Ali Emir Oktay, a gifted student from Erzincan, achieved a stunning success in the 34th TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads, becoming the province's sole representative in the second stage of the national computer competition and bringing great pride to his region.
The results of the first stage of the 34th TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads in 2026 have been announced, and a student from Erzincan topped the list of qualifiers in the field of computer science. Ali Emir Oktay, a student at the Erzincan Science and Art Center (BİLSEM), successfully advanced to the second stage of this prestigious olympiad after a rigorous competition with over 20,000 participants from across Turkey [1][2].
Details of National Success In the first stage exam held in May 2026, a total of 20,828 students competed in 9 different scientific branches. According to official statistics released by TÜBİTAK, only 517 students nationwide succeeded in passing this stage to enter the summer training and the second stage exam [2]. Among them, Ali Emir Oktay ranked in the top 41 in Turkey in the "Junior High Computer" category. Notably, he is the only student from Erzincan province to qualify for the next stage across all 9 scientific branches of this year's olympiad [1].
Role of Specialized and Academic Training This great success is the result of a joint collaboration between educational and academic institutions in Erzincan. Ali Emir Oktay received his specialized training under the supervision of Dr. İsrafil Okumuş, a faculty member of the Mathematics Department at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University (EBYÜ) [1]. These preparation courses were held at the University's Continuing Education Center (SEM), aimed at identifying and nurturing top talents in the field of algorithms and programming [3].
Next Steps: Summer School and National Team The first-stage qualifiers, including this successful student from Erzincan, are now preparing for the "TÜBİTAK Summer School." In this program, prominent professors and specialized academics provide advanced training to prepare students for the second-stage exam [2]. Students who win medals in the second stage will not only receive cash prizes and scholarships but will also have the chance to join the Turkish National Computer Olympiad Team for international competitions [1][2].
Importance of This Achievement for the Erzincan Region Ali Emir Oktay's success has been widely reflected in the local media of Erzincan and described as a symbol of the high scientific potential of the region's youth. Provincial education officials hope this brilliance will provide extra motivation for other students to enter the fields of technology and basic sciences. Given TÜBİTAK's focus on developing artificial intelligence and algorithmic thinking in 2026, this success is considered a significant step for Erzincan's scientific standing on Turkey's technology map [1].
Ali Emir Oktay, the only selected student from Erzincan province in the first stage of the 2026 TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads
linkSources
- TÜBİTAK Bilgisayar Olimpiyatlarında Erzincan’ın Gururu Oldu — Ajans Erzincan (2026-07-04)
- 34. Bilim Olimpiyatları Birinci Aşama Sınav Sonuçları Açıklandı! — TÜBİTAK (2026-06-30)
- Tübitak Ortaokul Bilgisayar Olimpiyatı Hazırlık Kursu — Erzincan Binali Yıldırım Üniversitesi SEM (2026-02-28)
