A Digital Bridge in the Light of the Republic: YDO Mobile Launch

The ITU Maritime Faculty (YDO) Alumni Association has taken a historic step by combining its century-old tradition of solidarity with modern technology. The official announcement of the YDO Mobile application, developed to strengthen communication among alumni and sustain this bond in the digital world, was made on a significant date, October 29, Republic Day. The promotional program held at the Gündüz Aybay Maritime Center brought together leading figures from the community and alumni.

President Coşkunsu: 'We Are Putting an End to Announcements Lost in WhatsApp Groups'

Speaking at the promotional program, Capt. A. Çağlar Coşkunsu, President of ITU DEFAMED (YDO), comprehensively conveyed the reasons for the implementation of the application and the importance of digitalization for the association's activities. Addressing the shortcomings of existing communication methods, Coşkunsu made the following critical observations in his speech:

'Although platforms like WhatsApp are widely used today, we all experience that important announcements can be overlooked in the rapid flow of messages in these environments, that content can be lost over time, or that tracking them retroactively becomes difficult.'

Coşkunsu emphasized that the YDO Mobile application provides a fundamental solution to this problem, stating, 'Thanks to our application, we will be able to access important announcements from our association, event information, our communication network, and up-to-date content about our alumni in a more organized, permanent, and easily accessible environment.'

A Success Story Built Entirely by the Community’s Own Efforts

The most significant feature that distinguishes the YDO Mobile application from other institutional projects is that it has been developed entirely by the internal dynamics and resources of the ITU Maritime Faculty community, without using external resources. This situation is described as a manifestation of the master-apprentice relationship and the spirit of solidarity within the association, embodied in technology production.

The technical development process of the application was completed with the dedicated efforts of the following individuals:

Software and Development: The software codes of the application were meticulously prepared by Ahmet Cemal Şapçı, a second-year student expected to graduate in 2028.

Mentorship and Coordination: During the software process, Board members Burak Ballar (GV 2011) and Şebnem Önder (GV 2012) provided full support to Ahmet Cemal Şapçı, taking charge of the management of the process.

President Coşkunsu expressed his appreciation for this collaboration, saying, 'On this occasion, I sincerely congratulate our young graduate candidate and all our friends who contributed, and I thank them for their efforts.'

Full Compliance with Security and Regulations

Continuous Development and Call for Alumni Contribution

It was noted that the current state of YDO Mobile is a 'first version' and will be enriched with feedback from alumni. President Coşkunsu invited all alumni to experience the application and provide feedback based on their experiences and suggestions, stating:

'We especially request that you download and use the application and provide us with feedback based on your experiences and suggestions. Every contribution from you will provide significant support to the development of our application and further strengthen the bonds among our alumni.'

Vision of Carrying the YDO Spirit into the Future

The ITU DEFAMED (YDO) Mobile Application is designed not only as a digital guide or news source but also as an infrastructure that systematizes corporate solidarity among alumni. With this technological initiative, the association aims to transmit the 'YDO Spirit' more strongly to future generations and make a tangible contribution to the unity and solidarity of the maritime community.

With this project, a giant step has been taken towards building communication among alumni on a more systematic, permanent, and secure digital platform. President Coşkunsu concluded his speech by wishing, 'I hope YDO Mobile will be beneficial for all our alumni and contribute to the unity and solidarity of our maritime community.'

Source: SeaNews Türkiye

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YDO Mobile App Launches to Strengthen Alumni Connections