Atatürk University acts as a comprehensive institutional body providing specialised and evidence-based advice to local, regional and national government actors through its research centres, faculty expertise, public-policy engagement and formal institutional mechanisms. The University’s engagement goes beyond individual academic interaction, leveraging centre-based infrastructure and formal partnerships to support public governance, policy development and regional sustainability.
1. Institutional Framework for Advice and Engagement
Atatürk University has embedded institutional structures that support and coordinate its advisory role:
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The Strategy Development Department (Strateji Geliştirme Daire Başkanlığı) coordinates the university’s strategic planning processes, regional development partnerships, and governmental liaison.
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A suite of research and application centres—such as the Health Research and Application Centre (Sağlık Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi), the Computer Sciences Research and Application Centre (Bilgisayar Bilimleri Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi) and the Societal Research Application and Research Centre (Toplumsal Araştırmalar Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi)—provide application-oriented research, consultancy, and evidence to public authorities.
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Example: The Bilgisayar Bilimleri Research and Application Centre has publicly listed contact information and is structured to interact with external stakeholders. birimler.atauni.edu.tr
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Example: The Health Research and Application Centre (part of the University’s research hospital infrastructure) acts as a node for applied health research and public-health policy input. Atatürk Üniversitesi
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These arranged structures show that Atatürk University has institution-level mechanisms—via its centres—to channel expert input into public policy and governance.
2. Faculty and Expert Participation in Government Advisory Bodies
Atatürk University academics contribute individually but under institutional endorsement to committees, councils and advisory boards that influence public policy. Specific documented example:
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Prof. Dr. Hasan Türkez, from Atatürk University, has been appointed to the Presidency’s Health Policies Council (Cumhurbaşkanlığı Sağlık Politikaları Kurulu). This high‐profile national advisory role shows direct faculty input to government policy-making. birimler.atauni.edu.tr
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In addition, Atatürk University publishes official lists of academic staff under “Coordinatorship, Commission and Committee Responsibilities” (“Koordinatörlük, Kurul ve Komisyon Görev-ve-Sorumlulukları”). This public listing confirms formal recognition of faculty external advisory roles.
3. Range of Advice and Policy Domains
The university delivers expert advice across multiple policy domains, supported by research-application centres and faculty expertise:
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Health policy and public health: via the Health Research & Application Centre and faculty engagement in national bodies.
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Digital technologies and computing policy: via the Computer Sciences Research & Application Centre which interfaces with regional government on IT/innovation strategies.
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Societal policy and community research: via the Societal Research Application & Research Centre (Toplumsal Araştırmalar Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi) which partners with public bodies on social impact, regional development and community policy. birimler.atani.edu.tr
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Regional economic, agricultural and land-use policy: While specific centre names were not always publicly cited, the institutional arrangement of application research centres supports advisory input on these themes.
These contributions move from abstract research to concrete policy input—including committees, advisory boards, evidence provision and ongoing institutional partnerships.
4. Institutional Ownership, Transparency and Credibility
Atatürk University ensures that advice to government is delivered through institutional mechanisms, not solely individual academic endeavour:
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Research centres are part of the University’s official organisational chart and publicly list contact details, mission, and output orientation.
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The university’s 2024 Activity Report lists dozens of application and research centres (e.g., Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri Application & Research Centre) which are explicitly designed to interface with public actors. birimler.atauni.edu.tr
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Transparency is maintained via publicly accessible webpages for research centres and lists of academic external involvement, thereby ensuring the advisory role is documented and institutionalised.
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The University’s strategic planning references “stakeholder engagement”, “regional development partnerships” and “public policy input” as objectives, showing integration of advisory roles into institutional strategy.
5. Evidence of Impact and Recent Engagement
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The appointment of Prof. Dr. Hasan Türkez to a presidential council in health policy provides concrete evidence of high-level national advisory engagement from the University.
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The existence of multiple research & application centres listing aims, leadership, public programmes and stakeholder outreach shows the University’s active provision of expert advice beyond academia to governance and public policy.
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The University’s strategic documents and annual transparency reports affirm that advice to government is a monitored element of institutional performance.
