YTÜ Alumni Gathered in the Shade of a 115-Year-Old Oak

The Yıldız Technical University Alumni Reunion ’26 brought together hundreds of our alumni from three generations under the umbrella of YTÜ, one of Turkey’s most respected educational institutions with a history spanning over a century. At the reunion, where plaques and certificates were presented to our senior alumni, memories were rekindled and a strong bond was forged across generations; the Yıldız spirit was once again brought to life with the same enthusiasm.

Organized by the Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ) Alumni Coordination Office, the Alumni Reunion ’26 began with a Turkish Folk Music concert and a stage performance by the YTÜ Folk Dance Team.

“We will be among the top 100 in the world by 2031”

In his opening remarks, YTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik highlighted the institution’s historical depth and global goals, expressing his pleasure at gathering in the shadow of a 115-year-old institution founded in 1911. Conveying the university’s vision through academic metrics, Debik stated that they have set the bar at the highest level on the international stage.

In his speech, our Rector made the following remarks:

“Our goal has always been to rank among the top 100 worldwide. God willing, by 2031, our university will be among the top 100 in the world. With the support of our foundation, our associations, and you, our valued alumni, we will achieve this goal.”

Debik also shared numerical data on YTÜ’s current performance metrics, highlighting that the university ranks 634th in the QS World University Rankings and 270th globally in engineering. Noting that the university ranks 48th globally and 2nd in Turkey in the GreenMetric rankings, which evaluate sustainable campuses, he emphasized that internationalization efforts are being pursued without compromising on quality. Debik added that they are awaiting approval from the Higher Education Council (YÖK) to establish a new Faculty of Information Technology focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; he also highlighted numerous achievements, ranging from student teams winning world championships in France to the production of rocket engines capable of reaching an altitude of 20 kilometers.

Emphasizing that graduate employment and alumni engagement are recognized as direct metrics in global rankings, Debik invited all graduates to the 19.11 reunion, which is set to become a tradition.

“Work done in unity and solidarity yields results”

YTÜ Foundation President Prof. Dr. İsmail Yüksek, in his speech, addressed the institution’s vision and the support ecosystem provided to students. Stressing that success stems from a collective effort rather than individual endeavors, Yüksek highlighted the critical role played by the foundation and the alumni association.

Highlighting the power of coordination between Yıldız Technopark and the foundation in the university’s progress, Prof. Dr. İsmail Yüksek stated:

“When it comes to the Yıldız Technical University Foundation, the Alumni Association, and especially the Technopark, we consistently rank among the top three in Turkey. This is a matter of ecosystem. These achievements are attained through collaborative efforts carried out shoulder-to-shoulder with our faculty and students.”

Yüksek also touched on the activities the Foundation carries out to support equal opportunity in education, noting that they currently provide scholarships to over 2,000 students and allocate both financial and moral resources to academic incentives and student projects. Noting that the legacy of knowledge and experience carried by alumni plays a key role in shaping the university’s future, he expressed his gratitude to all participants for their contributions.

“We have always drawn on our vision, discipline, and work ethic throughout our careers”

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Dursun Alkan, a graduate of the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and a faculty member of the same department, shared heartfelt memories in his speech delivered on behalf of the 40th graduating class and all other alumni, highlighting how the university bridges the gap between its technical capabilities of the past and today’s digital world.

Referring to the challenging yet instructive educational conditions of years past, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Dursun Alkan said:

“We have memories of the days when we drew on tracing paper and used plenty of scrap paper and pencils. We have always drawn upon the vision, discipline, and work ethic we acquired at Yıldız Technical University—thanks to the contributions of our esteemed faculty members here and the industry—throughout our careers.”

Alkan noted that the university will have graduated approximately 175,000 students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels as of next week, expressed his pride in seeing their department—which was originally established as a small branch of the mechanical engineering department—transform into a massive faculty with nearly 70 academic staff members today.

A 60-Year Longing for Friendship Inspired a Grand Reunion

The appearance on stage of Ahmet Sarıgül—one of the university’s most senior figures, a 60th-anniversary graduate, and Chairman of the YTÜ Foundation’s Ankara Branch—was one of the most tangible examples of the intergenerational bond at the event. Sharing a fond memory from his student days dating back to 1963, Sarıgül expressed his joy at being under the same roof with his schoolmates.

In his brief and heartfelt greeting on stage, Ahmet Sarıgül emphasized the importance of gratitude and expressed his feelings with the following words:

“I remember all our teachers who have passed away with deep respect and gratitude. I wish you all good health and long lives; I would like to thank the entire team for this ceremony, which has brought us together with our old friends after such a long time.”

“As the law was being amended, we also had the word ‘technical’ added to the beginning of our name.”

Prof. Dr. Ümit Doğay Arınç, one of our alumni, recounted the behind-the-scenes story of the historic parliamentary sessions in 1992 that fundamentally transformed both the university’s academic structure and its name. He said that alumni and faculty members practically set up camp in Parliament to ensure Yıldız University gained the academic resources it deserved.

Summarizing the struggle they waged to resolve the university’s budget and laboratory shortages—which had plagued the institution since its founding in 1982 with just two faculties—Prof. Dr. Ümit Doğay Arınç said:

“We collected money among ourselves. We said, ‘Let’s use that money to set up a headquarters in Parliament for a week,’ and we actually set up camp there. As of May 1992, we found exactly 22 Yıldız alumni serving as members of Parliament from every political party. We explained our concerns to our lawmakers.”

Arınç noted that, as a result of intensive work carried out in the National Education Commission, they restructured the existing departments and drafted proposals for four new faculties; he also announced that during that process, they intervened in the legislative proposal to secure the “Technical” designation for the institution. He emphasized that today’s YTÜ landscape—which has expanded from two faculties to ten—is his greatest source of pride.

Recalling past days on campus, renewing friendships, and experiencing the excitement of gathering around the same table, the YTÜ alumni once again felt the strong bond between the university’s past and present. Plaques were presented by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, to senior alumni who have maintained their loyalty to the university for 40, 50, and 60 years.

Graduates marking their 10th, 20th, and 30th graduation anniversaries were presented with commemorative certificates by their respective faculties.