Back to School 2025 Festival at ITU

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Back to School Festival was held at our Ayazağa Campus on October 16–17–18, 2025. ITU students enjoyed the festival to the full with technical, cultural, and sporting events and concerts.

Back to School 2025 saw ITU's 166 clubs and 46 project teams, active in a wide range of fields from science to art, engineering to sports, share their hard work, social awareness, productivity, and original ideas at their booths. New students joining ITU in particular got to know the university's social environment and culture up close through the many activities they could experience at the booths, and were introduced to communities where they could pursue activities that interested them. Clubs and project teams made contact with potential new members.

ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal visited all the booths during the festival and met with students at various events. Our Rector described learning at ITU as a journey where ideas, curiosity, and creativity come together. Prof. Dr. Mandal met with the clubs and teams that embody this culture, sharing their energy, achievements, and goals. He emphasized the excitement, energy, happiness, sharing, productivity, and the thrill of being together again in the hive that could be felt in every corner of our campus.

During the Back to School Festival, our Ayazağa Campus hosted an important basketball game. The ITU Tam Finans Basketball Team, which has made its mark in Turkish basketball history with 5 Turkish Cups and competes in the Turkish Basketball Second League, faced off against İBB Spor in the season's first game. The match, held at the Central Sports Hall on October 17, saw ITU fans chanting “Bombeleski bombeleski bom bom bom, teknik teknik zıp zıp zıp” in the stands, signaling the return of a legend. Following the match, which ITU Tam Finans won with a score of 77-64, Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that this strong start, achieved through the athletes' determination, discipline, and team spirit, was the most beautiful demonstration of ITU's culture of “achieving together” in sports, beyond science and technology.

The growing joy of the festival with Emre Fel, Zafer Atabey, and Madrigal

The stage set up at MED Çimler during the three-day Back To School 2025 event hosted music performances by ITU clubs and artists who brought the excitement of the festival to a peak.

On the first day of the festival, Emre Fel gave an unforgettable concert. On the second day, Zafer Atabey energized ITU students with his DJ performance. On the last day of the festival, Madrigal performed their beloved songs for ITU students.

The energy of Back To School 2025, filled with music, solidarity, and sports, continued on Sunday, October 19, with the ITURUN Club's “ITU is Running” event.

Bringing together numerous events and entertainment, Back To School 2025 added vibrancy to the social and academic lives of ITU students with its atmosphere embodying the spirit of “being an ITU student” and its high tempo.