Atatürk University is deeply committed to ensuring that all community members—not only on campus but also in the surrounding city and rural areas—have equitable access to essential services. Recognizing that access extends beyond formal education to basic needs such as transportation, health, sanitation, digital connectivity, and social welfare, the institution designs and implements multiple training programs, outreach initiatives, and collaborations intended to reduce barriers and enhance community well-being.
Defining Basic Services & Atatürk University’s Scope
Basic services include transportation, clean water, sanitation, basic healthcare, energy, broadband connectivity, waste collection, education, social welfare, and safe food access—particularly in less urbanized regions. In line with this understanding, Atatürk University seeks to engage its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local residents through structured programs to raise awareness, provide capacity-building, and facilitate usage of such services.
University-Led Training and Outreach Programs
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AB Grants / EU Programs Training for Region & Local Firms
Atatürk University (via ATA Teknokent) organizes a multi-day “Applied EU Programs Training” open to local firms and academic staff. This training covers the principles of EU funding, program design, proposal writing, planning, and financial management—thereby helping participants access international funding to support projects that may include improved sanitation, water infrastructure, or digital services in underserved communities. Ata Teknokent -
Technokent & Campus Awareness Events
The university frequently hosts events that bridge the gap between students and community needs. For example, ATA Teknokent staff deliver presentations to students about the opportunities available via the technopark ecosystem: how to use university facilities, research labs, prototyping support, and technical training to contribute to improved public services. Atatürk Üniversitesi -
Community Service & Social Responsibility Center
Through its Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi (Community Awareness & Service Center), Atatürk University executes a variety of projects in awareness, health, hygiene, and social welfare. Projects include “İlk Yardımı Öğreniyoruz” (Let’s Learn First Aid), “Köy Okulları Mutlu” (Happy Village Schools), “Köyler Kütüphaneye Kavuşuyor” (Villages Reach a Library) and others. These initiatives increase access to health knowledge, literacy services, and basic welfare in rural areas. tdm.atauni.edu.tr -
Continuous Education & Certification Programs (ATASEM)
The university’s ATASEM (Sürekli Eğitim Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi) regularly offers certificate courses and training in essential skills such as health education, legal literacy, personal and professional development, digital literacy, and first aid. Such courses enable community members—students or non-students—to build capacities that help them navigate public services more effectively. atasem.atauni.edu.tr -
Campus Integration of Basic Services
As part of campus life, Atatürk University ensures accessible facilities: library reading rooms, reliable dormitory services, affordable meal programs, student health units, well-maintained sanitation, and broadband infrastructure. The institution promotes these amenities not only to students and staff but often organizes orientation lectures and informational campaigns to raise awareness of how to access them (e.g. where to get free medical care, how to use subsidized transit, how to access campus WiFi). Atatürk Üniversitesi
Impact & Evidence of Reach
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The university leadership emphasizes community engagement: under its “New Generation University Design and Transformation Project,” the university pledges to become “a university in touch with the public” and has institutionalized the Community Awareness Center to anchor society-facing projects. Atatürk Üniversitesi
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Many of the social projects run by the Community Awareness Center are posted publicly, evidencing outreach beyond campus walls into surrounding neighborhoods and villages. tdm.atauni.edu.tr
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The AB Programs trainings help local firms and researchers not only access funding for technology projects, but also capacity to design projects serving basic infrastructure, digital connectivity, sanitation or community welfare. Ata Teknokent
Strengthening Equity & Inclusion
Atatürk University designs these programs to specifically reach marginalized groups (rural residents, low-income neighborhoods, youth without prior access). Training venues are sometimes hosted off campus, in partner community centers. The curriculum often includes modules on rights to services, how to file complaints or petitions, notions of public utility governance, and digital tools for citizen engagement.
By combining education, capacity-building, and institutional facilities, Atatürk University acts not only as a provider but as an enabler of access. These programs help community members understand their rights, locate and use available services, and sometimes participate in design of local infrastructure (e.g. community sanitation, water projects) under mentoring from the university.
