Women’s Access and Empowerment Schemes at Atatürk University

Atatürk University integrates gender equality and women’s empowerment into its institutional mission, policies, and strategic goals. The university actively provides structured access schemes—including mentoring, scholarships, career counseling, and support programs—specifically designed to enhance women’s participation, leadership, and success across all academic levels. These initiatives are coordinated under the Women’s Student Access and Empowerment Program (WSAEP) led by the Women’s Studies Research and Application Center (ATAKAM) in cooperation with the Career Development Center, Student Affairs Directorate, and the Atatürk University Development Foundation.

1. Mentorship and Career Guidance

• Women Leadership Mentorship Program (WLMP):
  The WLMP connects female students with experienced women academics, administrators, and alumni to promote leadership, self-confidence, and career readiness. Each academic year, mentors and mentees register through an open application system. Regular one-on-one mentoring sessions and group workshops focus on academic planning, professional development, research careers, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance.

  • Meetings are held monthly and supplemented with seminars such as “Women in STEM Careers” and “Building Confidence in Academic Leadership.”

  • Program outcomes are monitored annually, and participation data (number of mentors, mentees, satisfaction rates) are publicly shared in the University’s Gender Equality and Sustainability Reports.

• Career and Counseling Support for Female Students:
  The Atatürk University Career Development Center offers specialized counseling and job preparation services for women students. Dedicated advisors assist with CV preparation, interview techniques, and internship placement.
  The center organizes annual events like the “Women’s Career Summit” and “Female Innovators Networking Day”, where successful women leaders share their experiences.

2. Scholarships and Financial Assistance

• Atatürk University Development Foundation Scholarships:
  The foundation provides long-term financial aid to academically successful and economically disadvantaged students. For top-ranked entrants in the national university entrance exam, scholarships of up to 30,000 TRY per month are awarded, ensuring gender equity and encouraging female participation in high-demand disciplines such as engineering, medicine, and data science.
  Atatürk University Development Foundation Scholarships

• Financial Support Priority for Women with Limited Means:
  Scholarship criteria include financial hardship, family situation, and regional disadvantage. Female students from low-income backgrounds are prioritized for both tuition and living cost support.

• STEM Scholarships for Women:
  Dedicated scholarship programs target female students in underrepresented STEM fields to encourage participation in engineering, physics, computer science, and data analytics programs.

• External Partnerships and Corporate Support:
  The university collaborates with national and international organizations (e.g., Huawei, local NGOs, and private foundations) to offer co-funded scholarships specifically for women pursuing science and technology degrees.

3. Accommodation and Safe Campus Access

• Women’s Dormitories and Residence Support:
  Atatürk University cooperates with the İnsan Foundation and other organizations to ensure safe, affordable, and accessible accommodation for women students.
  The Süheyla Sıtkı Alp Female Student Dormitory provides secure housing equipped with study halls, libraries, and recreational areas.
  İnsan Foundation Atatürk University Women’s Dormitory

• Financially Supported Housing:
  Female students with financial challenges receive reduced or fully subsidized dormitory fees, ensuring equal access to safe living conditions.

• Campus Accessibility and Safety Measures:
  The university provides late-hour shuttle services for female students attending evening classes or events, alongside well-lit pathways, accessible security call systems, and 24/7 on-site protection.

4. Monitoring, Transparency, and Sustainability

• Annual Gender Equality Report:
  The university publishes an annual Gender Equality and Sustainability Report that documents the number of female students receiving scholarships, participating in mentorship programs, and obtaining career counseling. All reports are open-access and available on the official sustainability portal.
  

• Evaluation and Continuous Improvement:
  All mentoring and scholarship programs are evaluated annually through participant surveys and impact metrics. Findings are used to adjust targets, allocate funds, and improve accessibility.

• Governance and Policy Integration:
  The Gender Equality Commission, formed by the University Senate, coordinates all initiatives under SDG 5 and ensures alignment with national higher education policies and UN SDG indicators.

• Budget Allocation:
  A dedicated Women’s Student Support Fund is included in the university’s annual budget to sustain scholarships, training sessions, and leadership workshops.

5. Measurable Commitments and Future Goals