Sakarya University contributes to public governance and policy development by providing expert advice to local, regional, and national government bodies, in alignment with Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Goal’s objective to promote strong, accountable, and effective institutions. Academic experts from the University are formally appointed to advisory roles through official decisions of the University Board of Directors, ensuring that policy guidance is qualified, field-relevant, and recognized within national legal frameworks.
The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) operating within Sakarya Teknokent serves as a formal interface for knowledge transfer and applied policy support, enabling academics to provide feasibility assessments, scientific evaluations, consultancy reports, innovation guidance, and joint research outputs for public institutions. This structure ensures systematic cooperation, rather than one-time advisory interactions.
Additionally, Faculty and Departmental Advisory Boards, which include representatives from local municipalities, provincial directorates, chambers of commerce, professional organizations, and civil society, facilitate ongoing dialogue and policy consultation processes, supporting regional capacity development and governance alignment.
All relevant advisory activities are documented transparently in the University’s Annual Administrative Activity Reports, including participation in: “Governmental working groups, Public advisory committees, Regional strategic planning meetings, Joint development and policy research initiatives”.
During the 2024 calendar year, academic staff at Sakarya University engaged in consultative and advisory roles supporting evidence-based policymaking in fields such as public administration, regional development, social policy, environmental planning, economic strategy, and innovation management. In Türkiye, universities are legally authorized to provide expert consultation upon request, and Sakarya University operationalizes this authority through structured appointment and approval mechanisms. Here are some evidences the provision of expert advice to government bodies:
1. Sakarya Provincial Promotion and Development Board Sub-Committees: SAU academics (Assoc. Prof. Bülent Kabaş, Res. Asst. Furkan Sürün, Res. Asst. Dr. Berkay Buluş) serve as official members of the Gastronomy, Culture and Nature Tourism sub-committees coordinated by the Governor’s Office and the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. This demonstrates that the university provides expert input and evidence for provincial tourism policies.
2. Intangible Cultural Heritage Working Meeting: Prof. Dr. Ela Taş and Assist. Prof. Yavuz Köktan from SAU participated in a meeting at the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism within the scope of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Their participation shows that SAU offers scientific advice in the development of cultural policies.
3. Sakarya Tourism Digital Database Working Group: The Tourism Digital Database Working Group established under the Governor’s Office and the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism includes SAU’s SESAM Director Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Fatih Döker and Assoc. Prof. Cem Kırlangıçoğlu. This evidences SAU’s institutional contribution to data-based design of tourism policies at provincial level.
4. Flood Law Sub-Committee and National Water Council Meetings: Prof. Dr. Emrah Doğan from SAU participates as an official member in the Flood Law Sub-Committee and the 3rd National Water Council meeting under the General Directorate of Water Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This is clear evidence that SAU provides expert advice on national water and flood management policies.
5. Local Wetland Commission Membership: SAU academics Prof. Dr. Ali Uzun and Assoc. Prof. Mahnaz Gümrükçüoğlu Yiğit serve on the Local Wetland Commission coordinated by the 1st Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Sakarya branch). Their membership shows that the university contributes scientific expertise to wetland management policies.
6. Scientific Board for the İzmir Bay Emergency and Short-Term Action Plan: SAU academic Assoc. Prof. Aliye Suna Erses Yay is a member of the scientific board established by the İzmir Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change for the İzmir Bay Emergency and Short-Term Action Plan. This demonstrates research-based advisory support to regional environmental policies.
7. Roadmap Meeting on Single-Use Plastics and Marine Litter: Assoc. Prof. Aliye Suna Erses Yay from SAU is invited by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change to the roadmap meeting on single-use plastics and marine litter, evidencing the university’s expert contribution to national environmental policy design.
8. Addiction-Fighting Working Groups and Expert Group: SAU academics serve as official members in addiction-fighting working and expert groups coordinated by the Sakarya Governor’s Office, Provincial Directorate of Health, the Ministry of Health (Public Health General Directorate) and the Council of Higher Education. This shows that the university provides expert input to health and addiction policies.
9. 2nd National Autism Action Plan Provincial Commission: SAU staff (Prof. Dr. Bekir Fatih Meral, Assoc. Prof. Cihan Selek Öz, etc.) are members of the Provincial Monitoring Commission for the 2nd National Autism Action Plan (2023–2030) coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. This evidences scientific advisory support to the implementation of autism-related social policies at provincial level.
10. Roma Strategy Document Provincial Action Plan Working Group: SAU academic Assoc. Prof. Hasan Hüseyin Taylan participates in the Roma Strategy Document Provincial Action Plan Working Group coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, evidencing institutional-level contribution to the design of education, employment and social policies targeting Roma citizens.
11. Provincial Action Plan and Coordination Commission on Combating Violence Against Women: The SAU Women’s Research Center is represented in the Provincial Action Plan technical sub-committees on combating violence against women and in the coordination and monitoring commission under Law No. 6284, coordinated by ŞÖNİM and the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. This shows that SAU provides institutional expertise and evidence for anti-violence policies.
12. Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA) Sector Committee Membership: SAU academic Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özmen serves on the Sector Committee of the Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, evidencing the university’s expert contribution to national occupational standards and qualification policies.
13. YÖK Recognition and Equivalency Advisory Committees: SAU academics Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Saydam and Assist. Prof. Aynülhayat Uybadan serve on the Law and Business Science Advisory Committees of the Recognition and Equivalency Services of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). This evidences SAU’s advisory role in national recognition–equivalency and higher education policies.
14. Pioneering Cooperation Model with İŞKUR: The news item “Sakarya University is Establishing a Pioneering Cooperation Model with the Business World” reports on SAU’s visit to the Provincial Directorate of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) and the mutual exchange of information on labour market needs and new action plans, evidencing institutional-level contribution to employment policies. [Link: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/sakarya-universitesi-is-dunyasiyla-oncu-bir-is-birligi-modeli-kuruyor-h121644]
15. Cooperation with the Provincial Directorate of National Education: The news “Cooperation and Projects between Sakarya University and the Provincial Directorate of National Education” shows that SAU and the directorate discuss joint projects on improving quality in disadvantaged regions, teacher training and vocational guidance. This demonstrates expert support to local education policies. [Link: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/sakarya-universitesi-ile-il-milli-egitim-mudurlugu-arasinda-is-birligi-ve-projeler-gorusuldu-h123689]
16. Türkiye Century Education Model (Maarif Model) Programme Development Workshop: SAU research assistant Dr. Burcu Koç participates in the Programme Development Workshop organised by the Ministry of National Education (Directorate General for Basic Education) within the Türkiye Century Maarif Model, evidencing research-informed contributions to national curriculum policy.
17. Digital Life Skills Workshop: SAU academic Prof. Dr. Yusuf Adıgüzel participates in the Digital Life Skills Workshop held by the Directorate General for Special Education and Guidance Services of the Ministry of National Education. The workshop focuses on preventing digital and behavioural addictions and strengthening students’ willpower and sense of responsibility, evidencing academic input to student and youth policies.
18. Presidency Directorate of Communications – Press Card Commission and Working Groups: Prof. Dr. Yusuf Adıgüzel from SAU participates in the Press Card Commission and working groups on communication education under the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, evidencing expert contribution to national media and communication policies.
Together, these formal mechanisms demonstrate that Sakarya University provides sustained, structured, and verifiable expert advisory support to government institutions throughout 2024, fully meeting the Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Goal.
Public Evidence Links (2024)
https://www.sakaryateknokent.com/
https://strateji.sakarya.edu.tr/tr/icerik/17644/96702/faaliyet-raporlari
https://www.sakarya.edu.tr/politikalar-s17.html
https://www.arifiyehaber.net/sakarya-il-tanitim-ve-gelistirme-kurulu-toplantisi-gerceklesti/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCBrXaBscCY/
https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/SYGM/Haber/1245/Taskin-Kanunu-Alt-Kurulu-Toplantilarina-Devam-Ediliyor
https://sakarya.tarimorman.gov.tr/
https://www.csb.gov.tr/izmir-korfezi-ne-nefes-aldiracak-acil-ve-kisa-vadeli-eylem-plani-aciklandi-korfez-de-oksijeni-artiracak-yontemler-belirlenecek-bakanlik-faaliyetleri-40301
https://bamer.sakarya.edu.tr/tr/duyuru/goruntule/liste
https://www.instagram.com/p/DC6s3APtK9l/
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.sakarya.bel.tr/uploads/stratejik/NaNCU6FUbK.pdf
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