The Artificial Intelligence Startup Factory (YZF), which strategically invests in AI startups both in Türkiye and globally, aiming to enhance their international success, recognized Darüşşafaka with the YZF Social Impact Award in the NGO category during its second annual YZF awards ceremony this year.
At the awards ceremony held on December 4th at İş Towers, our school was honored with the YZF Social Impact Award in the category designated for non-governmental organizations engaged in initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence technologies to foster social benefits. The award was presented to our General Manager of Educational Institutions, Ebru Arpacı, by Dr. Cansel Nuray Aksoy, a Board Member of Yüzüncü Yıl Teknoloji Girişimleri.
In her acceptance speech, Arpacı expressed, “We feel a profound sense of belonging at Türkiye İş Bankası. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Türkiye İş Bankası, which has been our steadfast partner since 1939, as well as to the Artificial Intelligence Startup Factory and all those who have recognized us with this prestigious award. As one of Türkiye’s first non-governmental organizations in the field of education for 162 years, I firmly believe we have consistently led the way by embracing innovation and adhering to emerging advancements, all while remaining deeply connected to our heritage and aspiring toward a progressive future. I accept this award on behalf of our 1,042 remarkable students, who represent 450 locations across 81 provinces. Currently, they are engaged in technology and artificial intelligence initiatives through 16 distinct technology clubs, working with UAVs, drones, and by establishing Türkiye’s first robotics team. They are committed to making a positive impact on human lives while upholding our humanitarian values.”
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to YZF for recognizing our school with this award, in honor of our curriculum in artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning, which, integrated with applications such as personalized learning models and learning analytics, unlocks the full potential of our students. We also thank all those who support our mission of “Equal Opportunity in Education.”
Together with our students, who represent the pride of our nation, we will continue to pursue national and international success in projects involving robotics, image processing, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.