Near East University academician Şefik Emre Coşkun was appointed as a Global Jury Advisor for the FIRST Tech Challenge, one of the world’s most prestigious youth and robotics organizations.

Şefik Emre Coşkun, Coordinator of the Near East University Technology Transfer Office (NERITA), was appointed as a Global Jury Advisor for the FIRST Tech Challenge within FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), one of the world’s most prestigious youth and robotics organizations.

Coşkun, appointed as a global jury advisor for FIRST, will undertake critical responsibilities in the FIRST Tech Challenge program, including developing jury processes globally, setting standards, and guiding volunteer jury training. Elected through a rigorous process that considered his next-generation leadership skills, years of volunteer experience, and competencies in ethical and inclusive evaluation, Coşkun will also make significant contributions to FIRST’s global quality and trust-based evaluation approach.

This election for FIRST’s global jury advisory role highlights the international impact and global effectiveness of Near East University, which ranks among the top 500 universities in the world, in the fields of STEM, robotics, and innovation. The role undertaken by Şefik Emre Coşkun further enhances the visibility of the university’s experiential learning-focused approach.

A strategic global mission!

FIRST Tech Challenge, conducted with the participation of thousands of teams worldwide, stands out as one of the most widespread and effective robotics programs globally, connecting young people with engineering, technology, and innovation. Global Jury Advisors, a critical building block of this global ecosystem, work directly with the FIRST headquarters team. Contributing to the creation of international jury standards, advisors develop jury training content, ensure ethical, fair, and inclusive evaluation processes, and support the harmonious implementation of jury practices in different countries.

Strong academic support for FIRST students from Near East University!

Near East University continues to support this global ecosystem not only through volunteer work and academic representation, but also through scholarship opportunities for FIRST students. Offering scholarships of up to 100% to successful students who have participated in FIRST programs, Near East University also contributes to these students in building strong academic careers in engineering and technology fields. This approach stands out as a concrete reflection of Near East University’s vision, which aims not only to introduce young people to technology but also to cultivate them into individuals who have a voice on a global scale.