On November 11, National Afforestation Day, Yıldız Technical University planted 115 saplings of various fruit species at the Davutpaşa Campus to mark its 115th anniversary.

Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ) continued its annual sapling-planting event, which it has organized for the past two years to mark its anniversary. Held under the theme “115 Saplings for the 115th Year” as part of National Afforestation Day on November 11, the event saw 115 fruit saplings planted in the green area in front of the Stone Building on the Davutpaşa Campus.

The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Adem Cengiz Çevikel, Dean of the YTÜ Faculty of Science and Letters; Ahmet Yüksel Karahan, YTÜ General Secretary; Dr. Osman Gördebil, Director of the Health, Culture, and Sports Office; our Director of the Culture Branch, Lecturer Uğur Taşatan, along with our faculty members, administrative staff, and YTÜ students.

The saplings, ranging in age from 3 to 7 years, include varieties such as plum, walnut, apple, almond, sour cherry, apricot, medlar, Trabzon fig, pear, peach, and cherry. Celebrating our university’s 115-year history with a gift that extends to nature and the future, this event enriches the greenery of the Davutpaşa Campus while contributing to our goal of leaving a more livable campus for future generations.

YTÜ ranks 45th globally in the sustainable universities ranking

Our university, which conducts sustainability initiatives through a holistic approach encompassing education, research, campus infrastructure, and resource management, climbed three spots globally to rank 45th in the 2026 UI GreenMetric Sustainable University Rankings. Strengthening its position among the world’s top 50 most sustainable universities, YTÜ also ranked second in Turkey.

Our university was also recognized by the UI GreenMetric Sustainable University Rankings Network as “The Most Active University in Turkey.” This recognition reflects YTÜ’s active participation in the international sustainability network and its contributions to fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of best practices among universities.

Green campus initiatives continue

The UI GreenMetric Sustainable University Rankings, which evaluates more than 2,000 universities worldwide, is based on performance in the areas of campus infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste and water management, transportation, education, and research.

Our university continues its efforts in these areas to improve energy efficiency, use water resources efficiently, promote sustainable transportation, improve waste management, and develop green campus infrastructure. 

The tree-planting event held to mark our institution’s 115th anniversary is one of the concrete examples of these efforts in campus life.