Where is your affiliate located?
Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey.
When was your affiliate started and why?
The Koç University Society of Women Engineers Affiliate (KUSWE) was founded in 2010 to support and empower women pursuing careers in engineering and technology. KUSWE is particularly significant as it was the first SWE affiliate established outside of the United States.
Our affiliate was established to address the need for stronger mentorship, professional development opportunities, and a supportive community for women in STEM at Koç University. Through events, workshops, and collaborations with the global SWE network, the affiliate aims to encourage more women to pursue and thrive in engineering fields.
Do you have signature activities, outreach, or engagement efforts, or ones you’re thinking about starting?
As the KUSWE Affiliate, here’s the list of our signature activities.
- Networking Event: Approximately 10 companies and 100 students were reached with this event. Our participants had the opportunity to communicate with successful engineers and business people from well-known companies and follow the companies’ policy and recruitment processes.
- Girls Who Code: Girls Who Code was held with the participation of 24 students (14 girls and 10 boys). The event aimed to teach the Python programming language to high school students over eight weeks. Apart from the educational activity on April 21, the students who participated in our event were invited to our university for a campus tour.
- Career Station: This year-long event is organized with the collaboration of different companies. For each company, a panel and a follow-up event such as a mock interview, workshop, and presentation are organized. Through these events, students had the chance to get to know the sector better and make decisions on their career paths.
- SWENext: Our SWENext event aims to introduce engineering to high-school students , encourage them to become engineers, and show the importance of STEM. Furthermore, it helps them in career planning and job selection. Within the scope of the event, high-school students become university students in Koç University for a day. Nine businesses sponsored SWENext and showed their support of students.
- Other Social Awareness Projects: We are planning to organize a large-scale event called the SWE Conference. We would like to host the SWE Conference in Istanbul and bring together successful women from STEM fields, other SWE affiliates, and leaders with students from both our university and other universities.
What is one of your favorite memories with the SWE community?
One of my favorite memories with the SWE community is our annual “PinkOctober” event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Every year, our members come together to raise awareness by wearing pink throughout the day and distributing pink ribbons and informational brochures around campus.
This past year, KUSWE shared informative posts about breast cancer on its official Instagram account. Additionally, the board members of KUSWE prepared a series of videos in which they highlighted the importance of early diagnosis with the hashtag #followthepinkribbon and successfully created an effective social media movement. It is a meaningful way for us to engage the university community around an important social cause while strengthening our own sense of solidarity as a group.
At the end of the day, one of the most special moments each year is when the clock tower on our campus is illuminated in pink. Our members gather in front of it and take a group photo together, which has become a cherished tradition for our affiliate. It is always a powerful and memorable moment that reminds us of the impact a community can create when people come together for a shared purpose.
What milestones or recent achievements has your affiliate accomplished that you would like to highlight?
One of the milestones our affiliate is particularly proud of is successfully organizing a large-scale networking event this past December.
The event brought together students, professionals, and members of the Koç University community, creating valuable opportunities for students to connect with industry representatives and learn more about potential career paths in engineering and technology.
Through the events we have organized and participated in, our affiliate has also gained greater recognition and respect within the university community.
Collaborations with other student clubs and engagement with faculty members have helped strengthen our presence on campus and expand the reach of our initiatives. Beyond campus, we have also had the opportunity to represent SWE in various social responsibility projects, meetings, and symposiums focused on the role of women in STEM and in the professional world.
Participating in these initiatives has allowed us to promote SWE’s mission in broader communities and contribute to important conversations about women’s representation and leadership in engineering and technology.
What are your affiliate’s goals for next year?
Next year, we will expand the scope of our activities to reach more people. Another important goal we would like to achieve is to hold the SWE Conference in Istanbul.
Do you have a best practice or advice you would like to share with other affiliates and sections?
One of the best practices we value as an affiliate is maintaining clear and supportive communication within the team.
Regular check-ins, open discussions, and creating an environment where members feel comfortable sharing ideas help us stay organized and motivated. Strong communication not only makes teamwork more effective, but also helps build a sense of community and trust among members.
Share a favorite quote to inspire.
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
– Marie Curie
Where can others find or connect with your affiliate?
You can connect with us on our Linktree.
