ITU Participated in the “THE World 100 Reputation Academy 2026” Program

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) was the only university from Türkiye to participate in the THE World 100 Reputation Academy 2026 program, organized by THE World 100 Reputation Network, which operates internationally in the fields of corporate reputation, strategic communication, and stakeholder management in higher education.

Dr. Burak Korkmaz, Research Assistant at the Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Chemistry, and Coordinator of the Office of Science and Engineering Communication with Society, represented Istanbul Technical University at the program hosted by King's College London on May 27-29, 2026.

THE World 100 Reputation Academy 2026 served as a significant platform that strengthened Istanbul Technical University's engagement with international higher education networks, allowed it to closely observe the experiences of different universities, and contributed to evaluating current approaches in corporate communication and reputation management. In addition to discussions on the common challenges of higher education, the program provided a productive working environment that supported knowledge sharing and mutual learning among professionals from diverse cultures and institutions.

For Istanbul Technical University, one of the most important takeaways from the program was the consensus that corporate reputation must be approached holistically. While ITU's long-established 253-year history stands out as a strong corporate value, the importance of communicating this legacy alongside its contemporary research capacity, technology production power, innovation vision, student experience, alumni impact, and societal contribution was emphasized. In this context, key areas of evaluation included strengthening research communication, making alumni achievements more visible, handling internal communication strategically, using professional networks more effectively, and monitoring reputation through measurable indicators.

Throughout the three-day program, university professionals from various parts of the world gathered in London. At the academy, which included participants from Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, representatives working in university communication, external relations, brand management, and strategic communication shared their respective institutions' experiences. The program went beyond being a mere training process where sessions were followed; it offered a collaborative working environment where the shared issues of higher education were evaluated collectively through the lens of different country and institutional experiences.

The academy focused on how universities should manage trust, visibility, and impact in a changing world. Throughout the program, topics such as the transformation of corporate trust in higher education, research communication, stakeholder relations, the relationship between brand and reputation, internal communication, crisis communication, governance processes, and the effects of artificial intelligence on university communication were discussed.

One of the fundamental perspectives highlighted during the program was that trust in universities is no longer taken for granted. While institutional history, academic heritage, and strong research capacity remain important, it was emphasized that universities must support these values with continuous, clear, and comprehensible communication. Therefore, reputation management was approached not just as an area limited to external promotion or media visibility, but as a multidimensional process extending from student experience to alumni relations, and from research impact to internal communication.

Artificial intelligence was another prominent topic in the program. AI was discussed not only as a technical convenience but as a strategic area that could influence corporate trust and reputation.

Another important theme of the program was internal communication. It was noted that the story universities tell the outside world is not independent of the experiences lived within the institution, and related experiences were shared. Internal communication was not seen merely as restricted to announcement and information processes; it was considered one of the foundational elements of a strong and sustainable reputation.

The sessions and group work conducted during the three-day academy also demonstrated that universities in different countries face similar challenges. However, it was observed that each institution develops distinct solutions to these problems within its own historical, cultural, and administrative context. This diversity constituted one of the most productive aspects of the program.