Two Senate mandates identify who acts on equality and inclusion. Under TOKAS Article 6(1)(a), (b) and (f), the office develops policy and action plans, coordinates units and raises awareness of equality. Its Women in Business programme provides a 2025 example of implementation [1, 3]. Under Articles 5–8 of the disability directive, the Rectorate-linked coordination structure handles accommodation requests and advises units. Its 24 October orientation explained the support route to students. [2, 4]
The Senate adopted the TOKAS directive on 17 April 2025 (meeting 708, decision 12). Article 6(1)(a) assigns policy and action-plan duties, article 6(1)(b) provides for coordination across university units, and article 6(1)(f) covers awareness of social justice, human rights and equality. The Sustainability Report 2025 dates the office’s establishment to 2023 and describes its 16 thematic commissions, which coordinate work, collect information and support institutional reporting. [1, 6]
The Senate adopted the disability coordination and accommodation directive on 12 October 2023 (meeting 656, decision 14). The Coordination Office reports to the Rectorate. The Rector appoints its coordinator, and a commission chaired by the responsible Vice Rector plans and monitors work. The 2025 report identifies accessibility representatives in every faculty and administrative unit. They work directly with students on learning materials, buildings, services and participation in social activities. [2, 6]
TOKAS coordinated the Women in Business Micro-Credential Programme from 10 May to 15 July 2025. Participants developed projects with mentors and received feedback on 21 May. In November, TOKAS coordinated a panel on preventing violence against women. The Economic and Social Research Centre contributed regional employment data, and the provincial Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centre explained the support available. These activities document how the office worked with academic units and external partners. [3, 6, 7]
On 24 October 2025, the Barrier-Free Life and Support Coordination Office introduced its services to students with disabilities and additional needs. With the Personnel Department’s in-service training branch, it also delivered a basic Turkish Sign Language course from 17 February to 17 June. The 26 June completion report identifies the trainer from Serdivan Public Education Centre and records that participants who passed the final assessment qualified for certification. [4, 5]
In 2025 SAÜ received 40 programme badges for inclusive teaching and support. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences also began offering ShakesEU as a common elective on rights and equality. [6, 8]
The 2025 Sustainability Report identifies accessibility representatives in University units and the Women’s Studies Application and Research Centre as part of its equality work. [6]
In December 2024, the In-Service Training Branch and the disability coordination office taught staff how to add alternative text, captions and voice-over to public communications. The Personnel Department records this training in its 2024 activity report. [9a, 9b]
Figure 1. TOKAS directive, PDF p. 2. Article 6 sets out the policy, coordination and equality responsibilities assigned by the Senate. Source [1]
Figure 2. TOKAS directive, article 6(1)(a)–(b). The clauses cover policy development and coordination across university units. Source [1]
Figure 3. Article 6(1)(f) assigns responsibilities for social justice, human rights and equality. Source [1]
Figure 4. Coordination arrangements set out in the University directive. PDF p. 4. Source [2]
Figure 5. Photograph published by SESAM with its report on the panel coordinated by TOKAS in November 2025. Source [7]
Figure 6. Women’s Academy delivery recorded by TOKAS in 2025. Source [3]
Figure 7. University photograph accompanying the 26 June 2025 sign-language course completion report. Source [5]
Figure 8. 2025 orientation with the disability coordination office. Source [4]
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