Strategic Visits from Latvia and Italy to Istanbul Gelisim University: International Collaboration Initiatives Launched

Anne Cossonnière and Marilyne Marty-Guilhaumon from École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tarbes (ENIT), Université de Technologie de Tarbes Occitanie Pyrénées in France visited İstanbul Gelişim University within the scope of Erasmus+ Training Mobility.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) hosted another important international engagement as part of its goal to strengthen its global cooperation network. On 21 November 2025, representatives from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, one of Latvia’s long-established higher education institutions, as well as representatives from Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy, visited IGU. The visit stood out as a strategic step toward enhancing academic, cultural, and research-oriented collaborations between the institutions.

In line with its internationalization strategy, Istanbul Gelisim University continues to expand its academic collaborations across Europe. Within this scope, an Erasmus+ Agreement has been signed with Panteion University, located in Athens, Greece.

As the International Exchange and Cooperation Office, we laid the foundations of our collaboration with L’Université Claude Bernard Lyon during the EAIE Fair, Europe’s largest higher education fair, held between 9–12 September 2025. Following the EAIE Fair, where the foundations of this cooperation were established, an Erasmus+ agreement was signed with L’Université Claude Bernard Lyon on 30 October.

As part of the Erasmus+ KA131 Incoming Staff Mobility for Training program, Valeriya Chuchulska and Krasimira Stoycheva from the Medical University of Plovdiv, one of our partner universities, visited Istanbul Gelisim University between October 20-24.

On October 16, 2025, Pro-Vice-Chancellor John Strachan from Bath Spa University, United Kingdom, visited Istanbul Gelisim University. During the visit, the collaboration opportunities between the two universities were evaluated, and discussions were held on potential joint projects within the framework of exchange programs.

On October 8, 2025, a five-person delegation from Brawijaya University, one of Indonesia's well-established higher education institutions, visited our university. The delegation included Quality Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ratno Bagus.

Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), in line with its vision for internationalization, hosted an important meeting to foster academic cooperation. On October 7, 2025, Daryl Smith, representative of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), one of Canada’s distinguished higher education institutions, visited IGU. The visit marked a strategic step toward strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two universities.

On September 29, 2025, Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) hosted delegations from Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power (ZJWEU), one of China's leading technical universities, and Djuanda University (UNIDA) from Indonesia.

On September 25, 2025, Vice Coordinator Duygu CAN and Assistant Specialist Yaren ERGENÇ from the International Exchange and Cooperation Office participated in the Erasmus+ Higher Education KA131 Mobility Project Management Meeting held at Gazi University in Ankara.