students at a rate of 4,500 lira per month for nine months. He also noted that under the Yıldız Achievement Scholarships program, students are provided with monthly scholarships ranging from 24,000 TL to 60,000 TL, based on their academic ranking and grade type.

Students Had the Opportunity to Get to Know University Departments

Following Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik’s speech, our students also had the opportunity to meet our faculty deans. The introductory segment of the program was followed by presentations from the directors of Student Affairs, Health, Culture, and Sports (SKS), and the Library, as well as the Coordinator of International Relations. Students had the opportunity to learn about the departments they can turn to for assistance with matters related to university life, as well as the work carried out by these departments. 

Our New Stars Met with Clubs

As part of Orientation Days, our Dean of Students, Prof. Dr. Gamze Varank, met with our new students in a talk titled “Being a Star.” Expert Psychological Counselor Emel Ulukaya Bulut led a session titled “Swipe, Click, Try: Combating Addiction,” while Expert Clinical Psychologist Eylem Seçkin led a session titled “Respectful Living and Safe Relationships.”

The program continued in the Central Courtyard of the Davutpaşa Campus with the participation of our student clubs. Our new Yıldız students visited the club booths and got an up-close look at social, cultural, artistic, and technical activities.

On the second day of Orientation Days, September 29, 2026, faculty and department information sessions will be held at the Davutpaşa and Yıldız campuses. At these sessions, our students will receive information about the course structure, academic advising, laboratories, internship processes, and the educational opportunities offered by their departments.