PUBLIC EVENTS (LIFE-LONG LEARNING)

Atatürk University regularly hosts lectures, panels, cultural and academic events that are explicitly open to the general public, fostering community engagement and knowledge sharing beyond its student body. These events span faculties, research centers, and campus-wide cultural programs, positioning the university as a hub of intellectual and social exchange for Erzurum and the region.

Public Event Architecture & Institutional Support

• The university maintains an “Events / Etkinlikler” page listing public‐facing panels, symposia, and lectures, such as the International Academic Panel on Turkey-Russia Relations held in July 2025 in Mavi Salon, which was open for external participants. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The Cultural Affairs and Student Life units promote arts, music, theater, exhibitions, film screenings, and student club events for the entire public. For instance, student work exhibitions, film showings, theatrical performances, and concerts are held in shared cultural venues. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• Faculties and institutes publish public lectures, training sessions, and seminars with open invitation. For example, the Education Sciences Institute organizes events such as “Generative AI and Academic Paradigms” via Zoom, with open registration beyond the university domain. Atatürk Üniversitesi

Examples of Public Events & Cultural Activities

• In 2023, a public seminar titled “Anne Babalık Üzerine Söyleşi” (A Talk on Parenting) by a specialist psychologist was held in Nenehatun Culture Center, open to parents and community members. gulenyuzlerkresi.com

• Student cultural clubs and university cultural offices host annual folk dance performances, music concerts, exhibitions of student art, theater, and fashion shows, which are explicitly open to the public. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The Communication / Public Relations & Promotion Department contributes to organizing and promoting public seminars, panels, and conferences in communication, public relations, media, and related fields, thereby linking internal academic discourse with external audiences. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• On May 2024, the “İntörn Hemşirelerde İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Konferansı” was held at the Health Application & Research Center Conference Hall, open to health professionals and the public. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The Health Sciences Faculty organized the conference “Uyku, Stres ve Beslenme” in the Rectorate’s Mavi Salon on 10 December 2024, with expert speakers; it was open to students and public audiences. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• On 8 November 2024, the Health Sciences Faculty and the Ata & Gençlik Club co-organized “Değişen ve Gelişen Dünyada Beklentilerimiz” in the Mavi Salon, inviting broad participation. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The Kudüs Studies Application & Research Center held a multi-faculty conference “Kudüs Bizi Neden İlgilendirir” between 8–22 May 2024, open to academic units across many faculties including Medicine, Nursing, Arts, Engineering, etc. Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The Kadın Sorunları Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi organized, in November 2024, a symposium on “Kadına Yönelik Siber Şiddet ve Çözüm Önerileri” and public awareness stands on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women). Atatürk Üniversitesi

• The ATASAM center hosted a Gökyüzü Gözlem Etkinliği (Sky Observation Event) on 23 July 2024, opening public participation at 10:00 am, with seminars, workshops, telescope observations, talks on astrophysics and presentation by Prof. Dr. Faruk Soydugan on the James Webb Space Telescope. atasam.atauni.edu.tr

• The ATASAM / Zirve Series included the AVRASYA AR-GE, İNOVASYON & TEKNOLOJİ ZİRVE VE SERGİSİ (15-17 May 2024), which featured public sessions on space sector, technology, and observatory infrastructure. atasam.atauni.edu.tr

• At the university’s main events page, public events listed in 2024 included: “Konferans: Türk Savaş Sanatı”, “Narman MYO Kariyer Günleri”, “Uyuşturucu ile Mücadele Konferansı”, “Siber Suçlarla Mücadele Konferansı”, “Seminer: Kan Bağışı ve Kızılay”, “Seminer: Toplumsal Cinsiyet Eşitliği” among others. Atatürk Üniversitesi

Accessibility & Outreach

• Many public events are free or minimally charged, with announcements in local media, university website, and social media to attract non-student audiences.

• Use of large-capacity auditoriums, public cultural centers, and campus cultural venues ensures that events can accommodate external guests alongside students.

• Events often include Q&A, audience interaction, and participatory elements so that community attendees are not passive observers but engaged participants.

Strategic & Impact Significance

By systematically hosting public lectures, panels, exhibitions, arts events, and open academic forums, Atatürk University:

• Encourages intellectual exchange between academia and the public.

• Enhances public trust, institutional visibility, and social responsibility.

• Enriches cultural life in the region and supports lifelong learning.