LXXII Council Meeting Boğaziçi

LG Istanbul - Boğaziçi welcomes

the 72nd Council Meeting

Welcome to the official website of LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul - Boğaziçi. Browse around to find important information about the content and agenda of the event, the voting topics, applications and useful tools that you will need for the General Assembly. Are you ready? Because we certainly are!

Event Agenda

LXXII Council Meeting will take place in Istanbul, Turkey from the 20th until the 26th of April. Agenda points will follow soon!

MEET THE

APPLICANTS

President

Leonor Marques

LG: Aveiro
Joined: 2022

My Application

Historically, 1989 symbolises the beginning of a more united and connected Europe. For ESTIEMers, it marked the birth of a network that today bridges over twenty countries, connecting universities, companies, students, professors and IEM professionals. The first ESTIEM event was already fully sponsored by companies and brought participants across three continents – a reminder that, even then, the vision for ESTIEM extended far beyond borders.

When I first joined the network, I did not yet realise the scale of what I was stepping into. ESTIEM is often difficult to explain to those outside the network – it is something that is best understood through the people, the energy and the shared purpose that bring us together. I have had the opportunity to grow from a curious newbie into a committed Leader within ESTIEM. Each step – which I list below – allowed me to better understand the organisation, the people behind it and the responsibility that comes with shaping its future.

- HR Collaborator of ESTIEM Local Group Aveiro, October 2022 – June 2023
- Events Promotion Responsible of Central ESTIEM, March 2023 – August 2024
  Worked closely with the VP of Activities of the 33rd and 34th Boards to promote events while analysing participation data to improve outreach and engagement.
- Vice President of HR of ESTIEM LG Aveiro, June 2023 – August 2024
  Led a 15-person online team to organise the first National MoWe in Portugal for 70 participants.
- HR Coordinator of LXVIII Council Meeting Aveiro, June 2023 – April 2024
  Responsible for the HR management of a 60-person organising team.
- Ambassador of APGEI (IEM organisation), October 2024 – October 2025
  Explored collaboration beyond ESTIEM in an organisation connecting students, companies and IEM professionals, broadening my perspective on external partnerships.
- Feedback Responsible of ADD, February 2025 – August 2025
  Worked with the VP of Education of the 35th Board to strengthen feedback processes supporting the development of ESTIEM services in ADD.
- Regional Coordinator of Solaris Region, August 2025 – present

- (Head) Instructor of LSS & Product Management, December 2025 – present

Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with ESTIEMers at both local and international level, as well as with companies and Board members. I’ve been part of diverse teams and, at times, had the privilege of leading them. Through these experiences, I have grown as a person and professional, but above all as a Leader.

I still remember attending my first Council Meeting in Budapest as a delegate. Sitting in the GA – after far too few hours of sleep – I was fascinated by the responsibility carried by those sitting on the other side of the table. At the time, I could not yet imagine the full journey that ESTIEM would take me on.

Through the experiences and responsibilities that followed, my understanding of the organisation deepened and so did my willingness to contribute further. Three years later, I feel ready to take that responsibility which is why I, Leonor Marques, am running for President of the 37th Board of ESTIEM.

I see ESTIEM as a unique organisation: a network run by students, for students, capable of delivering impactful services while building meaningful connections. Our members aim for the BOBs (best of the best) of life, our services foster development, and our strength lies in the diversity and commitment of the people behind this network. With this in mind, I would like to focus on two main areas during my mandate as President. By the end of my mandate, I aim to leave an ESTIEM that is more visible and trusted among professional partners, who recognize the hardworking people ESTIEM develops. Last but not least, all this is possible by an organisation whose internal alignment and communication embody the spirit of our motto, Aiming High.

1. Empowering ESTIEMers’ Value

I envision an ESTIEM that is recognised not only for its services, but also for the talented and driven people it helps develop. By strengthening relationships with professional and academic partners, ESTIEM can further position itself as a reference within the Industrial Engineering and Management community in Europe – and potentially beyond.

The goal is simple: to ensure that the time ESTIEMers invest in the network is recognised and valued by their future employers. When companies see ESTIEM as a community that consistently brings together proactive, capable and ambitious students, the experience gained within the network naturally becomes a differentiating factor. In this way, involvement in ESTIEM becomes more than merely participation in a student organisation – it becomes a recognised signal of initiative, responsibility and international collaboration.

One step towards this would be working towards EU-level recognition or accreditation for ESTIEM course certificates, increasing their value for companies and future employers and contributing to stronger recognition of ESTIEM across Europe.

2. Working Better Together

For those involved in Central work it is clear that the overall flow of information within the network needs to be rethought and redesigned. However, as most ESTIEMers are not directly exposed to these internal processes although you may already experienced it even if only active at a local level.

How many times have you searched for information and not known who to approach? How many requests or questions have been lost in time? And how many of you have been approached by different Leaders asking your Local Group to host an event when your calendar was already settled – or even when you had previously discussed the same topic with your Regional Coordinator?

The frequency of these situations makes it clear to me that the current communication and information flow within the network is not performing at its best. Among other measures, I would like to encourage stronger collaboration between ESTIEM members and entities, making workflows clearer and more meaningful so that every service delivered moves the network one step further. To illustrate this, let me give a simple example. For each event organised, an event report is produced where activities, key takeaways, and improvement opportunities are documented. However, this feedback often remains only recorded, without clear follow-up actions. As a result, future services do not consistently build upon these insights, making the progression and improvement of our services slower and more difficult than it should be.

None of this is possible without a strong and motivated Board. As President, I see it as my ultimate responsibility to create an environment where each Board member feels supported, trusted and empowered to perform at their best throughout the mandate.

If elected, I plan to dedicate a gap year to fully commit to the responsibilities of the Presidency and to the development of the network.

I look forward to sharing my ideas and, above all, listening to yours at the LXXII Council Meeting in Istanbul. Feel free to approach me at any time, even if you can’t wait until then! I’m happy to answer your questions and discuss my vision for ESTIEM.

And remember: empowered people build a connected network.

In high ESTIEM,
Leonor Marques
leonor.marques1@estiem.org
+351935513987

Toprak Yanmaz

LG: Istanbul-Yildiz
Joined: 2023

My Application

Every ESTIEM journey starts with a leap of faith… that first flight, that first event, that first time stepping out of our comfort zones. I took that leap in 2023 with Local Group Istanbul-Yildiz, searching for a place where I could be my authentic self. ESTIEM gave me that space to experience, to grow; and now, it is time for me to give back the ultimate return on that gift. I am stepping forward to lead, not just reflect on what this network has given us, but to strategically define what we build next, ensuring the guarantee for every single ESTIEMer across Europe.

I am Toprak Yanmaz, proudly representing LG Istanbul-Yildiz & LG Calabria, and I am officially declaring my intent to run for the President of the 37th Board of ESTIEM.

Throughout my ESTIEM journey of 3 years, I’ve attended several key events that shaped how I perceive our organization. From driving Coordination Meetings and organizing Council Meetings during my Erasmus+ exchange, to stepping up as a temporary ambassador to advocate for our network alongside our European partner NGOs.

From all the contributions I have made to ESTIEM, my proudest organizational achievement is leading the revitalization of Language Programme. Since joining Language Programme last year, I have made significant improvements to the service, transforming it from a declining entity into a valuable resource for ESTIEMers, with the best team members I could ever have! Together, we have proved that transforming an entity’s strategic approach is never impossible when driven by absolute commitment. Today, Language Programme helps hundreds of ESTIEMers in their personal and professional development through language acquisition. I cannot put into words how proud I am to bring back such a valuable learning resource for our members! An idea back in 2012, became a service in 2015, and is now back on track in 2026.

To guide ESTIEM into its next chapter, my presidency will be driven by these four strategic pillars:

1 – Enlargement of ESTIEM Network in IEM Europe

IEM Europe… It consists of a huge amount of people and potential, and we are the organization to advocate IEM students within the integrated European business/institutional ecosystem. That is why focusing on enlargement of ESTIEM Network is such an important topic to me. While we have built a strong community, we have a long road ahead to reach our full capacity… though it is going to be us people who will initiate the change, implement our ambition to our work and connect IEM students together, in a supportive environment.

2 – Enhancement of External Relations with Partner NGOs and European Commission

Within our network, ESTIEM is built on deep connections, lifelong friendships, and our shared ambition. But we must ask ourselves, how much of our true ESTIEM Spirit is visible beyond our borders?

One of my goals for next year’s mandate will be improving the External Image of ESTIEM, together with the Vice President of Public Relations, to truly show the colors of ESTIEM (with #205e44 of course) to the outreach of our network. The more we open ourselves to Europe, the more opportunities we create to grow together.

ESTIEM is a huge network holding a lot of power in Europe to raise awareness on safety, human rights and democracy. I’m aiming for ESTIEM to be seen as more than just an NGO; I want it to be a guiding force for future generations, sharing its wisdom and European values. By fostering strong relations with the European Commission and the European Youth Foundation, we will implement impactful initiatives not only within IEM’s core areas of focus but also on the younger generations of Europe.

3 – Bridging the Knowledge Management Gap between Local Groups/Central ESTIEM

One of the consequences of being a huge network is having different problems & unbalanced manpower between different Local Groups. Bringing our Local Responsibles and Regional Coordinators together to close the knowledge gap in order for Local Groups to not circulate their problems between each other is one of the key topics I’d love to focus on. ESTIEM is a network of open minded students who also learn from each others past mistakes and lessons learnt, sharing our experiences to help others is one of the fuels of our ESTIEM Spirit.

Bringing our Central ESTIEM entities to work together with a shared common mindset is what I want to achieve at the beginning of my mandate. Communication can be a huge problem when not given priority during each process and I am willing to work on closing this gap, both in between of Local Groups and Central ESTIEM entities.

4 – Ensuring the Strategic Growth of ESTIEM

Next year’s mandate will be a critical milestone for our organization: the finalization of the current three year ESTIEM Strategy. Throughout my mandate, I will be fully committed to execute the present ESTIEM Dashboards successfully, ensuring the hard work of the previous Boards; while designing a sustainable, data driven strategic plan for the next three years, to secure ESTIEM’s next era of growth.

Apart from these Goals, I’d also love to briefly explain to you, what I call “Principles” rather than goals. While goals define our destination, principles define how we travel. These are the non negotiable standards that will dictate my everyday leadership as the President of ESTIEM.

Transparency – Visibility of the Board’s work to all of our network
Safety – developing a safer ESTIEM, in alignment with the ongoing work to create a mediation body, and making sure every ESTIEMer knows this resource is accessible and protected.
Leadership Development Support – Encouraging ESTIEMers to take the next big step to take the lead
Aiming High – Inspiring every ESTIEMers to aim high and dream big with the spark, awaiting within themselves.

But out of all these, a President’s vision is only as strong as their team. My foundational priority will be the well-being of my co-Boardies by creating a safe environment of high ambition, mutual support and psychological wellness to execute a successful and healthy mandate, together.

You can always reach out to me to share your vision, feedback, and ask questions any time of the day through my communication channels I stated at the bottom of this application letter.

All of our experiences had made us become the person we are today. So let’s learn, develop, and inspire each other. But we cannot do it alone, that’s why we are here today, all together, to go further!

In High ESTIEM,

Toprak

toprak.yanmaz@estiem.org | +90 533 508 14 56 | LinkedIn

Vice President of Administration

Nathan Freymann

LG: Liege
Joined: 2022

My Application

Hi dear ESTIEMers,

Three years ago, I joined ESTIEM LG Liège to travel and see Europe. I never expected that a student organisation would become the place where I would find my purpose and my path in life. Through 35 events (5 Regional events, Local Responsible Forum, Leaders Forum, 4 Coordination Meetings, 2 Colleges, 4 Council Meetings and more), from my first local meeting to leading the Analysis Committee. I discovered a safe space where I could experiment, fail, and eventually figure out exactly what I want to do and within the process I’ve found myself as a person and what I aspire to be.

My name is Nathan Freymann, and it is my greatest honour to present my application for the Vice President of Administration of the 37th Board of ESTIEM.

My journey began in 2022. Since then, my path in ESTIEM has been a never ending learning experience. As Local Responsible of LG Liège, I had my first connection with the network, learning the art of communication and the challenge of reviving a Local Group. I saw first-hand how bringing the “ESTIEM Spirit” to a local level can transform a student’s university experience.

Stepping up as President of LG Liège, my focus shifted toward the long-term. I moved into strategic planning, reworking our local statutes and regulations to ensure our group’s sustainability. It was here I realised that rules aren’t just bureaucracy and that they are the safety net that allows a Local Group to thrive for years to come.

My transition to the central level through the ITC and the Website Task Group taught me the aspect of international collaboration. Working in teams, I gained the technical skills and the bigger understanding of how our network functions.

However, it is my current mandate as Analysis Committee Leader that truly defined my vision. Diving deep into our IT infrastructure, collaborating with other leaders and attending even more ESTIEM events allowed me to see the connective tissue of ESTIEM.

I finally understood that while our tools and projects are vital, ESTIEM is the people. Without them, our data and our archives are just empty files. Our projects and innovation would be for no one. This realisation is why I am applying for the Board. I want to build and develop an infrastructure that empowers our members to be the best versions of themselves.

If elected, I intend to focus on the following goals:

Administration Sphere: Strengthening the synergy between Committees within the admin sphere. These committees shouldn’t work in silos. I will focus on a unified approach to support our IT infrastructure and resources. The goal here is to make sure that members within these committees have a better understanding of what is going on within the sphere, how different projects are related and furthermore foster collaboration.

Knowledge Management & Accessibility: Empowering our knowledge Management within committees like ITC, AC, and KMC to be sustainable. Making the onboarding process of new members smoother. Work on the accessibility and awareness of the tools that we have, whether it is Elium, handover hub or the drives. Ensure that Local Groups spend less time searching and more time creating.

Council Meetings: Supporting hosting LGs to have quality Council Meetings. Further improve and work on making CMs more attractive to organise. Make it more valuable for participants and organisers.

Data-Driven: Leveraging my experience in the Analysis Committee to bring valuable metrics to board-level decisions, ensuring we address the actual needs of the network. Evaluation on the ESTIEM Dashboard (part of the ESTIEM strategy).

Safety & Transparency: Continue on improving our GDPR compliance and Internal Regulations to ensure every ESTIEMer feels secure and every decision made by the Board is transparent to the Council.

ESTIEM gave me the space to find my passion. Now, I want to ensure that the engine stays running for all of you, and give sparks to newer ones.

Looking forward to seeing you all in the Council Meeting Istanbul – Boğaziçi! Definitely feel free to reach out for questions, ideas and discussion, or more about my goals here:

nathan.freymann@estiem.org

+32 473 30 64 80

In High ESTIEM,

Nathan Freymann

Vice President of Finance

Emir Mut

LG: Istanbul-Yildiz
Joined: 2022

My Application

All dreams start with an investment, an investment of time, courage, and resources. My own journey started in 2022 with Local Group Istanbul-Yildiz, where I first discovered that the true value of this network lies in the opportunities it creates for us to grow. Over the past few years, I’ve realized that behind every life-changing event and every cross-border friendship is a silent, yet vital force: the financial foundation that makes it all possible. Today, I am stepping forward not just to reflect on what we have achieved, but to serve as the guardian of our resources, ensuring that the “ESTIEM Dream” remains accessible and financially sustainable for every student across Europe.

I am Emir Mut and I am declaring my intent to run for the Vice President of Finance of the 37th Board of ESTIEM.

Throughout my ESTIEM journey, I’ve seen that while our spirit is priceless, our impact requires meticulous resource management. From driving local initiatives to witnessing the scale of our Council Meetings, I have understood that a healthy network is built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and sustainable funding.

In my 4 years in ESTIEM, I have taken the roles of Local Responsible, Regional Coordinator and currently the Members Committee Leader. I have attended a lot of events which shaped me both personally and professionally. Everytime I had something that made me even more committed to ESTIEM and now it’s time to make the final move!

To guide ESTIEM’s financial resilience into its next chapter, my mandate will be driven by these four strategic pillars:

1 – Financial Stability and Diversification of Income: ESTIEM’s potential is vast, but our growth is tied to our budget. My primary focus will be on strengthening our financial stability. Beyond the current grants, I aim to diversify our income streams by working closely with CRC to attract new corporate partners and exploring long-term funding opportunities within the European institutional ecosystem. We need to move from “maintaining” our status to “investing” in our expansion.

2 – Transparency and Financial Literacy across the Network: Finance should not be a “black box” accessible only to the Board. One of my goals is to increase the visibility of our financial health to all ESTIEMers. I will implement regular, easy-to-understand financial reporting. Furthermore, I want to increase the “Financial Literacy” of our Local Groups, providing them with the tools and knowledge to manage their local budgets more effectively, bridging the gap between local and central financial management through shared best practices.

3 – Optimization of Grant Management (EYF & Erasmus+): A significant portion of our impact is fueled by European grants. I will focus on optimizing our application and reporting processes for the European Youth Foundation and Erasmus+. By ensuring 100% compliance and strategic alignment with our events, we will secure the resources needed to keep event fees accessible for every ESTIEMer, regardless of their economic background. Financial inclusivity is the key to a truly diverse and united network.

4 – Ensuring the Strategic Growth of ESTIEM: As VP of Finance, I will be committed to executing the present financial dashboards successfully, ensuring the previously works done is secured. Simultaneously, I will work on designing a sustainable, data-driven financial plan ensuring that our budget directly reflects our strategic priorities and secures ESTIEM’s next era of growth.

A Board’s vision is only as strong as its foundation. My priority will be to provide that unshakable foundation, creating a safe environment of high ambition and mutual support to execute a successful and healthy mandate, together.

Let’s not just dream big; let’s build the financial reality that makes those dreams possible.

In High ESTIEM,
Emir Mut | emir.mut@estiem.org

Summer Academy Leader

Efe Berk Işık

LG: Izmir-Economy
Joined: 2025

My Application

“So… what exactly happens in a Summer Academy?”

This is a question I’ve heard many times and honestly, I asked it myself when I first joined ESTIEM.

Dear Fellow ESTIEM’ers,

I am Efe Berk, a 20 year old 2nd year Aerospace Engineering student from LG Izmir-Economy. I am currently an active member of my Local Group and I am applying right now to become the next Leader of the Summer Academy.

My ESTIEM journey started in the second semester of my university life. From the very beginning, Summer Academy was one of the concepts that caught my attention the most, as it focuses deeply on internal and personal development, something different from other ESTIEM events.

“Life doesn’t give you seatbelts.” – Deadpool

At that time, there was no available Academy I could participate in. So instead of waiting, I became a Project Leader. Together with my organizing team and our Academic Leader Paulo (and yes, a lot of deep conversations along the way), we successfully created Winter Academy: A Journey to Your Inner World.

Summer Academy has been one of the strongest and most established services of ESTIEM for many years. However, it is undeniable that over time, it has started to lose its popularity. I felt this reality deeply while organizing our Winter Academy. My main goal is to bring a new and innovative vision to this valuable and comprehensive service, and to build a strong and recognizable brand identity for it. If necessary, I am ready to take bold and fundamental steps to restore its former strength and reintegrate it into the ESTIEM network in a powerful way.

I also understand why this decrease in popularity has happened. For many students (including myself), ESTIEM is an escape from the intensity of academic life. However, when they see the word “academy” without fully understanding its content, it may feel intimidating or less attractive. This is completely natural. To tackle this issue, I have already discussed these challenges with the current leader, fellow ESTIEM’ers, and our Academic Leaders. We have explored possible solutions together, and I have already started working on implementing some of them as a team member. My goal during my mandate is to fully execute these ideas and make Summer Academy more approachable, engaging, and impactful (and more fun ofc).

Summer Academy offers a unique psychological and sociological development experience that cannot be found anywhere else within the network. It creates a safe space for participants to explore themselves, challenge their perspectives, and grow both personally and socially. This uniqueness is exactly what we need to highlight and communicate more effectively.

Being part of the team this year has given me valuable insights into both the strengths and the challenges of the service. It also allowed me to actively contribute to its development. Now, I feel ready to take full responsibility, lead this service, and elevate it to the next level.

I am here to bring Summer Academy back as a dynamic, attractive and impactful service within ESTIEM.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, I would be more than happy to connect via efe.berk.isik@estiem.org.

In High ESTIEM,
Efe Berk Işık

PEAK Leader

Efe Mert Ergec

LG: Famagusta
Joined: 2023

My Application

‘’I admire sportsmen who are bright, agile and of good character.’’ -Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Hello ESTIEMers,

I am Mert Ergeç, a 21-year-old Industrial Engineering student from Local Group Famagusta. And this is my formal application for the Leader position of the youngest service in the organisation, PEAK. (Feels so good to say it)

My ESTIEM journey began in November 2023 with LG Famagusta, home of The Flamingos. Since then, I have had the pleasure of contributing to both the Europe3D Famagusta and Famagusta x Paderborn Exchange as an Organisation Team member. It was an eventful year full of ESTIEM Spirit. Since then, I moved to Germany to study abroad. Even then, I am supporting my LG a lot from a distance, and I do not hesitate to offer my help or provide meaningful feedback when needed.

After figuring out what I was going to do for my studies, I wanted to focus more on ESTIEM. I wanted to make an impact; to find a place I would truly leave a mark, an empty canvas.

And that chance came up when PEAK happened.

Yes, you read it correctly. PEAK happened. Sports is something we all do, yet so unfamiliar in ESTIEM. It can push you to the extremes, and make you go beyond your comfort zone. And you will feel that you are truly alive. That is why it is something that happens.

Since I am a sports guy myself, and PEAK was still an initiative which was yet to prove itself, it was a match made in heaven. I started working as the Event Coordinator right after the current leader took the position, which was in July 2025.

From the very beginning, it was something quite different from what I was used to in ESTIEM. I experienced the other side of ESTIEM Spirit: Being in contact with international peers and at the same time making new friends. The spirit inside the team was unmatched, that is why I did not want to miss any meetings no matter the topic. And that is also why I accidentally crashed my car in a PEAK meeting because I was too focused. I think that shows dedication (and a little bit of foolishness).

Since PEAK was so new in ESTIEM , it did not have any basis in terms of events. So, I figured why not simply go ballistic. My biggest task was coming up with new never-seen-before ideas and guiding the Local Groups through an event type that has never been seen before. For the Event Coordinator position, the sky was the limit. Literally.

I am proud to say that I had the opportunity to turn most of my ideas into reality, such as the PEAK: Dive into the Aegean Sea and ESTIEM goes Wings for Life, which will hopefully become one of the biggest ESTIEM events in recent times

I played an important part in organising 5 PEAK events all around Europe, and initiated one event that’s literally all-around Europe. Three of them are already over, and all of them have 100% Recommendation Rate. Apart from those, we still have plans for at least 3 more events for this mandate, with more work in progress events.

This year was maybe one of the best years an initiative has ever had.

But next year, can be even better by:

Unlocking the full potential of the PEAK Partner Program: We already did the first and the second tests of the PEAK Partner Program. After a year’s worth of work we can clearly see that the whole program itself has a lot of potential. Yet, it still needs some fine tuning for next year to make sure that the whole program is sustainable enough to make ESTIEMers keep growing together.
Expanding our event portfolio: Right now, we have 6 confirmed events and more in the pipeline. However, I can say that just like the 3P, it is nowhere near its full potential. For the next year, I want to focus on providing a continuous stream of events while also strengthening the core values that made PEAK what it is.
Improving the PEAK Communities: With the PEAK Cooking Book and the Wings For Life event, we had a nice start to last years’ ‘’Make PEAK a community’’ goal. There is still a lot we can do to create a community full of ESTIEMers who want to improve their well-being and share their achievements.
Introducing PEAK Awards: Rewarding people who showed exceptional development.

There are still a lot of things to work on since we only do this for a year. But as you can see, PEAK undeniably has a lot of potential. I am ready to explore it to the fullest.

Thank you for reading so far. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me 24/7 from efe.mert.ergec@estiem.org or +4915223465579.

In High ESTIEM,

Mert

Activity Week Leader

Jani Delale

LG: Novi Sad
Joined: 2023

My Application

“”Your legacy is not based on the things you did, but on the impact they have had on the people that experienced them.””

When I’m done with my ESTIEM journey, this will be the main lesson I will take with me, but for now there is one place in our network where I am sure I can impact people through once-in-a-lifetime experiences and that is Activity Week!

Dear ESTIEMers,

My name is Jani, I am a 21 year old Industrial engineering and management student from Serbia, current LR of LG Novi Sad and proud Event Responsible for Activity Week.

I first encountered ESTIEM as a highschooler at a competition, made my final choice of University because of it, and since November 2023 I have been giving it my all. During this time I have found a true passion for event organization. It is the first thing in my life that I have truly felt at place while doing, and I still chase the high I felt when my first event was going well.

This has led to me being a part of an organizational team for seven projects, mostly Central, which have included a Be X for X days, IDDcom, Vision, two exchanges, and very recently BAESTIEMEC. I am also nearing the end of my mandate as a Local ResponsIble. A local board year teaches you a lot, and more importantly shows you how to use that knowledge and share it with others. With this experience I feel ready for the next step of my journey and to take on responsibility as a leader on the Central level.

Now for the orange part of the story. I experienced IDD spirit for the first time while I was one of the organizers of IDDcom, and I just needed to be a part of it. Shortly after, at the beginning of 2025, an AW Feedback Responsible position opened up that I quickly took. This would later expand to an Event Responsible position with the mandate change. During Event Quality and Feedback chats I found myself not only trying to help other LGs but also learning and taking a lot of things to my own LG. Hearing from different perspectives made me appreciate the amount of small details that make up an event’s quality, and seeing how much it helped me grow truly convinced me of the value that working in Central can offer our members.

But that’s enough about what I’ve done so far, let’s talk about what I aim to achieve in Activity Week as a leader using my experience!

Further work on defining what an Activity Week is.

Preventing LG’s from calling an event an AW just because they want the strong brand it provides.
Ensuring that every AW in the calendar has a strong and clear concept, as well as activities which support said concept.
Making sure that AW’s are not just viewed as party events, they are supposed to provide unique cultural experiences that we as students wouldn’t usually be able to have, and parties should just be a byproduct of their fun nature.

Make the process of creating an Activity Week event clearer for LGs

Helping LG’s that previously only organized LGXs adapt to the changes voted upon in CM Niš by building upon their previous experience and creating a concept for an AW event.
Proactively targeting LG’s who fit the previous description and can bring cultural experiences previously not explored to AW.
Maintaining and updating tools from previous mandates designed to help organize AW events.

Develop and enable Activity Week members

Building up members to be fully independent and potential future leaders.
Partnering up older AW team members with newbies.
Encouraging Event responsibles to actively take notes, document their opinions and draw conclusions about the events they support.

IDD and Activity Week have shown me the greatest parts of ESTIEM over the last few years, and I would truly value the opportunity to contribute to both as a leader over the next year. You will hopefully be able to see my passion live in Istanbul, but until then you can shoot any questions or suggestions at jani.delale@estiem.org.

In high ESTIEM,

Jani

ESTIEM Podcast Leader

Eylul Kisakurek

LG: Ankara-Bilkent
Joined: 2024

My Application

“What is there to lose?”

This question explains my last 2 years of my life. If I don’t have a reason not to, I’ll do it. I connect with everyone and everything easily and I never stay in my comfort zone. Actually, I make every little thing I try my little comfort zones, and I jump around them as I travel from one place to another in ESTIEM. And I am always down for developing things.

Hey there! I’m Eylül Elif Kısakürek from LG Ankara Bilkent and I am applying to become the next Leader of the ESTIEM Podcast.

I started my ESTIEM Journey in November 2024, and my very first event was the Tampere LGX. That trip to Tampere was a game-changer for me—I realized I wanted to get more involved in Central and set my sights on being a board member for the next year. After “Be a Podcast Creator for 2 Hours”, I decided to apply for the open position in ESTIEM Podcast. Fast forward to July 2025 I was thrilled to become a boardie in our LG! My main focus has been on PR, but I love jumping in to help out wherever I can. In August 2025, I officially started working on the ESTIEM Podcast. When our leader stepped down, I thought, “Why not?” and applied to be the ESTIEM Podcast leader at CM Nis. That experience pushed me even further and strengthened my motivation to grow.

Our LG Ankara-Bilkent team has been super busy locally and centrally. Organizing events like the Munich-Bilkent Exchange, Alterra MoWe, CDDCoM, TIMES LQ. We also ran ESTIEM 101 and 102 training sessions to help our active members learn all about ESTIEM. Looking ahead, can’t wait for all the fun ahead!

Throughout my time in the network, I have enjoyed being in places where people share ideas, tell stories, and learn from each other. I believe communication is one of the best tools that connects our community. Podcasts have become a powerful form of media — people listen to and watch them, learn from them, and connect with them. Our network has many inspiring stories, experiences, projects, and ideas. Even though they have been shared in our podcasts, many of these remain within events, committees, or local groups. A strong podcast can bring these experiences to the entire network and even beyond it. My vision is to make the ESTIEM Podcast an engaging and sustainable media platform for our network, informed by what I have learned from my leaders.

To achieve this, I would focus on several key areas:

Strengthening the identity of the podcast by creating a clear concept, tone, and structure, ensuring consistency across all episodes.
Exploring audio-visual formats, taking steps towards making the podcast both listenable and watchable, increasing engagement and accessibility.
Enhancing content quality and value by inviting ESTIEMers, alumni, and external guests to share insights on leadership, personal development, and IEM career paths.
Focusing on team development by organizing trainings and knowledge-sharing sessions to improve skills in hosting, storytelling, and editing, ensuring long-term quality. Also, proceed to provide a safe place for the team.
Ensuring consistency and sustainability by strengthening workflows, production processes, and planning systems for regular episode delivery.
Increasing visibility and accessibility by collaborating with PRC and adapting content into formats suitable for broader reach.

I believe the ESTIEM Podcast can be more than it seems. It can be the voice of our network, where ideas, experiences, and inspiration come together. With the spirit of the ESTIEM we can build something that future ESTIEMers will be proud to continue.

If you have any questions please contact me: eylul.kisakurek@estiem.org

In High ESTIEM,

Eylül Elif Kısakürek

Announcements Box

Keep track of all updates happening until the Council Meeting takes place, shared to the network primarily via email to either LRs or Actives List (active@estiem.org).

[DL 19/3] Crasher packages

Dear ESTIEMers,

Thank you for your patience regarding this matter. Without further ado, we are bringing you the awaited Crashers Packs for LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici!I hope to see many of you in the beautiful city of Istanbul.

APPLICATION FORM

For any questions, please approach the Project Leaders and the organisational team. You can reach them via email or phone number:

Mert Kara (+90 537 254 16 90), mert.kara@estiem.org

DEADLINE FOR CRASHER APPLICATIONS IS 19th March 2026 !!!

There is a limited number of spots the Local Group will provide. After the end of the application period, Local Group Istanbul-Bogazici will select and notify the selected Crashers and provide additional information!

On behalf of the Board of ESTIEM,

Tom Louis Landgraf
VP of Administration

[DL 19/3] Applications & ETCG

Dear ESTIEMers,

We are slowly approaching the LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici and the time has come to share some opportunities. During the Council Meeting, ESTIEMers will have the possibility to make an impact in our network and take the next step in their ESTIEM journey. In this mail, you will find instructions on how to apply for positions that will be elected during the Council Meeting for the upcoming mandate. Please make sure to read this email carefully! Let’s dive in!

Stating your intention to apply during the LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici

In order for the Board to know that you are interested in applying for a position in ESTIEM, please fill out this form by 19th of March until 23:59 CET. By filling out the form you will be added to the mailing list for applicants where more instructions about the application process will be shared.

By filling out this form, you will help the Board allocate enough time during the General Assembly because we will know the number of applicants more accurately. Note that you can apply at any time, regardless of this form. Additionally, if you fill out the form, it does not bind you to later on apply. It simply supports the creation of the General Assembly agenda and allows the Board to support you during the process.

Elections during the LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici

To formally apply for one of the open positions during the LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici, please submit your application to this form. In the form, please submit a text introducing your application and a representative picture of yourself. These will be posted on the Council Meeting Website and will be publicly accessible. The applications will be uploaded to the Webpage on the 19th of March. If you submit the application after the 20th of March, it will be uploaded as soon as you send it in. This form can also be found under every position listed on the current LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici page.

In case you are unable to attend the Council Meeting offline, ESTIEMers can still apply for Leadership via video application. In this case, please make sure to notify the Board and send your video application to board@estiem.org.

To view previous years’ applications, check out these links (scroll down a bit):

For this Council Meeting, you can apply for the following:

The 37th Board of ESTIEM

President
Vice President of Administration
Vice President of Finance
Vice President of Public Relations
Vice President of Education
Vice President of Activities

Financial Controllers

Financial Controller #1
Financial Controller #2

Please note that we need at least two Financial Controllers according to the Statutes of ESTIEM that can be found on this link.

Projects

ESTIEM Magazine
ESTIEM Podcast
Host of TIMES Final 2027
Host of LXXIII Council Meeting Fall 2026
Host of LXXIV Council Meeting Spring 2027

Services

Lean Six Sigma Service Leader
Be X for X Days Service Leader
businessbooster Service Leader
TIMES Service Leader
Summer Academy Service Leader
Activity Week Service Leader
Europe3D Service Leader
Language Programme Service Leader

Disclaimer: There is a current change initiative going on which might lead to a proposal for improving the internal operational structure of ESTIEM. In case such a proposal will be made at the Council Meeting, this might affect the scope and number of Service Leader positions open to apply for. If you are considering to apply for a Service Leader position, we ask you to get in touch with the 36th Board as soon as possible to ensure you can prepare your application properly. Further updates will be given on Elium as the initiative progresses.

In case of additional concerns or clarifications regarding the applications, please send an email to vp-administration@estiem.org. In case of questions regarding the Council Meeting, please contact cmcontact@estiem.org 🙂

[ETCG] ESTIEM Trading Card Game

For everyone who ordered ESTIEM Trading Cards during Council Meeting Nis, now is your chance to get them. All cards that have been ordered will be brought to the Council Meeting in Istanbul and you can pick them up during the event. In case you are not able to join, you can still get them, as long as somebody will get your cards from Istanbul!

On behalf of the Board of ESTIEM,

Tom Louis Landgraf
VP of Administration

Statement Regarding Safety

Dear ESTIEMers,

I am writing to you regarding the recent reports of Iran firing a missile towards Türkiye in connection with the safety of our upcoming Council Meeting.

As multiple sources reported, an Iranian ballistic missile has been successfully intercepted by NATO forces that was supposedly headed towards Türkiye. We understand that this news might cause concern and uncertainty with respect to our upcoming Council Meeting. Thus, we want to address this topic.

As of now, the Board of ESTIEM sees no critical increase of risks or endangerment for ESTIEMers travelling to the Council Meeting in Istanbul. This is based on the thorough assessment of several factors as listed below.

The Iranian armed forces gave a statement about the incident, reading: “The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Turkey”.https://middle-east-online.com/en/irans-armed-forces-deny-firing-missile-towards-turkey [05.03.2026] And another source reporting: “The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran respect the sovereignty of the neighboring and friendly country, Turkey.” https://iranwire.com/en/news/149916-iran-denies-missile-launch-toward-turkey-after-nato-interception/ [05.03.2026]
Geographical setting of Istanbul: Istanbul lies more than 1,200 km away from the Iranian border. While that is theoretically within reach of Iranian missiles, this also means there is 1,200 km of highly protected NATO airspace between Istanbul and any potential threat. Turkish air defense systems are on high alert and airspace in the Mediterranean sea is monitored by US Navy forces operating in the region as well as other NATO countries, e.g. France. https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/05/what-to-know-about-frances-charles-de-gaulle-aircraft-carrier-and-its-mediterranean-deploy [05.03.2026]
No US military base close to Istanbul: So far, Iran has supposedly aimed to hit US military bases in its neighboring countries. The missile intercepted yesterday was thought to be headed towards Incirlik Air Base, where about 1,000 US personnel are currently stationed. Incirlik is located at the south-east end of Türkiye, about 680 km away from Istanbul. https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/turkiye-intercepts-iranian-ballistic-missile-heading-toward-its-airspace-3215600?s=1 [04.03.2026]
No change in travel advice by German Office of Foreign Affairs: The German Office of Foreign Affairs has not changed its travel warnings for Türkiye. The same goes for the Office of Foreign Affairs of the UK. We did not check every single EU country here, but expect their warnings to be coherent. In case the Office of Foreign Affairs or a similar institution of your government issues such a warning, we would be grateful if you could inform us.

Given these factors, we currently see no critical increase of risk or endangerment for ESTIEMers travelling to our Council Meeting in Istanbul. This is further supported by our impression being in Ankara right now, where everyday life continues normally. We will keep close attention to the current developments and can assure you that we keep the safety of ESTIEMers as our highest priority.

Should the result of our assessment of the current situation change, we will inform the network immediately.

In high ESTIEM,
Adrian Bösl
President of ESTIEM

[DL 10/3] Collection of topics for CM LXXII

Dear ESTIEMer,

With the LXXII CM approaching fast, it is my honour to invite you to collaborate with the Board in creating an interesting and relevant agenda for the General Assembly of ESTIEM.

Do you have a new idea or innovative project you would like to bring to the network?
Do you have a new event concept you wish to bring to life and want the approval and recognition of the Council to start it?
Do you feel a change has to be made and want to present a proposal for it?
Or do you want to report on the outstanding work you did in the network?
Or is there a topic you want to see in our GA, but presented by the Board or someone else from the network?

Then this is your chance. Please fill this form by 10th of March to let us know about your ideas and wishes. The Board of ESTIEM is looking forward to your proposals and is hoping for a plethora of new ideas, spirit of innovation and courage towards change. The future of ESTIEM is YOU.

In high ESTIEM,

Adrian Bösl
President of ESTIEM

Update on the situation for the LXXII CM

Dear ESTIEMers,

We are sending this mail regarding the upcoming LXXII Council Meeting to inform you about the current situation. Due to different issues, which will be explained later in the mail, we could not inform selected participants on time.

We truly regret to have left you and others in uncertainty. Today all selected participants will receive an e-mail and in the upcoming days, upon confirmation of these people, the rejection mail will be sent.

The upcoming Council Meeting (CM) will be organised by Local Group Istanbul-Bogazici from the 20th to the 26th of April 2026. The Local Group started working already at the end of last year on the logistics, to secure accommodation and find a room for the General Assembly (GA), which was presented during Council Meeting Nis. Unfortunately, some unforeseen events happened in the past weeks, which made these plans very uncertain and doubtful, if the Council Meeting can happen at all. So what happened?

In the past weeks, Erdogan visited the Campus of Bogazici once, which led to a shutdown of the University and no students could enter during that time, and now police is present around the campus. Furthermore, the organised GA room was then taken over by the administration of the University, for their own events, during the time of our event, as well as the alternative room that could fit 250 people. As it is not possible for the LG to rent and use a GA room outside of the campus for an official event, the question was now prevailing, if the CM can happen, without a feasible option for the GA room in sight. In the last days, we solved that issue in close work with the LG and found a solution, which will enable all participants to join the event. We are certain to have two rooms that will serve for us as GA rooms. One mainly for the delegates and the “live” GA and another one for the other spots. These rooms are secured and we are doing our best to get the official room, which was planned in the first place and would fit all people at the same time.

As you saw on the portal, the initial Cancellation Deadline was the 1st of March, which is of course not working with the delayed registration. Therefore, it has been moved to the 10th of March.

After facing and solving these unforeseen and unwanted circumstances, we are confident to have overcome the major obstacles that were in the way of this Council Meeting happening. No further issues are expected in connection with these delays. We will soon send more information to all registered participants for the further organisation of logistics.

Thanks a lot for your understanding and patience!

In high ESTIEM,
36th Board

[DL 08/02] Leaders Participation

Dear ESTIEMers,

The LXXII Council Meeting will take place between the 20th (arrival) and 26th (departure) of April 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. Several important decisions for the future of the network will be made during this event. As highly engaged ESTIEMers, your presence is invaluable – we strongly encourage you to attend this event to stay informed, ask questions, and contribute your opinions. Always remember, Leaders inspire by example and are role models to the network! We look forward to seeing many of you there 🙂

If you would like to participate in the Council Meeting, please share your information in this sheet (you can open it only with your ESTIEM account). The application deadline is the 8th of February 2026 at 23:59 CEST. The Board is planning a Leaders Gathering event before the Council Meeting the details will be announced soon.

Any questions? Reach out to me via vp-administration@estiem.org or via GChat!

On behalf of the Board of ESTIEM,

Tom Louis Landgraf
VP of Administration

[DL: 08/02] Open Positions

Dear ESTIEMers,

The next Council Meeting is already approaching! The LXXII Council Meeting of ESTIEM will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from the 20th until the 26th of April 2026.

The Council Meeting is the statutory meeting of ESTIEM. It takes place twice a year and it brings together around 250 Industrial Engineering and Management students from 26 European countries. It is composed of two parts, the General Assembly, where everyone is updated on what is going on in ESTIEM and decisions are made through voting, as well as the Working Groups, Training Sessions and Company Workshops, where smaller groups either work to develop ESTIEM, or improve their skills. The open calls start now!

Open Positions
A Council Meeting is the place where we gather to invest time in our organisation, to meet new and old friends and celebrate the ESTIEM Spirit. By participating as a delegate, you may represent your Local Group in the Council Meeting and have a secure spot for the event. For more information, please contact your Local Responsible. Alternatively, you can also participate by applying to the following positions:

Chairperson (1 spot),
Secretary (2 spots),
Voting Committee (2 spots),
Sessions Coordinator (1 spot),
Photographer (4 spots),
Videographer (2 spots),
Livestream Responsible (2 spot),
Content Creator (2 spots),
Extra Place

You can find all the brief descriptions about each position in the attachment. Please send your application until the 8th of February 2025 at 23:59 CEST. To apply for any of the aforementioned positions, follow this link and select what you are applying for.

ESTIEM forms can only be accessed if you log in to your ESTIEM account before opening the form!

Please keep in mind that due to limited availability, it is possible that you may not be selected for the role you are applying for. ESTIEMers can apply for as many positions as they’d like to, but it does not increase nor does it decrease their chances for getting accepted to the Council Meeting. Please note that there will not be any additional registration opportunities for extra places or other positions at a later time.

Local Group Istanbul-Bogazici will soon provide more information regarding crashers, but as a reminder, crashers are not participants of the Council Meeting and are therefore responsible for their accommodation and food. They will be provided in a limited amount.

Working Groups
ESTIEMers have once again the opportunity to apply to hold a Working Group, but only a limited number will be selected. For the selection you will need to present concrete goals and a plan to follow up the outcomes after the Council Meeting. Maximum 2 ESTIEMers can apply to hold a Working Group as the Co-leaders. If the Working Group is accepted, the Leaders that applied to hold it will have a secured spot for the Council Meeting. The applications will be held in a separate form that can be found below.

Application form for Working Groups at the LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici 2026

Best of luck to all!

To recap, to officially participate in Council Meeting Istanbul Bogazici as a delegate or one of the open positions, you’re expected to take the appropriate action by Sunday, 8th of February 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

APPLICATION FORM: Open Positions at LXXII Council Meeting Istanbul-Bogazici 2026

To become a delegate, contact your Local Responsible. Each LR will appoint up to two delegates from their Local Group.
To apply for an open position you need to apply via the form in this email.
Alongside either 1 or 2, you may also apply to hold a Working Group.

In case of any questions, problems with the form or any other inquiries, do not hesitate to approach us via vp-administration@estiem.org at any time. For questions regarding the Council Meeting, please approach us via cmcontact@estiem.org

We are looking forward to reading your application!

Note: To access the sign-up form, you need to login to ESTIEMs Google Workspace. You can do this simply by logging into Google with your @estiem.org-email. If you’re having trouble with signing up, an attached PDF will explain the process of signing up using the SSO document.

On behalf of the Board of ESTIEM,

Tom Louis Landgraf
VP of Administration

Join Council Meeting

All ESTIEMers have the opportunity to participate through the various administrational positions the event offers or by applying for certain long-term ESTIEM roles.

Open Positions

Apply until 08/02

Support the administration of the Council Meeting through the various Open Positions. Available for all ESTIEMers of the network.

Delegates

Apply until 01/03

Represent your Local Group as a Delegate in one of the biggest events in ESTIEM! Reach out to your LR to get selected and more info.

Leaders

Apply until 08/02

Represent your Local Group as a Delegate in one of the biggest events in ESTIEM! Reach out to your LR to get selected and more info.

Applicants

Apply until CM

Interested in taking on a new role as an ESTIEMer or Local Group? Check out what you can apply for and who’s already applying!

DISCLAIMER
An ongoing change initiative may lead to a proposal impacting the scope and number of Service Leader positions at the Council Meeting. If you’re considering applying, please contact the 36th Board as soon as possible to prepare your application. Further updates will be shared on Elium.

Local Groups

can apply to:

Host LXXIII CM Fall 2026

Council Meeting LXXIII will take place in fall 2026, usually around November, and will gather representatives from ESTIEM Local Groups across Europe to discuss important topics and make decisions for the organization. The event includes at least four days of General Assemblies, along with opportunities for networking, collaboration, and experiencing the international ESTIEM community.

To aim high together, send your application to board@estiem.org

Host LXXIV CM Spring 2027

Council Meeting LXXIV will take place in spring 2027, usually around April, and will gather representatives from ESTIEM Local Groups across Europe to discuss important topics and make decisions for the organization. The event includes at least four days of General Assemblies, along with opportunities for networking, collaboration, and experiencing the international ESTIEM community.

To aim high together, send your application to board@estiem.org

Host of TIMES Final 2027

TIMES Final 2027 is the last stage of TIMES, ESTIEM’s biggest case study competition. It brings together the best teams from across Europe to solve a final case, meet other ESTIEMers, and celebrate the end of the competition with a great international experience.

To aim high together, send your application to board@estiem.org

Become Members

Member Local Group Application gives Observer Local Groups the opportunity to apply for full membership in ESTIEM. Through this process, they present their development, activities, and engagement in the network, demonstrating that they meet the requirements to become a Member.

To aim high together, send your application to board@estiem.org

Become Observers

Observer Local Group Application is the step where a Guest Local Group applies to become more actively involved in ESTIEM. By obtaining Observer status, the Local Group shows its commitment to the network and begins participating more closely in ESTIEM activities, while continuing to develop towards full membership.

To aim high together, send your application to board@estiem.org

ESTIEMer

can apply for:

President

Provides leadership and vision for ESTIEM, ensures alignment with the network’s strategy, and represents the organization both internally and externally.