“Inter-High School Informatics and Communication Technologies Competition” organized by Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) TechGirls Committee under the EMU Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, took place on Friday, 22 May 2026 between 09:30 a.m. and 04:30 p.m. at Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center. The event, which sought to encourage greater female participation in the field of information technology, brought together female high school students from across the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to explore artificial intelligence and digital innovation. Held under the theme “Girls Shaping the Future”, with the main sponsorship of Telsim-Vodafone and the support of Famagusta Municipality, the competition welcomed 11 teams consisting of 11th and 12th grade female students representing various high schools throughout the TRNC.
In line with the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2026 theme, “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”, the students designed innovative solutions to address the growing challenge of cyberbullying. Through their projects, the students demonstrated that they are not merely users of technology, but active contributors to building a safer and more secure digital future.
“Women Should Take a More Active Role”
The program opened with remarks from EMU TechGirls Committee Member Dr. Özlem Görkan Evre, who explained the competition subject as well as the criteria that would be used during the evaluation process. After the introductory session, the participating students moved to their workstations and began working on their projects. In her address, Dr. Görkan Evre highlighted that female representation in STEM and information technology remains at a low level. She underlined the importance of increasing women’s involvement in these fields to ensure that artificial intelligence applications and digital innovations are shaped through a more balanced and fair perspective. She further expressed that the EMU TechGirls Committee will continue providing guidance and support to students.
The event continued with project presentations made before a jury panel formed by members of academia and the private sector. The ideas developed by the students were examined in terms of their contribution to society and their potential for real-world application.
A Jury Consisted of Prominent Names
The competition jury consisted of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Rizaner, Dean of EMU Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences; academic staff member Dr. Yeşim Kapsıl Çırak; Psychologist Dr. Fatoş Özeylem from EMU Psychological Counseling Guidance and Research Center; Togan Çakmak, General Manager for Technology from Telsim-Vodafone; and, Mustafa Ersözlü, Head of the Audio-Visual-Data Analysis Unit at the Police General Directorate.
Awards Ceremony Held
The award ceremony of the fiercely contested competition was attended by TRNC Member of Parliament Şifa Çolakoğlu, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe, Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu and Prof. Dr. Ali Öztüren, General Manager of TRNC Telsim Vodafone Sefer Tüz and Famagusta Municipal Council Member Müge Evram.
“Extremely Impressive”
In his remarks, Sefer Tüz, General Manager of Telsim Vodafone, emphasized that it was extremely impressive to see students using artificial intelligence not merely as a technological tool, but as a means of developing solutions to real-life challenges. Noting that the ideas generated at such a young age have the power to shape the future from today, Tüz stated that what truly makes a difference in today’s world is not only knowledge, but also the ability to identify problems, generate solutions, collaborate effectively as part of a team, and utilize technology appropriately. He added that the students demonstrated all of these competencies throughout the competition. Expressing the organization’s confidence in and support for young people, Tüz also stated that they would be pleased to host the successful participants in Türkiye and provide them with an opportunity to experience professional working environments.
“We Will Continue to Support Innovative Perspectives”
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nazife Dimililer, Coordinator of EMU TechGirls, emphasized that the event provided an extremely valuable platform for young people to showcase their potential in science, technology, and particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. Highlighting the importance of the projects developed by the students not only demonstrating technical competence but also offering solutions that address societal challenges, Prof. Dr. Dimililer stated that the university will continue to support entrepreneurial and innovative approaches of this kind. She further noted that engaging with technology and creating solutions from an early age plays a critical role in shaping the future. Stressing the need for greater participation of female students in information technology and engineering disciplines, Prof. Dr. Dimililer added that such initiatives make a significant contribution to raising awareness and encouraging greater involvement in these fields.
“Students Are the Ones Driving Change”
Addressing the audience, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç stated that EMU has made considerable progress toward its objectives in technology, information technologies, and artificial intelligence. He explained that the creation of specialized faculties and departments has reinforced the university’s long-term vision in these rapidly evolving fields. Prof. Dr. Kılıç underlined the significance of the TechGirls initiative in inspiring young girls to engage with technology and engineering disciplines and expressed his pleasure at seeing the project expand and strengthen during its second year. He noted that the students themselves deserve the greatest credit for taking the initiative and producing work that brings pride to the university community. Emphasizing the importance of women’s participation in technology-related sectors, Prof. Dr. Kılıç pointed out that the university’s high rate of female employment demonstrates its strong position in this regard. He also welcomed the increasing enthusiasm among young people for software and artificial intelligence studies.
Academic Scholarship from EMU
After an extensive assessment by the jury, the teams that stood out for their innovative ideas and commitment to addressing societal issues were recognized. The first-place award went to “Generative Nexus” from Near East College, followed by “ESK STEM” from English School of Kyrenia in second place and “Bilişim Yıldızları” from İskele Vocational High School of Commerce in third. During the award ceremony, prizes sponsored by Telsim-Vodafone and Famagusta Municipality were presented to the successful participants. In addition, members of the winning team received educational scholarships applicable to programs offered by the EMU Faculty of Computing and Technology. The event concluded with a powerful message emphasizing that young women are not merely consumers of technology, but future innovators capable of developing ethical, inclusive, and human-centered solutions.
EMU TechGirls Committee, formed by Dr. Özlem Görkan Evre, Dr. Yeşim Kapsıl Çırak, Halide Sarıçizmeli, Assist. Prof. Dr. Raziye Nevzat, and Prof. Dr. Nazife Dimililer, aims to increase and strengthen the presence of women in the fields of information technology and digital innovation through its dedicated efforts and initiatives.
