Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) hosted an important event in line with its goals of an environmentally friendly and sustainable campus. The UI GreenMetric Environmentally Friendly Universities Turkey National Workshop, held on April 29-30, brought together many academics and administrative staff from both domestic and international locations.
Organized within the scope of the UI GreenMetric platform, which has been evaluating world universities in terms of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices since 2010, representatives from 37 universities in Turkey participated, while expert academics from countries such as Indonesia, Poland, Ethiopia, and Romania also took part. Additionally, UI GreenMetric Turkey Coordinator and Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Yıldırım delivered a speech at the workshop.
“Environmental practices are a tool, the goal is sustainability”
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy explained the university's sustainability vision and the initial steps in the UI GreenMetric process. Emphasizing the university's specialized structure in the field of animal husbandry, its strong academic staff, and regional advantages, Gürsoy highlighted that sustainable campus efforts are important not only in terms of environmental but also economic and social sustainability.
Stating that they participated in the UI GreenMetric ranking for the first time in 2024, Gürsoy expressed that they ranked 889th among 1477 universities. Gürsoy said, “Such rankings are important tools for making our campuses more sustainable. With our activities in areas such as energy and water conservation, environmentally friendly transportation, education, and research, we aim to contribute both to our university and to the world.”
“Sustainability is not a luxury, it is a necessity”
Speaking at the workshop, UI GreenMetric Turkey Coordinator Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Yıldırım stated that the issue of sustainability is not limited to universities but carries a global responsibility. Yıldırım said, “Campuses are not just educational areas, they are also living spaces. We spend a large part of our day here, and we must ensure the sustainability of these areas.”
Yıldırım pointed out that natural resources are limited and the population is rapidly increasing, stating that maintaining ecological balance is no longer a choice but a necessity.
Yıldırım also touched on topics such as industrial symbiosis, waste management, and efficient use of natural resources, noting that the UI GreenMetric platform provides significant guidance to universities in this regard.
A busy program with sessions and events
In the sessions organized within the scope of the workshop; UI GreenMetric evaluation criteria such as structure and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste and water management, transportation, education were discussed. Additionally, zero waste practices, environment-themed social responsibility projects, and examples of environmentally friendly events were shared with the participants.
Cooperation protocol
At the end of the program, certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants, and a membership declaration to the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings Network was signed, strengthening the cooperation protocol among participating universities from Turkey.
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