The “Western Black Sea Game Jam,” organized by the BEUN Game Development Club, which was entitled to receive support within the scope of the 6th Term of the University Student Clubs Support Program (ÜNİDES) at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), was held at the Farabi Campus Youth Office and Student Center.
The program, which took place at the BEUN Youth Office and Student Center, was attended by BEUN Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu, BEUN Vocational School of Information Technologies Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Erdoğdu, academics, and many students.
Hosted by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University and supported within the scope of the ÜNİDES Program carried out by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Youth and Sports, the event provided students with the opportunity to experience the game development process during an intense and exciting 48-hour marathon. Organized with the theme of bringing the cultural richness of the Western Black Sea Region into digital games, the event enabled students to combine their creative ideas with technology and produce a variety of original projects.
At the award ceremony held at the end of the program, the team that won first place with the game titled “Kömürün Yolu” (The Path of Coal), the team that won second place with the game titled “Batı Karadeniz Macerası” (Western Black Sea Adventure), and the team that won third place with the game titled “Kara Ocak” (Black Hearth) received their awards from the protocol members. It was emphasized that throughout the event, students gained significant experience in teamwork, software development, design, and problem-solving.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, BEUN Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu congratulated all participating students and stated that such organizations carried out in the field of game development make significant contributions to young people’s technology production skills. In his speech, Prof. Dr. Kutoğlu pointed out that the digital gaming sector is one of the fastest-growing fields of today and noted that the creative projects produced by students in a short period of time are promising for the future. He stated that, as a university, they would continue to support students’ work in technology, software, and digital production, and thanked the students, academics, and stakeholder institutions who contributed to the organization.
Following the program, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer made evaluations regarding the event and stated that student projects supported within the scope of ÜNİDES make important contributions to the academic and social development of young people, expressing the following remarks:
“As Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, we aim to educate our students not only academically but also as well-equipped individuals in scientific, technological, cultural, and social fields. In this regard, every project carried out by our student communities gives us great pride.
The fact that our students’ projects have been entitled to receive support within the scope of the ÜNİDES Program carried out by the General Directorate of Youth Services of our Ministry of Youth and Sports is one of the most important indicators of our young people’s productive, innovative, and visionary perspectives. The ‘Western Black Sea Game Jam’ event organized by our BEUN Game Development Community, which was supported within the scope of the 6th Term of ÜNİDES, has also been a highly valuable organization demonstrating our students’ competencies in technology and digital game development.
The fact that our students brought the cultural values of the Western Black Sea Region together with digital game projects has both contributed to the promotion of our regional culture and created significant awareness in the field of creative industries. It is extremely valuable for us that our young people, who will shape the technologies of the future, develop themselves through such organizations.
On this occasion, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the ÜNİDES Program, especially our Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, and I sincerely congratulate our students, community advisors, jury members, and everyone who contributed to the successful realization of the organization.”
