Won the "Junior Nobel"

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) graduate Berra Okudurlar reached the top of Europe with her essay written in English on the need for poetry to be given greater importance worldwide. Okudurlar placed first in the ‘Literature’ category of The Global Undergraduate Awards, an international competition known as the “Junior Nobel”. She will receive her award at a ceremony to be held in Dublin, Ireland, on November 9–11.

Living in the Karşıyaka district of Izmir, 24-year-old Berra Okudurlar entered the Department of English Translation and Interpreting at IUE's Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 2020. Loving writing since childhood and doing translations in her spare time, Okudurlar quickly climbed the ladder of success with the motivation of studying in her dream department. Standing out with her high GPA and project performance, Okudurlar also made great use of the double major opportunity provided by IUE and began studying in the Department of Computer Engineering.

RECEIVED HER SECOND DIPLOMA, STARTED MASTER'S DEGREE

Pursuing her education simultaneously in two different fields, Okudurlar earned second place in the Young Translators Competition organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate for EU Affairs in 2024. That same year, she graduated at the top of her class from the IUE Department of English Translation and Interpreting. Having graduated from the Department of Computer Engineering this year to receive her second diploma, Okudurlar has now begun her master's degree in Political Science and International Relations. Setting an example through her hard work, Okudurlar added another award to a career filled with achievements at a young age. By taking first place in Europe at The Global Undergraduate Awards, Okudurlar brought great pride to our country.

MENTIONED HER GRADUATION PROJECT

Expressing that she loves poetry deeply and that being deemed worthy of an award specifically in the literature category holds a special meaning for her, Okudurlar said, “While studying in the Department of Computer Engineering, we prepared a graduation project with my advisor, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kutluhan Erol. In this project, we focused on developing a web application that would facilitate poetry writing and help visualize and format rhyme schemes. Our goal was to make it easier for people to write poetry. In the essay I prepared for the competition, while explaining that poetry should be valued more globally than it is today, I also mentioned this work of ours. This resulted in a strong, effective, and concise essay. Working intensively from early May to mid-June, I completed the essay. One of its standout aspects was its effective narrative style and mastery of English. Receiving an award in such an important competition made me very happy. My efforts paid off.”

“TRANSFORMED IT INTO A POWERFUL AREA OF CREATIVE PRODUCTION”

Congratulating her student, Prof. Dr. Gözde Yazgı Tütüncü, Dean of the IUE Faculty of Arts and Sciences, stated: “We are delighted that Berra won such a prestigious award by highlighting the value of poetry and the role of literature in our lives through a strong English narrative. She used language not just as a tool of communication, but as a powerful area of creative production through which she effectively conveyed her thoughts.”

“PROVIDED WELL-ROUNDED ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT”

Prof. Dr. Nihal Yetkin Karakoç, Head of the IUE Department of English Translation and Interpreting, said, “Throughout her student years, Berra was a student who stood out for her diligence, curiosity, and ability to combine different disciplines. This international success achieved in literature is a very valuable outcome of her well-rounded academic development.”

“SET AN EXAMPLE FOR EVERYONE”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Kutluhan Erol from the IUE Department of Computer Engineering commented: “For Berra, who successfully completed two different undergraduate programs, to now achieve first place in Europe on an international platform is truly a massive achievement. During the time we worked together, she was an exemplary student who drew attention with her intelligence, diligence, and productivity. Transforming the knowledge and experience gained during her university years into such an original piece of work sets a great example for our students.”