Examples of Social Contribution Activities of Fully Accredited Universities in Türkiye: A Qualitative Study
Chapter from the book: Çark, Ö. (ed.) 2025. Management in the Age of Digital Transformation: Human, Technology and Organization.

Nida Bayhan
Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University

Synopsis

The comprehensive concept of Social Contribution, which encompasses all kinds of activities and services that can be carried out for the benefit of society, is extremely valuable in transforming the knowledge produced by higher education institutions into social benefits. However, it is essential that the scientific knowledge produced is developed in a way that can offer solutions to social problems and that these processes are conducted in collaboration with society. Today, global changes and developments have also transformed the expectations and needs of societies, making it necessary to reassess the founding purposes of universities. Universities should implement services that contribute to society by considering changing living conditions and emerging societal needs, and they should develop sustainable solutions in this regard. Within the specified scope, in accordance with the qualitative research method, the statements and evidence under the main criterion of "Social Contribution" in the Institutional Internal Evaluation Reports of 23 universities that were included in the Institutional Accreditation Program by the Higher Education Quality Council between the application years of 2020-2023 and were granted full accreditation (five years) were examined. The data obtained were classified in accordance with the content analysis method and expressed based on the subtopics of the Social Contribution Strategy in the Higher Education Quality Council’s Sub-Criteria Guide. As a result of the study, it was observed that the universities within the research scope carried out various social contribution activities, including social responsibility projects, activities related to knowledge and technology transfer, lifelong learning-based education, seminars, workshops, conferences, as well as initiatives in entrepreneurship, patents, and intellectual property. By presenting the prominent social contribution activities of the 23 universities analyzed, the study aims to serve as an example for universities, non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

How to cite this book

Bayhan, N. (2025). Examples of Social Contribution Activities of Fully Accredited Universities in Türkiye: A Qualitative Study. In: Çark, Ö. (ed.), Management in the Age of Digital Transformation: Human, Technology and Organization. Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub678.c2834

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Published

March 24, 2025

DOI