Sakarya University contributes to public governance and policy development by providing expert advice to local, regional, and national government bodies, in alignment with the objective of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) 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.
Advisory activities are reported 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”.
In 2025, academic staff formally appointed by the University served on committees, commissions, working groups and policy workshops convened by ministries, presidential agencies, the Governorship of Sakarya and its provincial directorates, and metropolitan and district municipalities. Examples of this advisory work are presented below.
During the 2025 calendar year, academic staff at Sakarya University engaged in consultative and advisory roles supporting evidence-based policymaking in fields such as addiction and public health, women’s and family policy, social inclusion, climate adaptation and water management, education and values, criminal justice, communication, disaster management and cultural heritage. 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 examples of the provision of expert advice to government bodies:
1. Expert Input to the Probation Service on the 20th Anniversary of Probation in Türkiye
Panel “The Functionality of Probation” on the 20th anniversary of probation in Türkiye, organized by the Faculty of Law and the Sakarya Probation Directorate (November 2025).
The Faculty of Law and the Sakarya Probation Directorate jointly held a panel titled “The Functionality of Probation”. It was attended by the Sakarya Chief Public Prosecutor, the Provincial Director of Probation and the Rector. University experts assessed the strengths of the current probation system and identified the areas needing improvement. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bülent Yazıcı of the Faculty of Medicine presented an integrated health-care approach to probation based on the AMATEM addiction-treatment model. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Genç also contributed to the Ministry of Justice’s International Congress on the 20th Anniversary of the Turkish Probation System. Building on this cooperation, the University and the Sakarya Probation Directorate launched “Write Your Own Story: Re-engagement through Social Stories”, a four-week program for young people under probation. Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Handan Akyiğit and Lect. Abdullah Şenaslan, it uses self-awareness, empathy and social-skills modules and writing workshops to support the young people’s reintegration into society (07.11.2025; 1–3.12.2025; 09.12.2025).
2. Autism Action Plan Provincial Monitoring Commission
Meeting of the Provincial Monitoring Commission of the II. Autism Action Plan with stakeholder public institutions, coordinated by the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services (October 2025).
Academics of Sakarya University serve on the Provincial Monitoring Commission established under the II. Autism Action Plan, coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. At its 2025 meeting, the Commission reviewed current work to improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families, and discussed future activities on awareness, early diagnosis and education. The University is represented on the Commission by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Canan Sola Özgüç. (October 2025)
3. Provincial Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Commission on Combating Violence against Women
Sakarya University is represented by the Director of the Women’s Studies Application and Research Center (SAÜKAM), Asst. Prof. Dr. Meryem Karataş, on the Provincial Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Commission on Combating Violence against Women. The Commission is set up under Law No. 6284 and coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. (23.12.2025)
4. Provincial Action Plan on Combating Drugs (2024–2028)
Sakarya University is one of the institutions responsible for implementing the Sakarya Provincial Action Plan on Combating Drugs 2024–2028, which is coordinated by the Governorship. Through its Addiction Research and Application Center (BAMER), the University contributes to actions on strengthening institutional capacity: expanding addiction-related academic staff and graduate programs, training professionals and increasing joint research. It also leads preventive measures for students, including orientation training for new students, a “Combating Addiction” elective course and awareness activities. These actions are carried out in cooperation with the Provincial Directorates of Health, Family and Social Services, and Youth and Sports, and with the Green Crescent (Yeşilay). Prof. Dr. Hasan Hüseyin Taylan (BAMER) and Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Özer Köseoğlu represented the University at the Provincial Coordination Board on Combating Addiction, case evaluation meetings and the “Sakarya Model” action plan meeting. (26.03.2025; 28.04.2025; 17.07.2025; 20.11.2025; 17.12.2025)
5. Sakarya Local Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2030)
Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality’s Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste designated Sakarya University as a focal institution for monitoring the implementation of the Sakarya Local Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for 2025–2030. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aliye Suna Erses Yay of the Department of Environmental Engineering was appointed as the University’s focal person responsible for following up the plan. (2025)
6. Second Communication Council of the Presidency of Communications
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aslan of the Faculty of Communication took part in the Second Communication Council (İletişim Şûrası), organized by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. The Council brought together the public sector, the private sector, civil society, the media and academia to identify gaps in national communication policy and develop proposals for the Turkish Communication Model. (7–10.01.2025)
7. “Future Outlook Report” on National Culture and Values Education, Ministry of National Education
Prof. Dr. Hasan Meydan and Asst. Prof. Dr. Kübra Cevherli of the Faculty of Theology were assigned to the final drafting and evaluation workshop of the Ministry of National Education’s Board of Education and Discipline for the “Future Outlook Report on the Acquisition of National Culture and Values”. Asst. Prof. Dr. Cevherli also contributed to the Ministry’s Foreign Language Education Development Project (YADEG), supported by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget. (20–22.05.2025; 17.06.2025)
8. Türkiye National Forestry Program
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bostancı of the Faculty of Communication contributed to the preparation of the Türkiye National Forestry Program (TUOP) of the General Directorate of Forestry. He took part in the Bursa–Marmara regional workshop, where development policies and strategies for the forestry sector were discussed, and in the final national workshop in Ankara. He also took part in the General Directorate’s workshop on developing international cooperation for integrated forest fire management. (16–18.06.2025; 17.09.2025; 3–4.12.2025)
9. Healthy Living Master Plan and Primary Health Care Policy, Ministry of Health
Asst. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Uçar and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Altındiş of the Faculty of Medicine contributed to the Türkiye Healthy Living Master Plan Workshop organized by the Ministry of Health’s General Directorate of Health Promotion. Asst. Prof. Dr. Uçar also took part in the Primary Care Public Health Workshop of the General Directorate of Public Health. (27.06.2025; 4–6.11.2025)
10. Joint Strategy Workshop on Combating Cyberbullying, Düzce Governorship
Participants of the awareness training “You Are Part of the Fight Against Cyberbullying”, jointly organized by Düzce University and Sakarya University within the inter-agency process on combating cyberbullying (26 November 2025)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sezercan Bektaş of the Faculty of Law was assigned to the Joint Strategy Workshop on Combating Cyberbullying, organized by the Düzce Governorship. He contributed legal expertise to the development of a common inter-agency strategy against cyberbullying. (27–28.11.2025)
11. Water Resources Management: Basin Allocation Plans, Lake Sapanca and Wetlands
Faculty members of the Department of Environmental Engineering advised public authorities on water resources in three ways:
· They took part in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s project to prepare Sectoral Water Allocation Plans for the Sakarya and Susurluk Basins.
· They contributed to the Lake Sapanca Action Plan meeting of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
· Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Özer Köseoğlu represented the University on the Local Wetland Commission under the Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks.
(02.07.2025; 09.10.2025; 04.11.2025)
12. Scientific Board for the Izmir Bay Action Plan, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change
As a member of the Izmir Bay Scientific Board, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aliye Suna Erses Yay took part in the evaluation meeting on the Izmir Bay Urgent and Short-Term Action Plan. She also attended the closing meeting of the Ministry’s “A Breath for Izmir” project, which assessed the bay’s ecosystem and the impact of pollution sources. (03.07.2025; 18.12.2025)
13. Provincial Action Plans on Family, Women’s Empowerment, Older People and Social Inclusion
Participants of the Provincial Action Plan Workshop on the Protection and Strengthening of the Family, organized by the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services within the 2025 Year of the Family (April 2025).
University academics served on several provincial planning bodies coordinated by the Sakarya Governorship and the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services: the Provincial Technical Board of the Provincial Action Plan on the Protection and Strengthening of the Family;
· the Provincial Coordination Board and Provincial Action Plan Workshop on Women’s Empowerment;
· the Provincial Workshop on Older People;
· the working group preparing the Provincial Action Plan under the Strategy Document for Roma Citizens.
(27.01.2025; 15.04.2025; 15.08.2025; 16.10.2025; 24.10.2025; 19.12.2025)
14. Disaster Risk Management, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD)
Lect. Dr. Tuba Tatar contributed to AFAD’s disaster management programs. She took part in the closing meeting of the TERRA project and the 7th AYMEP program, and in the MARAP project workshop. (30.09.2025; 20–21.10.2025)
15. Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development, Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
Prof. Dr. Ela Taş and Asst. Prof. Dr. Yavuz Köktan were assigned to the intangible cultural heritage work coordinated by the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bülent Kabaş and Res. Asst. Dr. Berkay Buluş contributed to the culture tourism and gastronomy tourism sub-working groups of the province’s tourism development work. (07–08.01.2025; 29.05.2025; 12.11.2025)
These examples show that Sakarya University provides sustained, structured and verifiable expert support to government institutions at national, provincial and local level throughout 2025.
