Sakarya University makes its cultural and academic facilities accessible to external stakeholders as well as university members, supporting public access to cultural activities and strengthening engagement with the local community. Facilities such as the Turgut Özal Congress and Culture Center, the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Art Gallery, and the Central Library host cultural, artistic, and academic activities that promote interaction between the university and wider society.
Public Access to Cultural Facilities and Institutional Regulations
The university's Regulation on the Use of Indoor Facilities establishes the procedures governing the use of the Congress and Culture Center and various faculty venues by internal and external users. Under this regulation, public institutions, private organizations, and non-governmental organizations may use these facilities for concerts, theater performances, conferences, congresses, and other activities, subject to established application, approval, and allocation procedures.
The university also promotes its cultural activities through the publicly accessible Sakarya University Events Calendar, which provides event dates, times, and venue information. This platform enables members of the public to learn about cultural activities and identify opportunities to participate.
Public Engagement Through Cultural Activities in 2025
Throughout 2025, Sakarya University hosted concerts, folk dance performances, and exhibitions in its cultural facilities, supporting public engagement with arts and culture.
Cultural performances at Sakarya University, 2025.
Events such as the Virane Group Concert, the Turkish Folk Music Concert, and the Folk Dance Performance demonstrate the active use of university cultural venues for artistic activities.
The Central Anatolian Melodies Concert, organized in collaboration with the Sakarya Folk Music Association, further strengthened cooperation between the university and local cultural organizations, bringing together participants from different age groups and professional backgrounds.
The Original Printmaking Exhibition, open to visitors at the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Art Gallery from 8 to 15 December 2025, provided opportunities for visitors to engage with artistic works.
In addition, the Child Development Educational Materials Exhibition welcomed children from preschool education institutions outside the university. This event provides a documented example of external visitors accessing university exhibition and educational spaces during 2025.
Public Cultural Events and Safe Visitor Access
Sakarya University supports participation in arts and cultural activities through events announced to the wider community. Publicly accessible events, including those offered free of charge, contribute to opportunities for cultural participation.
Access for external visitors is managed through institutional security and visitor management procedures. The Temporary Entry Card Application Form and the Visitor and Work Tracking Register document the university's arrangements for recording and managing visitor entry. These procedures support the safe and orderly use of university facilities.
Public Access to Natural Landscapes and Green Spaces
Sakarya University's Esentepe Campus, overlooking Lake Sapanca, features forested areas, walking paths, and landscaped green spaces that provide opportunities to experience the natural environment. The university's Public Access to Green Spaces information describes arrangements for free public access to outdoor and green areas on campus.
Community participation in educational activities in campus green spaces, 2025
A practical example from 2025 is the Learn on Campus, Discover on Campus Project, which welcomed 500 children from 25 Qur'an courses in Sakarya. Educational and social activities were held in a campus green space and at the Youth Office, demonstrating how the university's outdoor areas also serve groups from the wider community.
Sakarya University is committed to improving the accessibility of cultural and academic facilities for individuals with different needs.
Under the Accessible University Flag Awards presented by the Turkish Council of Higher Education, the Congress and Culture Center received the Orange Flag Award for physical accessibility and the Blue Flag Award for accessibility to socio-cultural activities. The Central Library also received the Orange Flag Award for physical accessibility.
The university's Accessible Living and Support Coordination Office works to improve access to university facilities and services for individuals with disabilities.
In 2025, the university further supported inclusive community participation through the Family Festival for Children with Special Needs, organized by the Accessible Living and Support Coordination Office. Children with special needs and their families from Nilüfer Special Education Practice School were welcomed to the university campus, where student clubs organized recreational and social activities. The event provided opportunities for families to engage with the university community and participate in social activities in an inclusive environment.
Furthermore, the 2025 Activity Report of the Department of Construction and Technical Works documents accessibility improvements across various university buildings. These include tactile guidance paths, ramps, Braille door signs, and accessible restroom facilities in the Rectorate Building, along with other accessibility improvements in the Faculty of Science and additional university units. Tactile surface installations and lighting improvements along campus pedestrian routes were also undertaken.
Together, these measures demonstrate the university's continued efforts to create more inclusive and accessible environments.
By making cultural facilities available to external stakeholders, sharing artistic and cultural activities with the community, and providing opportunities to access its natural surroundings, Sakarya University contributes to SDG Target 11.4, supporting the preservation of cultural heritage and participation in cultural life.
Its visitor management procedures and physical accessibility improvements, together with community engagement activities involving children with special needs and their families, also contribute to SDG Target 11.7, promoting safe, inclusive, and accessible public spaces.
