Principles and Procedures

Directorate of ARGEDA Technology Transfer Office

ATILIM UNIVERSITY CONTEST FOR STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS ON THE THEME FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR

 

1. Purpose and Scope

The “Atılım University Student Research Project competition on the Academic Year Theme” organized in alignment with our mission of generating scientific knowledge and our policy of research-oriented education within the framework of social responsibility and sustainability aims to encourage student research projects (at associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree levels) based on the academic year theme determined by the Atılım University Senate. In addition, the University aims to assist students in transforming theoretical knowledge into practice and to foster skills in critical thinking, the development of interdisciplinary perspectives, and problem-solving, via the competition.

2. Primary Acceptance Criteria for Applications

While it is only natural for students to seek and receive support from advisors or other individuals and organizations during the project implementation phase, the projects must be primarily planned and executed by the students on relevant project teams. Students are required to exhibit the following conditions to participate:

  1. The project topic must be directly related to the Academic Year Theme determined by the Atılım University Senate.
  2. Applications must be submitted individually or as a team. Each team may consist of 2 to 5 members. If team members leave, teams may continue, if they still meet the minimum requirement of two members.
  3. All applicants and team members must be associate, undergraduate, or graduate degree program students of Atılım University.
  4. If one or more team members leave during the competition, a written petition bearing the signatures of all team members must be submitted to the Directorate of ARGEDA-TTO.
  5. At the time of application, the project must not have been incorporated into a company for the purpose of generating commercial profit from the product or service covered by the project idea.
  6. Each applicant or team member may apply to the competition with a single project.
  7. No institution, organization, company, commercial product, or brand must be highlighted in the project title, proposal, or any documents submitted regarding the project. Furthermore, no exclusionary or offensive expressions involving discrimination based on language, religion, race, sect, nationality, color, gender, political opinion, philosophical belief, national or social origin, birth, economic status, or similar grounds must be used.

If any situation contrary to the criteria specified above is detected, the competition application will be annulled.

3. Application and Preliminary Evaluation Process

  1. The applicant and any team members are required to complete the “Atılım University Student Research Project Competition on the Academic Year Theme” application form available on the website of the Directorate of ARGEDA-TTO online during the designated application period and submit the form to the Directorate of ARGEDA-TTO both signed in ink, and via e-mail. 
  2. The Application Form must include details on the following:
    • Information regarding the applicant and team members (if applicable)
    • Information regarding the project (Project title, alignment with the theme, originality/ novelty, usability of project outputs)
  3. The decision as to whether the application meets the key acceptance criteria is made by the Directorate of ARGEDA-TTO.
  4. A preliminary evaluation is conducted by the Directorate of ARGEDA-TTO; applications that pass this stage qualify to proceed into the competition.
  5. Students or teams accepted into the competition will be required to sign a confidentiality and non-disclosure undertaking, acknowledging that all information, documents, and data of any kind made available or accessible to them in connection with the business idea shall be treated as confidential information.
  6. For applications regarding projects within the scope of ATAK projects at Atılım University, written approval must be obtained from the project advisor and the team members holding rights to the project proposal and submitted to the Directorate of ARGEDA-TTO at the time of application.
  7. Applicants may not apply to participate in the competition with LAP projects supported by Atılım University.

4. Evaluation

  1. The Evaluation Committee consists of five to seven members, comprising academics or industry representatives with expertise in the relevant theme.
  2. The Evaluation Committee members evaluate the individuals or teams that have passed the preliminary assessment.
  3. Teams present their projects to the Evaluation Committee members and answer their questions.
  4. Each presentation is evaluated by the Evaluation Committee members based on the criteria of “original value,” “usability/applicability of project outputs,” and “project management.” The score weightings are as follows: 40% for “original value”, 40% for “usability/ applicability of project outputs”, and 20% for “project management”.
  5. The top three projects deemed suitable based on the evaluation qualify for an award.

5. Awards

The content of the awards for the “Atılım University Student Research Project Competition on the Academic Year Theme” is determined by the recommendation of the Presidency, and the approval of the Board of Trustees, and announced along with the contest.

Awards for the Academic Year of 2026-2027

First Place: 50 000 TL

Second Place: 30 000 TL

Third Place: 20 000 TL

6. Calendar

The calendar for the “Atılım University Student Research Project Competition on the Academic Year Theme” is determined in the beginning of each academic year and announced alongside the competition.