HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAMMES
Atatürk University advances community health and well-being through student volunteering, preventive health education, patient-focused activities, health awareness campaigns and social inclusion programmes. Through its Community Engagement Projects Centre, academic faculties and institutional partners, the University connects its educational expertise with the needs of local communities, disadvantaged people and refugee or immigrant communities. Its outreach approach promotes health awareness, social participation, inclusion and access to relevant information, contributing to SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being.
1. Health Outreach for Local Communities
Atatürk University encourages students and academic staff to deliver community-based projects that raise awareness of health risks, promote prevention and support healthier lifestyles.
| Project | Main Activities and Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hayat Kurtarmak Kanında Var (Saving Lives Is in Your Blood) | Promotes awareness of blood donation and its importance for lifesaving healthcare services. | 2025 Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences projects |
| Dumansız Hayat Temiz Gelecek (A Smoke-Free Life, a Clean Future) | Raises awareness of smoking-related health risks and encourages healthier lifestyle choices. | 2025 Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences projects |
| Organ Donation Week and Its Importance | Promotes public awareness of organ donation and its role in saving lives. | Community Engagement Projects Centre |
| I’m Not Afraid of My Dentist (Diş Hekimimden Korkmuyorum) | Promotes oral health awareness and encourages positive attitudes towards dental care. | Community Engagement Projects Centre |
These projects use awareness-raising and student engagement to communicate preventive health messages and encourage community participation in health-related activities.
2. Outreach for Disadvantaged People
The University also supports inclusive community engagement through projects addressing the needs and well-being of people who may experience barriers to participation or require additional support.
| Project | Target Group and Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Shadows Speak: Bedside Performance and Storytelling (Gölgeler Konuşuyor: Yatak Başı Gösteri ve Hikâye Anlatıcılığı) | Provides patient-focused cultural engagement in hospital settings, supporting social interaction and emotional well-being. | Community Engagement Projects Centre |
| Social Responsibility Projects Supporting Inclusion | The University’s student project framework enables initiatives addressing disability inclusion, social participation and the needs of vulnerable groups. | Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences projects |
| Community-Based Health Awareness | Preventive health and awareness activities connect academic knowledge with community needs and encourage access to health-related information. | Community Engagement Projects Centre |
Through these activities, Atatürk University promotes a community-oriented approach in which health and well-being are linked with inclusion, participation and social support.
3. Refugee and Immigrant Communities: Integration and Social Inclusion
Atatürk University recognises social integration and access to accurate information as important dimensions of community well-being. The University has hosted programmes supporting the social integration of international participants, including an Information and Social Integration Meeting for International Students, organised jointly by the University’s International Relations Office and the Erzurum Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.
The programme addressed legal rights and obligations, residence procedures, social integration and awareness of life in Türkiye. Representatives of the migration authorities, university staff and international students participated in the event.
Such initiatives provide an institutional basis for engagement with international and migrant communities by improving access to information, supporting social participation and encouraging interaction between public institutions and participants.
Evidence: Information and Social Integration Meeting for International Students
4. Student Volunteering and Institutional Coordination
Atatürk University’s Community Engagement Projects Centre provides an institutional framework for planning, implementing and reporting student-led social responsibility projects. Projects are developed with academic supervision and linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In the 2025 Spring Semester, the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences reported 59 social responsibility projects. The projects addressed a range of community needs, including health awareness, disability inclusion, social solidarity, environmental responsibility and engagement with migrant communities.
The University’s digital project management system supports project applications, approval processes and the reporting of implementation outcomes.
Institutional evidence:
- Community Engagement Projects Centre
- Community Engagement Projects Management System
- Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences – Community Engagement Projects
5. Contribution to SDG 3
Atatürk University’s outreach activities combine preventive health awareness, patient-focused engagement, student volunteering and social inclusion. Initiatives addressing blood donation, smoking prevention and oral health promote community awareness, while patient-centred activities and integration programmes support participation and well-being among people with different needs and backgrounds.
By connecting academic expertise with local community needs and providing a structured framework for social responsibility projects, Atatürk University contributes to SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being, Indicator 3.3.2: Health Outreach Programmes.
