5th International Student Awards Held at YTB

The awards, prepared as an outcome of the International Student Academy—which aims to raise awareness among international students about Türkiye and the cities where they study—were presented across five main categories and twelve subcategories: literature, culture and arts, media and communication, projects, and the “Together We Achieved” Story Competition. A total of 883 applications were received in areas including poetry, short story, ebru (marbling art), calligraphy, illumination, musical performance, documentary, short film, photography, social impact (volunteering), best entrepreneurial idea, and the “Together We Achieved” Story Competition. Following the evaluations, 36 works from 22 countries were awarded.

The ceremony held at YTB was attended by YTB President Abdulhadi Turus, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Dr. Rashad Mammadov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Sapiyev Yerkebulan, Ambassador of Uzbekistan Ilkhom Khaydarov, representatives of foreign missions, international students, and other guests. During the program, a video presentation prepared for the Türkiye Scholarships was also shown.

Malika Aldamzharova from Kazakhstan, who won second place in the musical performance category, performed the piece “Dombra” for the guests. Abu Taher from Bangladesh, who took first place in the poetry category, also recited his poem for the audience.

Beginning his speech by recalling that the Türkiye Scholarships Program was entrusted to YTB in 2012, Turus emphasized that, after intensive work over the years, the program has now been organized into a systematic structure.


Noting that students come from all around the world, Turus said:
“We have placed our students in the most important universities of our international system. But we did not stop there; we also said that we would take care of their accommodation. We have established the same quality of housing system for international students coming from all over the world as we provide for Turkish students in our country.”

Turus highlighted that the true visionary behind the international student initiative is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and emphasized that the performances presented on stage by students from different parts of the world demonstrate that the scholarship program has achieved its purpose.

Turus, emphasizing their efforts to create the foundation for a world where everyone can be happy, stated:“So, what is needed for this to happen? Culture is needed, art is needed, literature is needed. Suffering is silent. Even if they drop bombs on us today with the most advanced technologies to try to erase this suffering and silence, we will respond to these pains with literature, art, culture, and sports. Because our civilization is a civilization that creates. Our civilization is a civilization that builds. Our civilization never destroys, never kills. Our civilization, together with international students like you, pursues the question: ‘How can we make the world more just?’ I am truly proud that we are providing such a foundation for international students.”

Aıdana Baktybek Kyzy from Kyrgyzstan, who won first place in the story category, and Mohamed Hassan Jıcsın from Somalia, who won first place in the “Together We Achieved” Competition, each gave a speech expressing their feelings during the program. In the literature and poetry categories, Mustafa Kurt spoke on behalf of the jury.