IZTECH Receives “Sports-Friendly Campus” Award from YÖK

Izmir Institute of Technology has become one of 30 universities to receive the “Sports-Friendly Campus” title.

The results of this year’s evaluation for the “Sports-Friendly Campus” project, carried out by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to promote healthy living and sports culture at universities, have been announced. Following a rigorous review process, IZTECH was included among the 30 universities that earned this prestigious title.

A total of 73 universities and 81 campuses from across Türkiye applied to YÖK. As a result of the evaluation conducted across 45 different criteria, 31 campuses from 30 universities—including IZTECH—were selected, bringing the total number of “Sports-Friendly Campuses” nationwide to 79.

In the reviews conducted by YÖK, criteria such as sports vision and institutional strategy, the adequacy of sports infrastructure and facility safety, the effectiveness of student clubs, efforts to combat addiction and support mental health, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and the preservation of traditional sports were decisive factors.

Academic Staff, Administrative Staff, and Students on the Same Field

The holistic sports culture cultivated on campus played a significant role in IZTECH achieving this success. Throughout the year, joint sports events and mixed tournaments organized by academics, administrative staff, and students coming together strengthen the Institute’s corporate culture.

Furthermore, the consecutive medals and championships won by IZTECH’s actively engaged student clubs in regional and national sports tournaments demonstrate just how effectively the campus’s sports infrastructure and incentive system operate.

“We Have Transformed the Campus into a Dynamic Ecosystem Alive 24/7”

Sharing his assessment of the process, IZTECH Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran emphasized that university life is one of the most important milestones in preparing young people for life in every respect, concluding his remarks as follows:

“Our priority is not only to provide our students with an excellent academic education but also to prepare them for life fully equipped in every way. We have transformed our campus into a dynamic ecosystem that is alive 24/7, intertwined with sports, art, and science. On our campus, we have established a barrier-free and accessible sports infrastructure where our students compete shoulder to shoulder in the same tournaments as our administrative and academic staff. The success our student clubs bring back from the competitions they participate in is one of the fruits of this infrastructure. The granting of this title to our Institute by YÖK, having met 45 demanding criteria, is a confirmation of this culture of living on our campus. We are happy and proud to have added such a valuable title as ‘Sports-Friendly Campus’ to our achievement of making IZTECH a brand-name university on national and international scientific platforms.”