Sakarya University’s public Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy applies across education, employment and campus life. It covers students, academic and administrative personnel, and other members of the university community. The protected grounds stated in the policy include age, gender, disability, race, religion, pregnancy and nationality. The University’s published Institutional Values also address equality, inclusion, accessibility and fair treatment. [1, 11]
The University invites concerns to be reported formally or informally to a designated person or office. It commits to protecting confidentiality, preventing retaliation against people who report, investigating allegations impartially and taking disciplinary action where a breach is established. The Personnel Department’s ethics pledge also commits public employees to impartial service and equal opportunity, including in relation to language, religion, philosophical belief, political opinion, race, age, physical disability and sex. [1, 5]
The Senate approved the Gender Equality Plan 2022–2025 on 23 February 2023 (decision 636/3). The University’s public Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy covers education, employment and campus life. [1, 3, 4]
Stakeholders can submit a description and supporting files through the University’s Quality Management Information System. Access to the complaint information is restricted to authorised personnel. The 2025 Institutional Activity Report describes the registration and management of stakeholder complaints. The 2025 Institutional Performance Programme commits the University to monitoring complaints from service users, assessing them objectively and responding promptly. [6, 7, 10]
The Legal Counsel’s 2025 report assigns it responsibility for examining investigation reports referred by the Rector or Secretary General and following up on disciplinary inquiries initiated by the Rectorate. The 2022 Sustainability Report describes discrimination within the institutional disciplinary framework. [8, 9]
In autumn 2025, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences opened ShakesEU, its first Jean Monnet Module, as a university-wide elective. Its opening class addressed human dignity, equality and discrimination. SAÜ also delivered basic Turkish Sign Language training for staff. [12, 13]
Sakarya University’s Sustainability Report 2025 sets out a Sustainable University Policy that commits to gender equality and inclusiveness in institutional governance and respect for human rights. The University also participates in the Provincial Women’s Empowerment Coordination Board and Action Plan, commissions on combating violence against women, the Provincial Action Plan of the Roma Strategy Document and the Second National Autism Action Plan. [2]
The Women’s Studies Application and Research Center (KAUM), together with Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Youth Centre and the “İletişimi Tasarlayanlar” student community, organised the “Women Leaders: Defence and Security” talk with Colonel Fatma Nuray Gezgör. The event was opened by Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Özer Köseoğlu at Turgut Özal Culture and Congress Centre. [14]
Figure 1. Institutional statement prohibiting discrimination and harassment. Extract from the published web text (print layout). Source [1]
Figure 2. Policy provisions for reporting and investigating allegations. Extract from the published web text (print layout). Source [1]
Figure 3. Gender Equality Plan 2022–2025, PDF p. 3. The University states equal-treatment commitments towards students and staff. Source [3]
Figure 4. Gender Equality Plan, PDF p. 4. This section identifies the plan period and institutional responsibilities. Source [3]
Figure 5. Institutional Activity Report 2025, printed p. 11. The University records how stakeholder complaints and requests are registered and managed. Source [6]
Figure 6. Institutional Performance Programme 2025, section g, printed p. 21. The University undertakes to monitor and assess complaints objectively. Source [10]
Figure 7. Basic Turkish Sign Language course, institutional delivery report. Source [13]
Figure 8. Sustainability Report 2025, printed p. 15. The Sustainable University Policy includes equality and inclusion in institutional governance. Source [2]
#AntiDiscriminationPolicy #EqualTreatment #ConfidentialReporting #ProtectionFromRetaliation #ComplaintHandling #InstitutionalInclusion
