SU Ankara 2025 Review: Turkish Culture at Its Best

AEGEE-Ankara’s Summer University “Sun Is Up”, held from 1 to 11 September 2025, brought together 18 participants and eight organisers for ten days full of cultural discovery, shared adventures and uniquely Turkish experiences. From traditional nights and Turkish coffee workshops to hammam moments, the event blended learning, laughter and local charm.

GT: What was your Summer University about?
AEGEE-Ankara: Our Summer University focused on Turkish culture, nature, and the country’s beautiful hidden gem cities.

GT: How many participants and organisers joined?
We were 18 participants and 8 organizers.

GT: Which workshops and other activities best represented the spirit of your SU?
Our AEGEE-Ankara specials such as the traditional Turkish night, the hammam visit, and the Turkish coffee workshops truly represented the spirit of our SU.

GT: What was a funny, chaotic or emotional moment that defined the event for you?
After a very exhausting European Night, seeing the participants being kneaded like dough by the hammam workers and masseurs was both hilarious and chaotic, and it made the cultural exchange feel even more intense.

GT: Any stories from the gossip box you can share?
One of our participants interacted with the local people a little more than expected in every sense, while another learned that maybe they should not play with stray dogs too much. And of course, we kept joking that we still had not escaped the simulation.

GT: What made your group of participants special?
Since people of all ages and lifestyles joined us, we encountered many different personalities, and staying up until the morning at a bar drinking beer with some participants turned into its own kind of entertainment.

GT: Did the group stay in touch afterwards?
Naturally, we are still in touch and still chat regularly, the WhatsApp groups are built for that.

GT: How would you evaluate the SU overall — what worked well, what would you improve?
Overall, most things went smoothly. Maybe we could have focused more on themed parties, but everything stayed under control.

GT: Which impact did the event have on your antenna?
The members of our local helped a lot during the activities and had a great time with us. It already looks like we will organize even better Summer Universities in the upcoming years.

GT: Anything else you’d like AEGEEans to know about your SU?
We believe we represented Turkish culture at its peak with hammams, historical museums, and beautiful seas. We are looking forward to welcoming all AEGEEans to our next SU!