Young people learned artificial intelligence by hands-on training at Üsküdar

The “Google Developer Groups on Campus” Club operating under the Department of Health, Culture and Sports at Üsküdar University organized an “Artificial Intelligence Workshop and Summit” within the scope of the Ministry of Youth and Sports UNIDES program. The three-day event featured multiple sessions and hands-on workshops. Academics, industry professionals, and students came together on the same platform throughout the summit.

Held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall on Üsküdar University’s Main Campus, the summit was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Prof. Osman Çerezci, Club Advisor and Software Engineering (English) faculty member Dr. Kristin Surpuhi Benli, as well as academics, industry representatives, club members, and many students.

End-to-end artificial intelligence training

On the first day, participants experienced a comprehensive learning journey starting from the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and extending to data analysis, modeling, and model evaluation processes. Throughout the day, hands-on practices transformed theoretical knowledge into practical skills.

Prof. Osman Çerezci: “We developed a system that can predict electromagnetic radiation levels with high accuracy”

Speaking at the summit, Prof. Osman Çerezci emphasized the social benefits of artificial intelligence and shared an example from his academic work. Referring to a study on predicting electromagnetic pollution using machine learning, Çerezci said, “We developed a system that can predict with high accuracy the level of electromagnetic radiation a citizen is exposed to, using only environmental parameters without taking direct measurements. We aim to expand the use of this system. Measuring electromagnetic radiation levels is a very important factor.”

Dr. Kristin Surpuhi Benli: “Those who do not know how to use artificial intelligence will face serious challenges”

Club Advisor Dr. Kristin Surpuhi Benli drew attention to the rapid transformation artificial intelligence has undergone in the past year. Benli stated, “Artificial intelligence is no longer just a decision-support mechanism. It has become a structure that directly takes part in decision-making processes. Individuals and institutions that do not know how to use artificial intelligence will face serious challenges in the future.”

She also emphasized that the summit was not merely a listening event, but a space that encouraged questioning, critical thinking, and building connections.

Ebrar Emine Demircioğlu: “Learning by just listening is not enough”

Google Developer Groups on Campus Üsküdar University Club President Ebrar Emine Demircioğlu highlighted the core purpose of the event. She said, “We believe that learning artificial intelligence by just listening is not enough. Real learning happens through practice, making mistakes, and staying actively involved in the process. That is why we designed a program where participants directly produce.”

Demircioğlu noted that coding, data analysis, and teamwork took place throughout the three days, with ideas developed in teams turning into concrete machine learning projects. She also stated that this experience could be an important step in students’ career journeys.

A wide range of topics discussed

During the three-day Artificial Intelligence Workshop and Summit, many topics were addressed, including artificial intelligence agents, data engineering, artificial intelligence applications in the defense industry, and human–machine interaction.

The event concluded by enabling participants to gain technical knowledge while also establishing academic and industry connections.

Reporter: Beyzanur Tanrıverdi / ÜHA