NÛN Educational and Cultural , established in 2014, is a pioneering non-profit institution in the educational world. NÛN has a fresh vision of integrating tradition and future in educational and cultural field in Turkey; providing scholarships to students in need, prioritizing the education of a competent youth solely.
Prof. Dr. Tayfun KINDAP
Member of the Board of Directors
Tayfun Kındap graduated from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Department of Meteorology Engineering in 1992. Between 1996-2000, he worked as an Engineer at the State Hydraulic Works (DSI), Istanbul Regional Directorate. He completed his master's degree in ITU Institute of Science, Meteorology Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences Program in 1996.
In 2004, Kındap finished his doctorate in Earth System Sciences, Climate and Marine Sciences at ITU Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences and started his academic studies as a Research Assistant. He worked as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of California and Georgia Institute of Technology in the USA. Returning to ITU between 2005-2007, he continued his academic studies. In 2007, he conducted researches at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Computational Chemodynamics Laboratory in the USA. Kındap became Associate Professor at ITU in 2009, and entitled to be a Professor in 2014.
He served as ITU Secretary General between 2012-2016 and as ITU Vice Rector between 2016-2020. He was a Board Member at ITU Development Foundation, ITU Foundation, ITU Arı Teknokent and ITU Nova Technology Transfer Office.
Prof. Dr. Kındap has given numerous conferences in his field and has written national and international books, articles and papers. Currently, he is a Member of the Board of NUN Foundation for Education and Culture.
Fatih Nida ÜYE
Founding Representative of NUN Schools
Board Member of the NUN Education and Culture Foundation
Mr. Üye was born on May 29, 1969 in Muğla. After completing his primary education in Muğla, he studied in the Department of English Language and Literature at Istanbul University . He served as an English Language Teacher, Head of Foreign Languages Department and General Manager in different private schools. During this time, he also studied in the Department of Cultural Heritage and Tourism at Istanbul University. Mr. Üye is currently the Founding Representative of NUN Schools and a Board Member of the NUN Education and Culture Foundation. He is married and has two daughters.
Zehra İLGEN ŞEKER
General Manager Consultant
Born in Istanbul in 1983, F. Zehra İlgen Şeker went to the USA for higher education after completing his secondary and high school education in Istanbul. She completed her undergraduate education in Psychology at Indiana University in 2005 and her master's degree in Filial Therapy at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 2008. She received training in game therapy and sand therapy simultaneously. During her years in America, she carried out both individual and group studies in various fields with preschool, primary education and adolescent age groups as a psychologist in many institutions and organizations. She gave voluntary services in public and private social services institutions. After 12 years of experience in the United States, Şeker continues her career as a General Manager Consultant, which she started as a psychologist and play therapist at NUN Primary School in 2014.
Fatma Betül YILDIRIM
NÛN Primary School Principal
Fatma Betül Yıldırım, born in Manisa in 1986, graduated from Uludağ University, Department of Classroom Teaching in 2006. She started her teaching career at a private school. During the first years of her teaching career, she completed the Education of the Mentally Disabled program. She joined the NÛN Family as a classroom teacher in 2014. During our school's nomination and authorization operations for IB, Ms. Yıldırım received in-house and outsourced IB training in different categories. In addition to the IB training, she studied High-level Mathematics in Montessori Education. She furthered the integration of embodiment with an inquiry-based approach in the primary school curriculum. She attended various training sessions to enhance her teaching and head of department experiences. The fields she explored included assessment and evaluation, alternative learning, teaching approaches and methods, STEM, robotics, Forest School Training, conceptual understanding, and inquiry-based thinking. She continues her duty as School Principal of NÛN Primary School.
Ahmet ELMAS
NÛN Middle School Principal
Born in Istanbul in 1985, Ahmet Elmas graduated from the Department of American Culture and Literature at Dokuz Eylül University in 2007. During his undergraduate education, he worked part-time in different positions in a private company operating in the organization and tourism sectors.
He completed his pedagogical formation education at Marmara University Faculty of Education in 2008 and his master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University in 2020. As of 2007, he started working as an English teacher, head of the English department and in administrative positions in various private courses and private schools. He participated in many national and international projects, seminars, and training during his teaching and administration career.
Mr. Elmas has been an administrator at the primary, middle and high school levels since NÛN Beykoz Campus started its educational life in 2016. He participated in the nomination, evaluation and authorization processes of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP), Middle Years Program (IB MYP), Diploma Program (IB DP) and International Association of Schools (CIS) at NÛN Primary School, NÛN Middle School and NÛN High School. He served as Child Protection Officer (CPO) at NÛN Primary School until he began his duty as the Principal of NÛN Middle School in 2023. He is married and has a daughter.
Şule ÖZCAN ÇATAK
NUN Schools High School Principal
Born in 1981, Şule Özcan Çatak graduated from Bilkent University, Faculty of Humanities and Letters, Department of English Language and Literature. Then, she completed the Pedagogical Formation non-thesis Master's Degree Program at Istanbul University. After that, she enrolled for Educational Management and Supervision - IB Advanced Certificate in Leadership Master's Program at Maltepe University Institute of Social Sciences. Mrs. Çatak wrote her thesis on "Shared Leadership" and works as the IBEN Program Leader.
She started her teaching career at a private school as an English teacher in 2006. She worked in the same institution until 2015, conducting studies on web-based educational tools and international projects. In 2015, she became a member of the NÛN Family as the International Baccalaureate Early Years Program (IB PYP) coordinator and vice principal. She took charge of overseeing the nomination and authorization procedures and also arranged teacher training programs, completing her training in various countries around the world. In 2020, Mrs. Çatak fulfilled his role as a principal at NÛN Middle School and was later appointed NÛN High School Principal in 2022.
She enriched her career in assessment-evaluation and program development practices, leadership models, safe and effective communication, coaching and team coaching studies, strategic planning, learning and teaching approaches, conceptual understanding and inquiry-based learning. Mrs. Çatak has particular interests and experiences in literature and various arts, is married and is a mother of two children.
Cansu DEMİRBAĞ
IB PYP Coordinator
Born in Istanbul in 1991, she completed the Bachelor's Degree Program in Science Education at Boğaziçi University. Following her interest and curiosity in preschool teaching, she became a postgraduate student at the Department of Primary Education of Boğaziçi University, completed her Master's Degree at University College London. She wrote on the topic of scientific methods for preschoolers and STEM. During this time, she worked with gifted students and took on the duties of teaching and education coordinator. Due to her interest in educational technologies, she first started working as an entrepreneur at İTÜ Çekirdek and then won a TUBITAK BIGG research grant and developed a robotics training kit for preschool children. During her stay in London, she enrolled in the Creative Writing in Educational Settings program offered by Cambridge University. She has been enjoying writing for children the things she has loved for a long time, penned three books for children, and is married with a child.
Demirbağ continues her duty as PYP Coordinator in NUN Schools.
Ferdi ÜNAL
IB MYP Coordinator
Ferdi Ünal, born in Beyoğlu, İstanbul in 1991, graduated from Karadeniz Technical University, Science Teaching Department, and Anadolu University, Photography and Camerawork Department.
Mr. Ünal began his career in 2014 and has since held multiple roles in education, including Diction and Public Speaking and Effective Speech Instructor, Science Teacher, Head of the Science Department, Instructor Trainer, and Workshop Leader.
In 2020, he participated in the Start-Luma competition, which received over 600 project applications from 42 countries. He submitted a project called "Where Will We Use It?" and was chosen as one of the "World's Top 10 Educational Applications". He won the education award in the international category as a result.
Having graduated from the IBEC Program of Hasan Kalyoncu University, Mr. Ünal continues his duty as the IB MYP Coordinator of NÛN Schools. He is married and has a daughter.
Gülsevim NASUHOĞLU
NÛN Primary School Vice Principal
Gülsevim Erbil, born in 1985, completed her primary education in Kayseri. She graduated from Marmara University Department of Preschool Teacher Education in 2006. She worked as a preschool teacher in a private institution for 12 years. She completed most levels of IB & PYP training and continued her duty in the PYP program for over ten years.
She started the master's program in Educational Administration and Supervision at Okan University without a thesis in 2022. Ms. Erbil continues her work as the Vice Principal of NÛN Primary School.
Ayşe AKGÜNLÜ
NÛN Primary School Vice Principal
Ayşe Akgünlü was born in 1976 and studied in London from primary school to university. After graduating, she worked for an international translation company for many years before deciding to shape her career in English teaching. She conducted her career in London, with different age groups, including primary school-age children. In 2016, she settled in Türkiye and started a new career path at NÛN Primary School as an English teacher.
She received PYP training in different subjects and took the role of PYP coordinator during the IB inspection of NÛN Primary School. Mrs. Akgünlü was entrusted as the workshop leader at Türkiye IB Day Biennial and continues to serve as a CIS officer and vice principal. She is married and mother of two children.
Ahmet GÜLEÇER
NÛN Middle School Vice Principal
Ahmet Güleçer, born in Gaziantep in 1987, graduated from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Istanbul University. Later, he completed his Master's degree in Education Administration and Supervision at İstanbul Aydın University and Yıldız Technical University. Güleçer began his teaching career at a private school and later served as assistant director for education. He also acted as vice principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels from 2014 to 2022. He concentrated his studies on system construction in educational management, school management and motivation, and the impact of the education system formed inside and outside the school on student dimensions. Mr. Güleçer has been serving as the Vice Principal at NÛN Middle School since 2022.
Adem KOÇHAN
NÛN Middle School Vice Principal
He was born in Malatya on March 3, 1995, and completed his primary, middle and high school education there. He graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Theology. Mr. Koçhan served as a team commander "Reserve Officer" within the Gendarmerie General Command and got his military discharge with the rank of "Lieutenant".
He has worked in different private schools as a Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge teacher, head of department, student coaching/education consultancy, education coordinator, assistant director and vice principal.
He has participated in several trainings such as Web2 Tools, Diction, Amateur Sailor, Educational Technologies, Leadership and Teamwork, and Effective Communication. Currently, he is the Vice Principal of NÛN Schools Middle School.
Fatma GEDİK
NÛN Middle School Vice Principal
Born in Adapazarı in 1978, Fatma Gedik graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of History with a degree in 2001. In 2003, she completed her master's degree at the Institute of Turkic Studies of Marmara University with a thesis on the history of education. During these years, she also took an active role in forming children's libraries after receiving a librarianship education.
Ms. Gedik started her career in 2003, working in different institutions as social studies teacher, history teacher, curriculum planner for values education, head of the department, student coach, project writer, and museum lecture manager.
She prepared workshop designs for many cultural spaces with Extracurricular Learning Spaces Activities. Ms. Gedik has written the Topkapi Palace Teacher's Guide and Student Activities book, plans school activities in and out of the city, and leads workshops in these areas. Her project titled Hagia Sophia / Child-Friendly Spaces is selected as one of the top 40 teacher projects. Her articles have been published in various books and magazines.
Ms. Gedik joined the NÛN Family as the head of the department in 2019 and taught the Individuals and Societies unit, and was the group leader of extracurricular learning areas. Fatma Gedik continues her work as the vice principal of NÛN Middle School.
Elif AKBIYIK
NÛN High School Vice Principal
Elif Akbıyık, born in Karabük in 1998, graduated from Gazi University, combining her bachelor's degree in Chemistry Teaching with a Master's degree in the same department. She is continuing her Master's program in Educational Administration and Supervision at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Graduate Education Institute. She took on the responsibility of teaching, educational coaching students, and dormitory principal. Worked in various projects of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of National Education. She expanded her knowledge of educational environments and management by participating in various trainings. These included training in human resources practices, human recognition, and competency-based interview techniques. She also received training in safe communication, individual and team coaching studies, personality analysis, and learning approaches. Ms. Akbıyık joined the NÛN Family as the Girls' Dormitory Manager in 2019. She continues her duty as the Vice Principal of NÛN High School.
Yunus KAŞ
NÛN High School Vice Principal
Yunus Kaş, born in Istanbul in 1986, graduated from the Sociology Department of Afyon Kocatepe University and received a Philosophy Group Teaching Formation Certificate from Sakarya University. In 2015, he completed a program on Family Counseling Education at Marmara University, and in 2020, he received a Master's degree in Education Management and Supervision from Samsun 19 Mayıs University. During his career, which started in 2010, he held various positions as a Guidance Teacher, Teaching for Gifted Children, and the Head of the PCG Department in various public and private schools. During his working life, he participated in many projects and trainings at home and abroad. He joined the NÛN Family in 2016 as the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) Design Teacher and IB MYP Projects Coordinator. Yunus Kaş is married and has a daughter. He currently works as the Vice Principal of NÛN High School.
İbrahim ÜSÜN
NÛN High School Vice Principal
Ibrahim Üsün, born in Afyonkarahisar in 1979, completed his primary, secondary and high school education in the Bolvadin district of Afyon and graduated from Istanbul Fatih University Department of Turkish Language and Literature with a bachelor's degree. In the same year, he received a Pedagogical Formation certificate at Marmara University. He started his teaching career in 2000 as a Turkish teacher at a private school in Istanbul. After teaching for two years, he went to Ankara to fulfill his military service.
He taught in a private school between 2003 and 2020 as a Turkish teacher, Head of the Turkish Department, and a Turkish Language and Literature teacher. During her years as a teacher, he has developed himself by studying Digital Change in Education, Lessons Revived by Flipped Learning and Flipbook Education, British Parliamentary Debate, Leadership Education, Enneagram Types, The Mood of the Instructor, Coping with Difficult Children and Parents, Effective Communication, Learning and Teaching Neurophysiology, Social Media Culture with the Influence of TV and TV Series.
In 2020, she joined the NÛN Family as a Turkish Language and Literature Teacher for International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP). In April 2023, his first novel "Fishing Town" was published. Mr. Üsün is married and has two children; and creates art in poetry, theatre, debate, and painting and is interested in sports.
Yasin GÜNERİ
NÛN High School Vice Principal
Yasin Güneri, born in 1983 in Ankara, graduated from Middle East Technical University - Faculty of Education Secondary Science and Mathematics Education Department with a combined diploma of Bachelor's and Master's without thesis degree. Starting his teaching career in a private educational institution in Ankara in 2006, he worked as a physics teacher at another private educational institution in Ankara between 2008 and 2010. Then, he took on the duties of IB Physics Teacher and Head of the Physics Department at a foundation school in Erzurum for ten years. He joined the NÛN Family as a Physics Teacher in 2020 and assumed the position of Head of the Science Department. Throughout his teaching career, he participated in various training programs and gained experience in a range of countries and mediums as part of the International Baccalaureate and Cambridge IGCSE programs. Besides taking an active role in the IB DP 5-year assessment and CIS authorization processes in the institutions where he worked, he has been working as an External Assessment Specialist in the International Baccalaureate Organization since 2015 and in GCSE exams since 2019. Mr. Güneri works as the Vice Principal of NÛN High School. He is married and has two children.
Tuğba ECE
NUN Schools Education Research and Development Coordinator
Tuğba Ece, born in Erdek in 1985, graduated from Çankaya University, English Language and Literature Department and Hacettepe University, English Pedagogical Formation Department in 2008. In 2019, she graduated from Maltepe University Educational Administration and Supervision + IB Advanced Leadership Diploma Master Program. She wrote the English reading book "Intercultural Journey", inspired by the IB vision. In 2020, she completed the online Child Protection and Children Rights program of Harvard University. In the same year, she got her Quality Management audit. Ece, who started her career as an English teacher in 2008, established the “Global Youth Organization” in 2013, where young people can obtain an international network and carry out joint projects. Ece won achievement awards in various fields of International Education between 2012-2017: She was chosen as a good example by The English Education Program Oxford University - Oxford Research Symposium 2017. Other awards she received are: The achievement award in Education category at Gulf Customer Experience Awards in 2015, success award in Education category at International Business Excellence Awards in 2015, National Champion in Innovation, National Community Champion and Honorary Award at European Business Awards in 2014, National Champion, National Community Champion and Honor Award in the field of customer satisfaction at European Business Awards in 2013. Ece received a support award for hosting the project jointly realized by the European Commission and the Ministry of European Union for the development of organization content in "My Europe” 2013. She received various trainings in education management and international program development in Europe, America and United Arab Emirates. She has been a speaker at many international education conferences. She was most recently invited to speak at the education conference at GESS 2020 Dubai. She has visited 27 countries so far within the scope of educational research and development studies. Since 2008, she has worked in English Language Teaching, European Union Project Development, International Education Programs and Brand Development and served as a Founding Coordinator at an international school abroad. Tuğba ECE is currently the NUN Schools Education Research and Development Coordinator.
Didem GÜLER
Program Development and Evaluation Coordinator
Born in Adana in 1987, Didem Güler completed her primary and secondary education in Adana and graduated from the Department of Classroom Teaching at Trakya University Faculty of Education. She completed her Master's degree in the Department of Educational Programs and Teaching at Istanbul Technical University. She took part in the pedagogical leadership team in the candidacy and authorization process of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP); thus, she participated in many IB trainings. She worked as a Program Development and Assessment – Evaluation Specialist and manager of the department in private schools.
Aimed at sharing her experiences with the stakeholders of education and providing benefits, Didem Güler made numerous presentations at education congresses, including ERG, ETP, EDK, and IB Day platforms. Didem Güler always adopts the principle of integrating common sense with academic success for a better world. She is currently working as the Program Development and Assessment – Evaluation Coordinator at NÛN Schools. She is married and has a child.
