CROSS SECTORAL DIALOGUE about SDGs
Bahçeşehir University (BAU) actively engages in cross-sectoral dialogue aimed at supporting and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university collaborates with a diverse range of stakeholders, including international organizations such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as regional and national civil society organizations, and local and national government bodies. Through these partnerships, BAU organizes and participates in conferences, workshops, and panel discussions that foster dialogue, exchange best practices, and develop actionable strategies to promote sustainability, social justice, and economic development.
These initiatives are integral to the university’s mission of not only providing quality education but also contributing to the broader goal of sustainable progress and resilience within the community and beyond. BAU’s commitment to multi-sectoral collaboration underscores its proactive role in uniting academia, government, and civil society in addressing critical global challenges.
You can access detailed reporting on the activities and projects carried out BAU Cifal Istanbul unit, in collaboration with international organizations such as the United Nations, UNITAR, the CIFAL Global Network, as well as national non-governmental organizations and government institutions during the 2022-2023 academic year by the link below
link : https://aday.bau.edu.tr/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ENG-2022-2023.pdf
These events are open to the participation of the general public.
Examples of activities initiated and participated in by other units of BAU, which engage in cross-sectoral dialogue about the SDGs, including conferences involving government and NGOs, are as follows:
WOMEN, RESILIENCE, AND RECOVERY: BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY AND WOMEN'S NGOS in ACTION
Bahçeşehir University, in collaboration with the Professional Women's Network and Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGIDER), organized a workshop focused on mapping women-centered NGOs operating in the regions affected by the February 6, 2023 earthquake.
The event that took place on March 2, 2023,. The primary aim of this workshop was to identify gender-based challenges faced by women in the earthquake-affected areas, discuss potential solutions, and foster coordination among women-focused civil society organizations active in the region.
Over 20 women-focused NGOs, committed to addressing women's issues, providing support, and empowering women in the disaster zone, came together at the workshop hosted by Bahçeşehir University. The university was represented by Rector Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz and Social Impact and Responsibility Director, Prof. Dr. Sis Hall. During the workshop, a comprehensive mapping of urgent needs in the region was conducted, detailing which NGO was addressing specific issues, identifying existing needs, and exploring potential collaborations. The outcomes of this mapping study were shared with the public and policymakers to inform future actions.
BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY - TURKISH CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ASSOCIATION, “BEING A WOMAN IN DIFFICULT TIMES” PANEL
In response to the profound impact of the earthquakes and the struggles faced by women in the affected regions, Bahçeşehir University, in collaboration with the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association, organized the panel and workshop titled “Being a Woman in Difficult Times” as part of the “International Women’s Day” on March 8 2023.
The workshop was convened with the aim of analyzing the issues faced by women in the earthquake zone after the disaster, identifying potential solutions, and delivering the recommendations of civil society and academia to policymakers.
During the opening session of the program, Prof. Dr. Çisil Sohodol, Director of BAU’s Social Impact and Responsibility Center, provided insights into the challenges faced by women during disasters and their specific needs, emphasizing the importance of involving women in disaster preparedness and management processes to build resilient communities, referencing relevant United Nations reports.
Nuran Aksu, speaking on behalf of the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association, shared the results of their research on women’s perceptions in the business world, highlighting how women’s vulnerabilities deepen during disaster periods and the critical importance of focusing on women-centered initiatives.
Following the opening remarks, a panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Çisil Sohodol featured contributions from Arzu Pınar Demirel, Chair of Impact2030, Deniz Altuntaş, Event and Project Coordinator of the Gender and Women’s Studies Center at Kadir Has University, Prof. Dr. Pınar Melis Yelsalı, Director of BAU Equal and Leader of Women's Studies, and Şadan Ertekin Mis, General Coordinator of Mikado. Their presentations sparked significant interest among the attendees.
In the final section of the program, a workshop was held where participants discussed project and solution proposals based on the issues identified in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report concerning the earthquake region, adopting a collaborative approach.
The resulting shared with stakeholders by Bahçeşehir University and the Turkish Corporate Social Responsibility Association.
BAHÇEŞEHİR UNIVERSITY AND THE U.S. CONSULATE COLLABORATE FOR SDGS THROUGH TECHCAMP ISTANBUL
TechCamp Istanbul, hosted by Bahçeşehir University Game Lab (BUG) in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, brought together game developers with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Held at BAU Game Lab under the theme "Games for Change," the event provided a platform for developing games addressing global issues such as Climate Change, Women’s Empowerment, Media Literacy, and Combating Disinformation.
The three-day event featured workshops led by technology experts, journalists, NGOs, and civil society advocates, emphasizing hands-on and participant-focused approaches. It included an ideathon where participants developed and presented game concepts. After the camp, teams continued to work on their projects, transforming their ideas into prototypes to be showcased in follow-up presentations.
Highlighting the importance of innovative technological solutions to global problems, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry L. Flake, U.S. Consul General Daria Darnell, and Cultural Attaché Dave Panetti attended the opening program, alongside BAU Rector Prof. Dr. Şirin Karadeniz, BAU Global President Enver Yücel, and the Dean of the Faculty of Communication, Prof. Dr. Hasan Kemal Suher.
Ambassador Flake expressed, “This program and partnership have delighted us. It is an essential step in demonstrating how we can utilize technology and innovation. Seeing this institution host students from over 100 countries and fostering mutual learning gives me hope for peace and cooperation.”
Cultural Attaché Dave Panetti emphasized the impact of gaming on social issues: “We are pleased to collaborate with Bahçeşehir University for the TechCamp event. Young people creating outcome-oriented games that address the world’s pressing challenges prove that games are powerful tools for empathy and dialogue.”
Enver Yücel, President of BAU Global, pointed out the transformative role of education: “We are at a point where educational paradigms must change. We will now teach children the right values through games, even starting as early as 3-4 years old. Games are more engaging than traditional encyclopedias, and we thank the U.S. Embassy for partnering with us in this endeavor.”
Dr. Güven Çatak, Director of the BAU Game Lab, remarked: “TechCamp includes training sessions from NGOs and experts as well as an ideathon for generating and presenting game ideas. This is the largest 'Games for Change' event in Turkey, showcasing the power of games as tools for dialogue and empathy.”
Dr. Çatak also noted that the program will provide support to the top three demo projects: “The gaming industry is at the forefront of technological sectors, with revenues reaching around 200 billion dollars. It has an immense audience, spanning all age groups. Games are integrated into our daily lives and education, enabling us to convey messages, initiate dialogues, and foster new perspectives and awareness. Through games, we can instill critical thinking, empathy, and respect for diverse ideas in our children.”
COOPERATION BETWEEN BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY, ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY, AND ISTANBUL FIRE DEPARTMENT
Bahçeşehir University signed a cooperation protocol with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Istanbul Fire Department. According to the protocol, the stakeholders declared their commitment to working together to raise awareness, particularly among children and the general public, about ways to protect against various disasters and emergencies. The parties will collaborate on projects, identify challenges and issues, and conduct educational activities aimed at addressing these challenges as part of their partnership.
The website for one of the projects implemented under the cooperation, the "Heroic Firefighters" project, can be accessed via the following link.
https://www.kahramanitfaiyeciler.org/
BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY IS SERVING AS PART OF THE FABLE CONSORTIUM with NGOs
Bahçeşehir University is working as the Turkish partner of the global FABLE Consortium, which consists of researchers developing nationally coherent pathways aligned with global sustainability goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.
FABLE country teams are at the heart of FABLE's mission. Country teams develop national bottom-up pathways for sustainable food and land-use systems that describe the changes needed to achieve mid-century sustainability objectives. They also engage with national governments to promote ambitious sustainable policies. FABLE Secretariat is led by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. https://fableconsortium.org/about/
The team is led by the Bahçeşehir University's Research Center for Sustainable Food Systems (BAU SUGAM), an initiative that consolidates all the partnerships and projects the university has been involved in concerning food and agriculture. The primary objective of the center is to enhance the value chain of the food system, following sustainable development principles, from farm to waste disposal. Recognizing the responsibility of universities and in alignment with this purpose and scope, BAU SUGAM serves as a hub, guiding all relevant stakeholders on this multidisciplinary and inclusive path.
Information regarding Bahçeşehir University’s role as the Turkish partner of the relevant civil society organization and its involvement in policy development processes related to the Sustainable Development Goals can be accessed through the following link.
https://fableconsortium.org/turkey/
BAHÇEŞEHIR UNIVERSITY AND ROTARY ESTABLISHED A PEACE CENTER TO SERVE in MENA
All of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, are closely linked to the achievement of global and regional peace. In this regard, developing policies that contribute to peacebuilding, identifying challenges and issues, and training qualified professionals to work in this field are closely related to sustainable development.
Bahçeşehir University, in partnership with Rotary and CIFAL Istanbul, which operates under the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), has established a Peace Center. This center aims to contribute to global peacebuilding and sustainable development by developing relevant policies and educating the necessary human resources.
In January 2023, The Rotary Foundation Trustees approved Bahçeşehir University to host the next regional Rotary Peace Center. Rotary Vakfının ilgili komistesi considered more than 30 internationally recognized universities across eleven countries, and Bahçeşehir University was selected to host the new peace center for its global reach, expertise and high-level programming in peace and development, study environment and accessibility, capacity to host 40 fellows a year, and commitment to partner with Rotary.
Detailed information regarding the establishment of the center can be accessed through the following link.
https://rpc.bau.edu.tr/pages/about-us/
The certificate program aims to focus on various aspects of peacekeeping, peace-making, and peacebuilding processes by equipping community leaders with advanced knowledge and skills that focus on pivotal issues pertinent to the MENA region. These include land and identity disputes, climate change, food insecurity, refugee integration, and community development.
CIFAL Istanbul, as the local training center of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), will provide further academic studies, field visits, seminars, and workshops for the program fellows, deepening the program’s perspective.
Sustainable Peace in the Middle East and North Africa region.
BAU President Prof. Esra Hatipoğlu points out the critical position of BAU by saying “Bahçeşehir University brings deep local expertise in the Middle East and North Africa, embodying a commitment to multiculturalism and understanding” and she added that “Our collaboration with Rotary, a renowned leader in peacebuilding, merges academic rigor with hands-on knowledge, allowing us to address conflict transformation with a practical, grounded perspective and transitioning peace from a hopeful aspiration to an achievable goal.”
BRIDGING THE GAP: BAU CO-OP RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM FOR EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION: Capacity Building for High School Students with DARUSSAFAKA FOUNDATION
Bahçeşehir University has started to run an education program for high school students studying at Darüşşafaka Educational Institutions in the 2023 academic year with the CO-OP Responsiblity program in order to support equal opportunities in education and to help to build quality education outside the campus.
At Darüşşafaka Educational Institutions, talented children who do not have a father and/or mother alive, who are in financial difficulty, study with full scholarships and boarding for eight years from the 5th grade until they graduate from high school.
Bahçeşehir University's expert academicians designed a 14-week education program for students studying at Darüşşafaka High School in the BAU CO-OP Responsiblity program under different headings such as artificial intelligence, sustainability and climate crisis, ethical communication, and cyber security awareness.
The trainings are also carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Institute for Education and Research, CIFAL Istanbul center, and students are also able to receive BAU- UNITAR-approved certificates.
The course titles within the scope of the training program are as follows:
BAU- TURKEY MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS -UNICEF-NETFLIX ORGANIZED TRAINING AND FILM JAM EVENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE FEBRUARY 6, 2023 EARTHQUAKE IN GAZİANTEP
With the support of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bahçeşehir University organized Film Jam Training and Event at GENÇ ALAN, the youth center established by Netflix and UNICEF in the Nurdağı (GAZİANTEP) Region, one of the regions most affected by the devastating earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023.
In the short film shooting marathon organized with the participation of young people in the region and lasting for three days, Bahçeşehir University Cinema and Television Department academics carried out training activities with the support of Cinema and Television Department students. As part of the event, young people in the region received cinema training and shot three short films.
Bahçeşehir University academics and volunteer students supported the project with the training they provided in the project, which was implemented with the aim of supporting the social and educational rehabilitation and capacity development of young people in the region where thousands of people died and survivors lost their homes and education centers in February 2023 in Turkey.
At the end of the theoretical and practical training, short films shot by young people in the earthquake region were also screened.
BAU- ORDU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY “THE HAZELNUT FARMING: Economic, Environmental, And Geopolitical Challenges And Future Scenarios Training and Project
Bahçeşehir University's Center for Economic and Social Research (BETAM) conducted a workshop and training session for the Ordu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OTSO) on hazelnut farming, which is a key pillar of agricultural production in the Black Sea region.
The session focused on the climatic and economic risks facing hazelnut farming. Following the workshop and training, Bahçeşehir University conducted an extensive research project focusing on the future and challenges of the hazelnut farming sector, the region's most significant area of economic development. The findings of this research were published as a valuable educational resource for policymakers.
Some media reflections on the process conducted by Bahçeşehir University (BAU) in collaboration with the Ordu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OTSO) are as follows:
https://www.otso.org.tr/otsoda-betam-findik-sektoru-hakkinda-calisma-toplantisi/
https://ordumanset.net/haber-infinite-haber-devam-19071
https://x.com/ordutso/status/1668597097640108033?s=46&t=bCCxpJgqZDtt78bVd0THvw
The related report can be accessed through the following link.
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