ISTANBUL

Istanbul is set to welcome over 5,000 international delegates this June for the 2025 Global Sustainability Development Congress, a major event in the higher education calendar organized by Times Higher Education (THE).

Scheduled to take place from June 16 to 19 at the Istanbul Congress Center, the congress will be held in collaboration with Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education (YOK), and will mark the first time the event is hosted in Türkiye.

YOK President Erol Ozvar highlighted the significance of the gathering, describing it as “a very valuable organization in terms of our higher education history,” and a testament to Türkiye’s growing prominence in the academic world.

The congress will explore how higher education institutions around the globe are implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, focusing on best practices, experience sharing, and collaboration opportunities.

The congress will focus on how global universities are advancing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with sessions emphasizing six main areas: “Cities and Communities,” “Digital Innovation,” “Education, Gender and Inequalities,” “Energy and Industry,” “Food, Land, Water and Oceans,” and “Health and Well-being.”

A key moment in the event will be the release of THE’s 2025 Impact Rankings, which evaluate universities based on their contributions to the SDGs.

To boost Türkiye’s academic visibility, the event will feature a special “Turkish Universities Pavilion,” where local institutions will showcase their research and education initiatives through individual booths.