Sakarya University contributes to social development and effective public governance by providing education, skills training, and capacity-building programs to policymakers, public administrators, municipal institutions, and law enforcement personnel. These activities align with SDG 16’s emphasis on inclusive, accountable, and evidence-based governance. The Sakarya University Continuing Education Center (SAÜSEM) plays a key role in delivering lifelong learning and postgraduate-level training for policy and law makers on topics such as economy, law, technology, migration, cybersecurity, climate change, and sustainable development. In addition to SAÜSEM, various faculties and research centers hosted expert-led seminars, workshops, public administration training modules, legal awareness programs, human rights education, and digital transformation courses throughout the 2024 calendar year.
Through collaboration with local and regional government institutions, municipalities, provincial directorates, civil society organizations, and public-service agencies, the University provided professional development and administrative capacity strengthening, supporting more effective and informed public-sector decision-making. These partnership-based initiatives improved the use of evidence-based governance practices and enhanced cooperation between academia and public institutions. The Technology Transfer Office within Sakarya Teknokent further facilitated structured knowledge exchange and consultancy support for public institutions, particularly in innovation policy, economic development strategies, and applied technological solutions.
All relevant education and capacity-building activities are publicly documented in the University’s Annual Administrative Activity Reports, providing verifiable evidence of continuous implementation in 2024, and demonstrating the University's sustained contribution to institutional resilience and effective public governance. Here are some evidences the social assistance, training, and capacity building for policymakers:
1. Digital Life Skills Workshop (MoNE): The Digital Life Skills Workshop organised by the Ministry of National Education’s Directorate General for Special Education and Guidance Services brings together policy-makers, implementers and academics to build capacity on resisting digital and behavioural addictions, willpower and responsibility. SAU provides expertise to these capacity-building activities.
2. Addiction-Fighting Working Groups and Training Meetings: Addiction-fighting meetings coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Health, the Ministry of Health and YÖK function both as policy design platforms and capacity-building events for public officials and university experts working in this field.
3. “The Best Narcotics Police: Mother” Programme Meetings: Within the scope of the national programme “The Best Narcotics Police: Mother”, the SAU Addiction Research and Application Center informs families and public personnel, supporting the implementation capacity of the national addiction policy at local level.
4. Youth Policy Vision Workshop: The Youth Policy Vision Workshop co-organised by the Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports and SAU enables public officials and youth to meet and discuss youth policies, thereby increasing their awareness and capacity in this area.
5. Conference on Local Governments’ Activities for Youth: The conference “Activities of Local Governments for Youth” organised by SAU’s SESAM hosts a former mayor who shares experiences with students and academics, serving as a learning and upskilling opportunity for current and future policy-makers in the field of youth policy. [Link: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/yerel-yonetimlerin-genclere-yonelik-faaliyetleri-konusuldu-h120867]
6. Entrepreneurship Cooperation with KOSGEB and MARKA: Cooperation and meetings with KOSGEB and the Eastern Marmara Development Agency (MARKA) focus on entrepreneurship, green transition and women’s entrepreneurship. These activities help build capacity among public experts and entrepreneurs in priority policy areas. [Link: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/daha-fazla-girisimci-daha-guclu-ekonomi-sloganiyla-sakarya-universitesi-ve-kosbeg-el-ele-h121676]
7. Training Programmes with Yazaki Automotive: Within the cooperation between SAU and Yazaki Automotive, special training and certification programmes for company staff are implemented. These programmes strengthen human resources and production capacity and indirectly support industrial and employment policies. [Link: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/sakarya-universitesi-ve-yazaki-otomotivden-turkiyeye-ornek-is-birligi-h122095]
8. Carbon Footprint and Campus Transportation Policy: The announcement “We Are Reducing Our University’s Carbon Footprint” shows that SAU not only aligns its campus transport policy with national climate strategies but also informs its community and stakeholders, thus contributing to awareness and capacity on climate policy. [Link: https://haber.sakarya.edu.tr/universitemizin-karbon-ayak-izini-azaltiyoruz-h120670]
9. Workshop on Religious Services in the Anniversary of the Earthquake: The workshop “Religious Services in the Anniversary of the Earthquake: Theory and Practice” co-organised by SAU Faculty of Theology and the Provincial Mufti’s Office provides a space where religious officials receive theoretical and practical input on post-disaster religious services, strengthening their professional capacity.
Public Evidence Links (2024)
Annual Administrative Activity Reports – Public Training & Outreach Activities: https://strateji.sakarya.edu.tr/tr/icerik/17644/96702/faaliyet-raporlari
Technology Transfer Office – Government and Public Sector Collaboration: https://www.sakaryateknokent.com/
Institutional Social Contribution and Community Engagement Policies: https://www.sakarya.edu.tr/politikalar-s17.html
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