Sakarya University delivered educational outreach in local schools, a hospital, a community rehabilitation centre and a prison during 2025. University students and staff brought learning activities to community settings beyond campus. Completed spring programmes demonstrate repeated delivery, alongside an individually documented training session for prison residents. [1, 2, 3, 4]
On 25 February 2025, members of Sakarya University student clubs supported a GençTek STEM event at Şehit Erol Olçok Anatolian High School. Pupils from 22 schools attended with their teachers. After the STEM presentations, pupils from different schools worked in teams on a Digital Walk task. They developed solutions, presented their work to their peers and answered questions. [11a, 11b]
The School Climate awareness project was completed by Social Work students under academic supervision, in collaboration with the University’s Social Contribution and Sustainability Coordination Office (TOKAS) and the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of National Education. The completion report, published on 20 June 2025, records 17 activities in 17 schools, delivered by 54 university students as part of their School Social Work course. School pupils explored bullying and cyberbullying, responsible internet use, technology dependency, disaster awareness and related social issues. The figure of 54 refers to university students delivering the activities. [1]
In autumn 2025, the ’Çekirdekten Güçlü Yarınlara’ (From the Seed to Strong Futures) project placed university students in local pre-school classrooms to carry out structured activities supporting child development. The programme ran throughout the autumn term and its successful completion was reported under the title ’Minik Kalplere Dokunan Yolculuk Tamamlandı’ (The Journey That Touched Little Hearts Completed) [5a, 5b].
In a report published on 23 October 2025, the University described a Science Talks session hosted by the Sakarya Federation of Neighbourhood Heads. Dr Ece Ergül discussed how neighbourhood representatives can use social media to communicate with residents. [10]
The Hospital School spring programme ran from 18 February to 13 May 2025 over 13 weeks. Coordinated by the University’s Health, Culture and Sports Department, Culture Branch, with the Provincial Health Directorate, student societies delivered activities in the classroom established in the paediatric oncology service at Sakarya Training and Research Hospital. Children receiving treatment took part in educational and memory games, music workshops and other activities. The official report published on 4 June confirms completion of the spring programme. [2]
In autumn 2025, the Hospital School programme completed its tenth consecutive week of activities at the paediatric oncology ward of Sakarya Training and Research Hospital (SEAH), running from 21 October to 23 December 2025. The programme was coordinated by the University’s Health, Culture and Sports Directorate (SKS) in cooperation with the Provincial Health Directorate. Activities included handcraft workshops, theatre, painting, music recitals, puppetry, creative imagination workshops, and photography sessions. Ten student clubs participated: Social Work, Civil Engineering, Traditional Turkish Archery, Computer, Gençkal, Translation, Public Relations and Advertising, International Relations, Damla, and Eurodesk [6].
The Sevgiye Engel Yok project delivered 19 activity programmes between 20 February and 15 May 2025 at Sakarya Day Care and Rehabilitation Centre. University student societies organised painting, music and photography workshops, cognitive and memory games, handicrafts and simple experiments for people with special needs. The University’s Culture Branch coordinated the programme with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. A completion report was published on 4 June 2025. [3]
In autumn 2025, the ’Sevgiye Engel Yok’ (No Barriers to Love) programme completed ten weeks of outreach at Sakarya Day Care and Rehabilitation Centre, in cooperation with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. Ten student clubs delivered activities including music recitals, theatre, educational games, recycling workshops, and artistic sessions for participants with disabilities [7].
In autumn 2025, Sakarya University’s “Bir Tatlı Huzur” (A Sweet Peace) programme delivered ten weeks of educational and intergenerational activities at Hendek Melek Nişancı Nursing Home, outside the university campus. Coordinated by the Culture Branch of the Department of Health, Culture and Sports in cooperation with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, the programme brought university student societies and nursing home residents together each week. Activities included ceramics workshops, wood painting and knowledge quizzes, combining practical creative activities with opportunities for knowledge sharing. Residents also shared their life experiences with students, supporting reciprocal learning between generations. The University documented the programme’s completion in its report published on 30 December 2025 [8].
Educational outreach and institutional cooperation in a prison setting
On 8 January 2025, University sociologist Ali Kılıçaslan delivered an interactive educational session entitled “Psychological Resilience and Hope” at Ferizli No. 2 L-Type Closed Prison, in cooperation with TOKAS. The session addressed ways to strengthen resilience, maintain hope in difficult circumstances and develop relevant personal skills. TOKAS’s published account confirms that the session was delivered to prison residents, documenting a completed educational outreach activity beyond the university campus [4].
Separately, a University announcement published on 26 September 2025 reported the signing of a two-year cooperation protocol with Sakarya No. 2 L-Type Closed Penitentiary Institution. The agreement establishes a framework for educational activities, vocational training and rehabilitation programmes involving university students and academic staff. Planned activities include seminars, conferences, panels and workshops, alongside contributions to the institution’s library collection, programmes addressing addiction and violence, and professional development opportunities for prison staff. The protocol documents the agreed framework for further cooperation [9].
Figure 1. School classroom activity pictured in the School Climate completion report published on 20 June 2025. Source [1]
Figure 2. Preschool outreach project, official University account. Source [5a]
Figure 3. Science communication for neighbourhood heads, October 2025. Source [10]
Figure 4. Hospital classroom photograph accompanying the spring programme completion report published on 4 June 2025. Source [2]
Figure 5. Hospital School outreach, autumn completion report. Source [6]
Figure 6. Community care-centre project photograph accompanying the spring completion report published on 4 June 2025. Source [3]
Figure 7. Autumn programme at the community day care and rehabilitation centre. Source [7]
Figure 8. Bir Tatlı Huzur intergenerational programme, autumn completion report. Source [8]
Figure 9. Exterior of the Sakarya Penitentiary Campus, shown for location. TOKAS’s account describes the session delivered to prison residents on 8 January 2025. Source [4]
Figure 10. University and penitentiary cooperation protocol. The photograph documents the agreement. Source [9]
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