Atatürk University actively offers and coordinates educational programmes and outreach initiatives designed to engage local and national community stakeholders in the sustainable management of land for agriculture. These efforts are institutional (i.e., the university “as a body”), structured through dedicated research and outreach centres, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals, and delivered via multiple formats in 2024 and beyond.
1. Institutional foundation for agricultural-land education
Within Atatürk University, academic units such as the Faculty of Agriculture and the Department of Crop and Animal Production develop curricula and publications around sustainable agriculture, soil health, land-use efficiency and ecosystem service-based agriculture. For example, a 2024 book chapter titled “Sürdürülebilir Tarım ve Sürdürülebilir Tarım Yaklaşımları” by a university researcher details sustainable-agriculture approaches in both plant and animal production. Avesis
The university also houses the Centre for Social Sensitivity Projects (Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi – TDP) which prioritises SDG-linked projects including those in agriculture. Its 2024 “Uygulama Usul ve Esasları” document explicitly states that from 2023 onward the considered projects must align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including those related to sustainable land use and agriculture. tdm.atauni.edu.tr
This demonstrates the university’s institutional infrastructure and policy basis for delivering outreach and education on sustainable agricultural land management.
2. 2024 Outreach Projects Focused on Sustainable Agricultural Land-Management
In 2024, Atatürk University implemented relevant outreach and educational projects under its TDP programme that target sustainable agriculture and land-management for local communities and youth. Notable examples include:
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Project titled “Sürdürülebilir Tarımda Alternatif Akuvakültür Sistemlerinden Akuaponik Sistemlerin Lise Öğrencilerine Tanıtılması” (15 March 2024). This project introduced high-school students to alternative agricultural systems—specifically aquaponics—linking sustainable aquaculture and plant-production systems and thus contributing to sustainable land-/water-use and agricultural methods. tdm.atauni.edu.trProject titled “Yerel Tüketimi Bilinçlendirme Projesi” (15 March 2024) listed among 2024 TDP projects. This initiative addresses local consumption awareness which indirectly ties into sustainable land-use and production, encouraging community education on sustainable agriculture and land resource utilisation. tdm.atauni.edu.tr
Such programmes demonstrate outreach across formal education levels (e.g., high-school students) and engage society beyond the university campus.
3. Educational Formats, Topics & Community Reach
The educational programmes and outreach activities cover a breadth of topics pertinent to sustainable land-management in agriculture: sustainable farming methods, alternative production systems, local-supply chain awareness, and soil/water-resource stewardship. The university publication on “Sürdürülebilir Tarım ve Sürdürülebilir Tarım Yaklaşımları” offers theoretical foundations of sustainable agriculture and can support educational content used for outreach. Avesis
TDP-supported projects are configured to reach community groups, high-school students and local stakeholders, thereby broadening the reach beyond university enrolled students to local/national audiences. The 2024 project list shows multiple entries under the category of ‘Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projesi’, reflecting outreach orientation. tdm.atauni.edu.tr+Additionally, the university ensures institutional oversight and alignment with SDGs via its project governance (TDP 2024-Uygulama-Esasları document) further indicating structured reach and policy support. tdm.atauni.edu.tr
4. Evidence of Institutional “Body” Engagement and Sustainability Orientation
Atatürk University’s role here is institutional—rather than simply one-off faculty initiatives or student group projects. The university’s central body (through the TDP Centre) designs, approves and supports outreach programmes on sustainable agriculture/land management, with formal procedures and alignment to SDGs. The requirement for SDG linkage in project proposals (from 2023 onward) ensures that education/outreach on sustainable land-use is embedded within the institution’s strategic agenda. tdm.atauni.edu.tr
By offering programmes such as aquaponics introduction for high-school students, and local-consumption awareness for communities, Atatürk University reaches beyond its academic campus into local and national community domains, thereby fulfilling the indicator’s requirement of offering educational/outreach programmes for local or national communities.
