Career Introduction from a Sustainability Perspective: Bridging Academia and Civil Society

The event titled “Protecting the Future: Climate Crisis and Sustainable Solutions” was held with strong participation from students.

This brief synthesises the outcomes of a high-level policy dialogue convened on 21 April 2026 in Istanbul, bringing together senior representatives from government, industry, and the international research community.

The second Career Information Seminar was organized through the collaboration of the Department of International Trade and Business and the Sustainable Environment and Society Application and Research Center operating within our University, with the aim of strengthening academic–sectoral interaction. The invited speaker, Şafak Özsoy, provided comprehensive insights into current sustainability practices, approaches to sustainable development at both local and global levels, the roles undertaken by civil society organizations in these processes, and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

As part of the Youth Forum on UN Global Goals, Assoc. Prof. Başak Özarslan will participate as a “delegate” in the international conference to be held in Istanbul from April 27–30, 2026.

To enable universities to contribute effectively and structurally to the COP31 process, we have embarked on developing a multi-stakeholder, coordination-focused collaboration model. In this context, we are laying the foundations of a platform that will serve as a bridge between academia, the public sector, and international organizations.

Sustainability, Environment and Society Research Center will contribute as an external partner to the 4th International Congress on Recycling Economy and Sustainability Policy, to be held in Tokat from May 5–17, 2026, in collaboration with various universities. Center Director Assoc. Prof. Başak Özarslan, along with Center Deputy Directors Asst. Prof. Burcu Savaş Çelik and Asst. Prof. Tuğba Kantarcı, will participate in the congress—where Prof. Dr. Durmuş Çağrı Yıldırım, a faculty member of the Department of Economics at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, serves on the organizing committee—by presenting their ongoing academic research.

Istanbul Gelisim University’s (IGU) climate-focused academic vision will be strongly represented at the “COP31 Journey” event, to be hosted by Boğaziçi University on April 17, 2026. Moderated by Assoc. Prof. Başak Özarslan, Director of SCTUAM at IGU, this significant gathering will take place at Albert Long Hall and aims to bring together representatives from academia, the public sector, and industry to establish a common ground in line with Türkiye’s climate goals.

Within the scope of Forest Week (March 21–26), the Sustainable Environment and Society Application and Research Center participated as an external stakeholder in the “The Strength of Türkiye: Forests” event organized by the General Directorate of Forestry.

The topics of green transition and critical minerals, which are among the key issues on the agenda of sustainable development and energy transformation, were discussed in detail on the Digital Vatan program broadcast on TYT Türk television channel. Assoc. Prof. Başak Özarslan, Director of the Sustainable Environment and Society Application and Research Center at Istanbul Gelisim University, participated in the program as a guest and shared her insights on the global energy transition and the strategic role of critical minerals in this process.

The fifth session of the “Sustainability Talks” series organized by the Sustainable Environment and Society Application and Research Center (SCTUAM) at Istanbul Gelisim University was held under the title “Can We Sustain?”