A New Step in University-Municipality Cooperation: Strategy Workshop Held at IGU

The “Collective Intelligence for Avcılar: University-Municipality Cooperation Strategy Workshop”, organized by Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Faculty of Economics, Administrative, and Social Sciences (FEASS), brought academia and local government to the same table. The workshop aimed at developing joint projects that will contribute to the social, cultural, and scientific development of Avcılar.

University and Local Administration at the Same Table

The workshop, hosted by Istanbul Gelisim University, was attended by Avcılar Deputy Mayor Av. Yüksel Can, Vice Mayors Sibel Özkan, Mehmet Mandacı, Nilgün Evcil, Adnan Karakoç, and Emre Remzi Gürşen, along with municipal department directors, advisors to the mayor, the IT director, and numerous council members.

From Istanbul Gelisim University, Vice Rector Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı, FEASS Dean Prof. Kenan Aydın, Vice Deans Asst. Prof. Özlem Tuğçe Keleş and Assoc. Prof. Emrah Doğan, and a number of faculty members took part in the program.

Sustainable Collaborations through Collective Intelligence

The workshop addressed the development of university-local government cooperation and the planning of social, cultural, educational, and scientific activities for the residents of Avcılar and the university's students.

Discussions covered community contribution projects, social responsibility initiatives, education and awareness programs, seminars, workshops, cultural, arts, and sports events, as well as research and applied projects addressing local needs, all to be carried out through university clubs, academic units, and municipal departments.

The meeting also focused on integrating the university's knowledge and expertise with local government services to develop joint activities for students and residents.

“This Workshop Is Just the Beginning”

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, FEASS Dean Prof. Kenan Aydın drew attention to the importance of university-municipality partnerships, stating that the first step had been taken toward a process to be shaped by the collective intelligence of the university and local government, and that the workshop was not merely a meeting but a strategic platform where knowledge creation, experience, and local needs converge. Emphasizing that cities today have become centers of social, economic, and cultural transformation, not merely physical spaces, Aydın stressed the importance of data-driven and participatory approaches for managing this transformation effectively. Underscoring that the workshop was a “diagnostic and exploratory” gathering, he noted that the process was focused on asking the right questions rather than offering ready-made solutions, and that the convergence of different disciplines was bringing field experience and academic knowledge together with the aim of producing concrete outcomes.

Workshop Outputs to Serve as a Roadmap

The outputs of the workshop are intended to establish a scientific framework for understanding the current state of Avcılar, identify priority areas of concern, and lay the groundwork for national and international projects. The collaborative initiatives undertaken by Istanbul Gelisim University in line with its approach of translating knowledge production into societal benefit are expected to shape the projects to be implemented in the period ahead.