The Abdullah Gül University is committed to creating a Sustainable and collaborative working and living environment for its members and surrounding community. Below are listed some examples on how AGU translates this in daily life on campus:
- Kayseri 2050 Project
- Open Campus
- Zero Waste
- Transportation Services and Pedestrian Campus
- 11 Million Trees Campaign at AGU
- Smoke Free Campus
- Clean Water
- AGU Brownfield Land
Kayseri 2050
The Abdullah Gül University, as a New Generation University focusing on Societal Impact, partners with international, national and local governments in order to positively impact its communities. AGU has therefore been, since 2015, a leading member of in the Municipality’s "Kayseri 2050" project.
This project aims at determining the city’s strategic roadmap and, among other topics, addressing urban planning issues, transportation systems, planning for climate change disasters, insuring that citizens can continue to reside in affordable housing, etc.
AGU’s contribution to the “Kayseri 2050” project was kicked off in 2015 during a joint search conference session, where Abdullah Gül University (AGU) Rector Prof. İhsan Sabuncuoğlu, announced that AGU will create societal benefit through education and research production.
AGU Rector Prof. İhsan Sabuncuoğlu stated that they aim to be a university turning education and research into societal benefit and for that reason AGU has roles and responsibilities in the future design dreamed for Kayseri.
Former Kayseri Mayor and current Kayseri Deputy Mehmet Özhaseki also made a presentation and talked about the projects launched in Kayseri.
Search Conferences were organized jointly by AGU and Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality on the "Kayseri in 2050" theme and started to create shared wisdom and participatory planning. Academics, university students, businessmen, representatives of media, non-governmental organizations and municipalities across the country attended.
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Open Campus
AGU’s Open Campus Philosophy
AGU emphasizes societal impact and welcomes all community members on its open campus. The entire AGU campus is a historical heritage site renovated and preserved from the Sümer Bank Kayseri textile factory (the first industrial site in Turkey), which played a pioneering role in the economic and industrial development of the country in the 20th century.
Visitors can freely access and use the AGU’s abundant green areas, sports facilities (upon reservation), visit our yearly exhibitions/expos, as well as use the libraries, classrooms and join events.
In addition to its historical character and the fact that it is Turkey’s largest “adaptive reuse” project, the most important feature of our campus is that it is a green campus. In a 180-acre garden, lined with 80-year-old trees, the facilities offer a stress-free campus experience.
All food served on campus (canteen and cafes) are offered at very affordable prices and these are open to public.
Abdullah Gül Museum and Library
Non-AGU members can also use the AGU campus restaurants and cafes, as well as visit the Abdullah Gül Museum and the Museum Library for free.
The Abdullah Gül Museum, which was is housed in renovated factory facilities retraces the steps of the Sümer Bank Kayseri textile factory, an important historical heritage of the city, as well as recollects the life of the 11th President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül.
The Museum Library welcomes all community members in comfortable and renovated facilities.
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Zero Waste
The Abdullah Gül University Zero Waste (Sıfır Atık) Committee was create in order to manage and obtimize waste management at the university. The objective of the AGU Zero Waste Committee is to especially answer the challenges identified in SDGs 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Key Missions of AGU Zero Waste include:
- AGU Waste Management Regulation and Fundamentals
- Analysis of Current Situation
- Determination of Requirements
- Training Activities
The full AGU Zero Waste report can be read HERE.
Activites of the Committee include:
- ReUseFest Festival
- Sustainability and Waste Management Training
- Waste Management Studies
- Field Analyses
- Collaboration with local governments and institutions
- Zero Waste Workshops
Thanks to the work of AGU Zero Waste Committee members, the Abdullah Gül University has been awarded the following certificates:
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LEED Certificate for AGU's "Grey Water Management System" |
Zero Waste Certificate for implementing the Zero Waste Management System (SAYS), which covers the prevention of waste, efficient use of resources, prevention and reduction of waste and recycling of waste. |
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Transportation Services and Pedestrian Campus
AGU provides free transportation services to its members:
- Shuttle - Administrative employees can use the University city shuttle system.
- Parking - All AGU members also take advantage of on-campus free parking places in multiple on campus and student village areas.
- Bicycle - All members can benefit from the University bicycle sharing program (loan and storage system) and use the numerous bicycle and pedestrian paths located on Campus.
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Pedestrians
Pedestrian access is prioritized as all on campus facilities are accessible by foot. Only 20 minutes is required to reach all university facilities and walk across the entirety of the campus using the numerous pedestrian paths located on Campus.
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People With Disabilities
Handicapped parking spaces have been marked on the campus for accessible parking. There are also wheelchairs for disabled people in the service buildings.
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"11 Million Trees" Campaign — "With One Sapling Today, Breathe For Tomorrow"
In order to raise future generations with environmental awareness and make Turkey greener, an event called "11 Million Trees: With One Sapling Today, Breathe For Tomorrow" was realized simultaneously in 81 cities of Turkey. Many saplings were also planted at Abdullah Gül University (AGU).
The event took place on the Sümer Campus where 350 walnut, cedar and pine saplings met the soil on designated areas.
Academics, administrative staff and students planted the saplings together.
The campaign aimed at disseminating tree and forest love and leave a legacy of a greener Turkey.
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Smoke Free Campus
The total available space on the University campus is 270,786.95 m2. Of that, 99.56% (i.e. 269,596.68 m2) have been designated as non-smoking. Smoking is only allowed in an area of 1,190.27 m2, that is to say 00.44% of the total space. The University has implemented a smoke-free campus policy, thus helping to prevent non-smokers from picking up a smoking habit and encouraging users to space out usage times and make it more challening for them to find tobacco products. It attaches great importance and gives priority to the smoke-free campus policy in order to fulfill its responsibilities towards saving individuals from tobacco addiction within the relevant Regulation. The e-mail account dumansizkampus@agu.edu.tr has been activated for reporting violations of the smoke-free policy by students, staff or guests and for conveying requests, wishes and complaints regarding tobacco and tobacco products. All offices have been notified accordingly.
Click for the rules and procedures about smoke-free policy.
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Clean Water
The Abdullah Gül University's Health, Culture and Sports Department (SKS), ensures that all tap water throughout the campus is drinkable. Water quality checks are carried out by the Environmental Protection and Control Department's Kayseri Laboratory Branch Office. The report can be viewed here.
Free of use water fountains are also available for students and staff all over campus.
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AGU Brownfield Land
AGU's History
The first steps towards founding Abdullah Gul University were taken, by the Kayseri City Council and other city notables, in 2007. The aim was to raise the profile of education in Kayseri in line with the city’s own vision of its development.
The University was named after the 11th president of the Turkish Republic, Abdullah Gül, who has accepted this honor, for the university is being dedicated to the quest to become a distinguished high-quality university in Turkey and be able to compete with international institutions.
The university was formally founded on 21 July 2010 as Turkey’s first foundation supported State University.
AGU admitted its first students in 2013 - 2014 Academic Year. Education is being conducted at the site of Turkey’s first industrial complex, which is being transformed from a place of great historical significance to be a notable place of education.
In the future, The University will be serving in a second campus known as Mimar Sinan.
As AGU aspires to its aim of being a research and teaching University of international standards, an institution playing a key role in its development will be the AGU Foundation.
Founded on 13 July 2011, the work of the AGU Foundation is dedicated to the overall goal of supporting the university with the following three specific aims:
- To provide financial incentives to successful students
- To provide economic cultural and social support to the University’s employees
- To fund developments in the university’s physical and technical technological facilities, and underwrite improvement in education, research and opportunities for their application.
Eventually, AGU will be serving in two campuses: Sumer in the city center and Mimar Sinan at a new developing site outside the city. From Fall 2013 instruction at AGU will take place at the Sumer campus. The historical premises of the Sumer Bank Kayseri textile factory (the first industrial site in Turkey) are being converted into a uniquely elegant university campus that will embody a comfortable blend of social and cultural elements. In this context, the Sumer campus, with its central position and cultural value, will play an important role in the foundation of AGU, the future growth and international aspirations of which will be supported by the development of world-class facilities at its second campus, named for the master architect of 500 years ago: Mimar Sinan.
