Our Graduate Okan Dursun Named Among Young Leaders for UN Sustainable Development Goals, Marking a Proud Achievement for Turkey

Okan Dursun, an Özyeğin University alumnus, has been recognized as the only young leader from Turkey to join the cohort of Young Leaders for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) this year. Selected from among thousands of applications from all around the world, Dursun will represent Turkey at the UN as one of the 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Every two years, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth recognizes young change-makers who combat the world's most pressing issues, and excel in their contributions to the achievement of the SDGs with their leadership. The Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a highly accomplished group, all between the ages of 17 and 29, who hail from all corners of the world and work across all pillars of the UN, including sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security.

This year’s young leaders were picked out from 5,400 applications from over 190 countries. Our alumnus Okan Dursun was named among the 17 outstanding young leaders selected for this renowned program. The recognition stands as a great personal achievement as well as a proud achievement for Turkey.

Dursun is the founding member of Twin Science, the world’s first ed-tech company that combines science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning with SDGs education for young people to raise them as tomorrow’s change-makers. Twin Science has reached more than one million young people in over 70 countries. Twin Science has been recognized as a “Technology Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum, won BETT Awards 2020 and the Silver Play for Change Award from Toy Industry of Europe.