Zeynep Alp Köseoğlu International Student Exchange Program Scholars Gather at the President’s Office

Prof. Barış Tan, President of Özyeğin University, and Ata Köseoğlu, Board Member at Fibabanka, met with recipients of the Zeynep Alp Köseoğlu International Student Exchange Programs Scholarship at a gathering held at the President’s Office.

In a warm and open setting, students shared their academic experiences abroad, including at KU Leuven in Belgium, Sejong University in South Korea, IESEG School of Management in France, and University of Porto in Portugal, reflecting on how these international opportunities have contributed to their personal and academic development.

The participants described the program as a significant milestone, not only for their academic development but also for their personal growth. Didenur stated that this exchange program was her first experience abroad and that it gave her a fresh perspective, while Çağla noted that through this scholarship, she was able to complete her internship at KU Leuven, which she had previously had to postpone due to financial reasons. Inspired by the culture of solidarity fostered by the program, Çağla Mina expressed her desire to mentor future scholarship recipients. The students also emphasized that the experience enabled them to build an international network and opened new doors, helping them feel a sense of belonging in different countries.

The Zeynep Alp Köseoğlu International Student Exchange Programs Scholarship was established in 2025 through a family donation to honor the memory of Zeynep Alp Köseoğlu, a senior banking executive devoted to Atatürk's ideals, whose life’s work reflected a deep commitment to advancing women. Continuing her vision following her passing in 2022, the program empowers female undergraduate students at Özyeğin University to have access to international exchanges, internships, and short-term programs. So far, 20 OzU students received scholarship and studied in France, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Belgium, China, Spain, Canada, the Republic of Korea, and Lithuania. Over the next 15 years, 300 female students are expected to be funded by this program.