Sakarya University (SAU) demonstrates a strong and systematic institutional commitment to non-discrimination, equality, and equitable access across academic, administrative, and community settings. The university’s publicly-available Measures Against Discrimination Policy establishes a governance framework that ensures fairness in student admissions, academic progression, and employment, rooted in national human rights and equality legislation (Laws No. 657, 2547, and 2914) and the university’s own Ethical Principles and Values. This framework explicitly prohibits discriminatory treatment based on language, religion, race, sex, disability, or any identity attribute, ensuring that all members of the university community have access to inclusive and non-discriminatory learning and working conditions.
SAU implements positive discrimination (affirmative measures) when necessary to promote inclusive access for individuals with disabilities and underrepresented groups. The university allocates designated student quotas and staff positions specifically for individuals with disabilities, going beyond national legal requirements and reflecting equity-oriented institutional practice. Compliance with personal data confidentiality, particularly regarding disability and minority status, is regulated under the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK) and coordinated through university-wide and faculty-level KVKK Commissions, ensuring lawful, ethical, and secure data processing.
Ethical and professional conduct across the institution is regulated through the Higher Education Institutions’ Ethical Behaviour Principles and monitored by the SAU Ethics Board, whose operating procedures ensure transparency, impartial evaluation, and accountability. These standards mandate integrity, equal treatment, and procedural fairness, reinforcing an evidence-based and rights-protective institutional culture.
SAU provides secure and accessible whistleblowing channels, including the 24/7 Security Hotline (İhbar Hattı) and the Quality Management System Complaint Portal, which allow students, staff, and visitors to report discrimination, harassment, or misconduct confidentially, including the possibility of anonymous submission. All reports are formally recorded, tracked, and resolved under the Disciplinary Investigation Guidelines, aligned with the protective provisions of Laws 657, 2547, and 2914, ensuring whistleblower protection and safeguarding individuals against retaliation.
In support of capacity-building, gender equality, and inclusive participation, SAU implements a range of evidence-based outreach and empowerment initiatives, including:
- Cooperation with the Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution (TİHEK) (06 March 2024), reinforcing institutional alignment with national and international equality norms.
- Women in Business Micro-Credential Program (25 April 2024), enhancing women’s professional leadership and career advancement.
- Barrier-Free Summer Education Initiative (12 August 2024), promoting accessible and inclusive educational participation for students with disabilities.
- Barrier-Free Living Unit Representatives Coordination Meeting (06 November 2024), ensuring systematic monitoring and improvement of accessibility standards across all university units.
- Violence Prevention Strategies Workshop under the “Şiddeti Önleme Akademisi” (29 November 2024), advancing campus awareness on gender-based violence prevention and equality education.
Through transparent recruitment policies, secured reporting and follow-up mechanisms, legally grounded data protection, and capacity-building programs, Sakarya University actively builds an institutional environment that supports equity, integrity, accountability, and inclusive community participation, aligning directly with the objectives of Reduced Inequalities framework.
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