All academic and administrative personnel at Sakarya University are required to comply with the ethical principles and anti-corruption regulations applicable to public officials in Türkiye. In this context, Law No. 5176 on the Establishment of the Council of Ethics for Public Officials and Regulation on the Principles of Ethical Conduct for Public Officials and Application Procedures set forth binding standards such as integrity, impartiality, transparency, public interest, avoidance of conflicts of interest, accountability, respectability, and trustworthiness. University staff are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with these principles, using public resources efficiently, avoiding the misuse of confidential information for personal gain, and ensuring fairness in service delivery.
With regard to anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures, the Law No. 3628 on Asset Declaration, Combating Bribery and Corruption imposes asset-declaration obligations on public officials and defines offenses such as bribery, embezzlement, extortion, and abuse of office, along with their sanctions. These provisions reinforce financial transparency and accountability among Sakarya University employees. Furthermore, Türkiye's commitments under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery establish international standards that strengthen principles of integrity, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption in public service. Commitments against organized crime are set out in the Turkish Penal Code (Law No. 5237), which criminalizes establishing, managing or joining an organization for the purpose of committing crimes (Article 220), and in Law No. 5549 on the Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime. Türkiye is also a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention). As a public institution, Sakarya University complies with these obligations in all its administrative, procurement and financial transactions.
This legal and ethical framework forms the foundation of Sakarya University’s ethical governance system and supports the institution’s quality assurance, internal control, and administrative transparency processes. All university units operate in accordance with these regulations to prevent ethical violations, manage conflicts of interest, and reduce risks related to bribery and corruption, thereby sustaining a culture of academic integrity, institutional transparency, and organizational trust.
Legislation Information System of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, the official source of the laws and regulations cited above.
During the 2025 calendar year, the University’s institutional policy framework emphasized integrity, transparency, and accountability across all academic and administrative processes. Core policy statements published on the institutional policies page and the office of legal counsellor page affirm zero tolerance toward corruption and bribery and require compliance with national legislation and internal ethical standards. These commitments are supported by transparent reporting and performance monitoring practices. In particular, the University’s Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy, published on its SDG portal, states that bribery and corruption are “strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated under any circumstances”. It requires anyone who becomes aware of such conduct to report it immediately to the designated authority or through the University’s confidential reporting mechanism, guarantees protection and confidentiality for whistleblowers in line with Law No. 5176, and commits the University to regular training and awareness programs.
Left: SABİS Institutional Management Information System. Right: Sakarya University Office of Legal Counsel.
Operationally, Sakarya University maintains an accessible and confidential Quality Management Information System (KYS) for reporting concerns, including potential corruption and bribery allegations, without requiring personal identification. The system operates under ISO 10002-compliant procedures to ensure that reports are documented, reviewed, and addressed through corrective and preventive actions. Complaints and ethical concerns that may involve violations of law or institutional policy are escalated for confidential legal review.
In addition to the KYS, the University’s Directive on Reporting Errors, Irregularities and Corruption sets out a formal reporting and investigation procedure under Articles 55–58 of Law No. 5018 and the Public Internal Control Standards. Public officials who become aware of an error, irregularity or act of corruption are obliged to report it, and the Directive applies to all natural and legal persons who provide services to or receive services from the University. Reports are submitted by petition to the Rector’s Office and forwarded to the relevant unit on the same day. The unit must review the allegation and report its reasoned conclusion within ten working days. Errors are corrected immediately, while irregularities and corruption lead to an administrative investigation. Where necessary, the case is referred within three days to the Internal Audit Coordination Office or examined by a commission, and substantiated cases of corruption are reported to the Public Prosecutor. The outcome is communicated to the person who made the report. Whistleblowers acting in good faith may not be subjected to disciplinary sanctions or less favorable working conditions because of their report, and their identity is kept confidential.
TSE ISO 10002 Customer Satisfaction Management System Certificate of Sakarya University and its annex.
The effectiveness of the University’s anti-corruption and integrity framework is subject to independent external oversight by the Turkish Court of Accounts (Sayıştay), the supreme audit institution of the Republic of Türkiye, which audits public administrations on behalf of the Grand National Assembly. Under Law No. 6085, the Court conducted a risk-based regularity audit of Sakarya University and its Revolving Fund Enterprise for the 2024 fiscal year. The audit examined the reliability of the financial statements, the compliance of revenue, expenditure and asset transactions with laws and regulations, and the functioning of the University’s financial management and internal control systems. The audit report, submitted to the Grand National Assembly and published on the Court’s website in September 2025, concluded that the University’s financial statements present true and reliable information in all material respects.
Law No. 5018 on Public Financial Management and Control (Official Gazette, 24.12.2003, No. 25326).
The audit report also confirms the key safeguards the University has in place against corruption and misconduct:
· an Internal Audit Unit reporting directly to the Rector, with all three internal auditor positions filled;
· a Code of Ethics signed by all staff and kept in their personnel files;
· documented duties, powers and responsibilities, supported by a Directive on Delegation of Authority and Signature Powers;
· a directive governing ex-ante financial control procedures;
· an Internal Control Monitoring and Steering Board, operating within the framework of the Public Internal Control Standards.
As this independent external audit report is publicly accessible, Sakarya University reinforces its zero-tolerance approach to corruption and bribery and ensures that its use of public resources remains open to scrutiny.
Cover of the Sakarya University 2023–2027 Strategic Plan (updated version, 2025).
In accordance with principles of public transparency and accountability, the University publishes Annual Administrative Activity Reports which include institutional performance, financial disclosures, and governance information. These reports provide an auditable record that supports the University’s anti-corruption and anti-bribery posture through documented procedures, responsibilities, and outcomes. Collectively, these written policies, reporting mechanisms, and transparency practices demonstrate that Sakarya University has published commitments against organized crime, corruption, and bribery and that it maintains processes to prevent, detect, and address misconduct throughout the 2025 period.
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