The Turkic States Organization, consisting of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Hungary, established the Turkic Universities Association (TURKUNIB) in 2013 to promote collaboration in higher education. Continuing its growth on the international stage, Istinye University joined the association as its 20th member from Türkiye.
TURKUNIB provides special scholarships to students engaging in studies related to the Turkic world. It organizes symposiums, academic activities and cultural, scientific, and sports competitions among member universities.