As the first student-led conference on energy and sustainable development in Turkey, the Graduate Student Conference on Energy and Sustainable Development (GS-CESD) aims to strengthen connections of graduate students with professionals and academics in the energy sector. As a unique event “organized by students for students with the experience of CESD,” this annual conference provides a platform for graduate students to present their research on energy-related topics in English. Launched in 2018, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conferences in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were held online, enabling students from various universities to participate virtually. It returned to an in-person format starting with its 6th conference in 2024.

CESD plays a crucial role in training skilled professionals to address the energy challenges of the 21st century, highlighting the growing need for higher education programs specifically focused on energy. The Energy and Sustainable Development (ESD) Thesis/Non-Thesis Master’s Program, launched in the 2016–2017 academic year at Kadir Has University, was designed to address this gap by integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from the social sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. In alignment with this mission, the Energy and Sustainable Development Master’s Program and the CESD collaborate closely.