2025 UI GreenMetric Turkey Workshop Hosted by MAKÜ: Sustainable University Management and Green Campus Vision

The 2025 UI GreenMetric Turkey Workshop, organized under the auspices of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) Sustainability Coordination, brought together the expert team of UI GreenMetric World Ranking from Indonesia with university representatives, sustainability officers, academicians, and administrators from all over Turkey.

MAKÜ Sustainability Coordinator Dr. Lecturer Kübra Ertan, who led the organization of the workshop, shared the experiences gained during the UI GreenMetric World Ranking process, which our university applied for the first time last year, with the participants. In her presentation titled "Promoting Sustainability in Education and Research", she explained the activities, courses, projects, and social events related to sustainability carried out at our university, while also emphasizing the importance of tracking and reporting these activities. Additionally, she provided information about the Sustainability Report prepared for the first time at our university, detailing the challenges encountered during the GreenMetric application process and how these challenges were overcome, offering guiding information for universities that will follow this process.

During the workshop, practices carried out in universities in the field of sustainability, GreenMetric criteria, and campus management were discussed. Participants shared their experiences and developed strategies for sustainable university management. Additionally, our university's pioneering environmental technology aLgaç system was visited, highlighting the power of nature-based solutions.

Workshop Day 1 (April 29, 2025)

Opening Speeches 

The opening program of the workshop began with speeches by Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy, UI GreenMetric World University Rankings Expert Member Prof. Dr. Ir. Tommy Ilyas and one of the UI GreenMetric Platform Turkey Coordinators, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Environmental Sciences and Engineering Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Yıldırım. The first session was conducted with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Yıldırım. In the presentation titled "UI GreenMetric Updates and National Turkish Network Information" , the performances of Turkish universities included in the applications made in 2024 and the necessity of increasing their recognition on the international stage were emphasized.

In the second session, under the moderation of MAKÜ Energy Systems Engineering Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zuhal Akyürek, UI GreenMetric Expert Members Prof. Ir. Gunawan Tjahjono and Prof. Dr. Ir. Tommy Ilyas provided comprehensive information about UI GreenMetric and UI GWURN (UI GreenMetric World University Ranking Network) and Turkey's place on this platform. The third session of the workshop was conducted under the moderation of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University GreenMetric Campus Commission Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Orhun Soydan. The first presentation of the session was made by Çukurova University Environmental Problems Research and Application Center Director and also GreenMetric University Representative Prof. Dr. Halime Ömür Paksoy. In her presentation titled "GreenMetric and Green Campus Studies at Çukurova University", Prof. Dr. Paksoy conveyed the short, medium, and long-term sustainability implementation targets planned to be implemented at their university and the environmental campus arrangements made in line with GreenMetric criteria. Then, another invited speaker, İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Sustainability Coordinator Assistant Dr. Lecturer Ufuk Özkan, delivered his presentation titled "From Industrial Memory to a Resilient Future: İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University's GreenMetric Journey". Dr. Lecturer Özkan shared the applications aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, such as rain gardens and green roofs, and sustainability policies within the framework of their university's sustainability vision.

The fourth and final session of the first day of the workshop was conducted under the moderation of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University R&D Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halilibrahim Çiftçi. In this session, the integration of sustainability in three important dimensions of sustainable campus management, namely water management, transportation, and education-research processes, was discussed. The first presentation was made by Ege University GreenMetric Campus Coordination Representative Res. Asst. Dr. S. Tuğçe Kalkan. In her presentation titled "Water Management and Water Efficiency Studies on Campuses", Dr. Kalkan provided information about the applications carried out at Ege University for the efficient use of water resources (rainwater harvesting, water pools, treatment, and reuse of water). Yıldız Technical University University Ranking Office Representative Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ümit Güneş, in his presentation titled "Sustainable Green Transportation", provided information about the actions taken to ensure sustainable transportation on campus, such as electric charging stations, controlled vehicle entry, and reducing the number of vehicles entering the campus. He also mentioned useful platforms that can be used for scanning scientific performance data on sustainability.

The last presentation was delivered by our university's Sustainability Coordinator Dr. Lecturer Kübra Ertan. In her presentation titled "Promoting Sustainability in Education and Research," Dr. Ertan explained the courses, projects, and activities related to sustainability carried out at our university, while also emphasizing the importance of tracking and reporting these activities. Additionally, she provided information about the Sustainability Report prepared for the first time at our university, detailing the challenges encountered during the GreenMetric application process and how these challenges were overcome, offering guiding information for universities that will follow this process.

The content presented at the workshop emphasized the importance of a holistic approach in sustainable university management while also shedding light on strategic planning for the future.

Algaç Visit: A Microalgae Touch to Sustainability 

As part of the workshop, the aLgaç system, a pioneering environmental technology project of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, was examined on-site. Workshop participants received detailed information about this innovative photobioreactor, developed under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Füsun Akgül and being the first of its kind in Turkey. aLgaç, capable of absorbing as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in one day as 5-6 trees can through microalgae and converting it into biomass, attracted great interest as an exemplary environmental application aimed at sustainable urbanism, clean energy use, and reducing the carbon footprint. This eco-friendly technology, powered by solar energy and providing oxygen production with a closed-loop system, stood out as a concrete example of the sustainability vision shared at the workshop. The visit once again reminded participants of the power of nature-based solutions and scientific innovation in the environmental struggle.

Workshop Day 2 (April 30, 2025) 

The second day of the workshop began with the closing session. In the session, the challenges in the data collection and management process of universities were discussed, and collective solutions were proposed. It was emphasized that a platform should be established to increase communication among universities in Turkey. Additionally, it was stated that it would be beneficial for universities to have access to publication indexes related to sustainability through a funder such as YÖK or TÜBİTAK. The good practice examples presented by invited speakers inspired universities in the GreenMetric ranking application process. The closing session concluded with the selection of Yıldız Technical University as the host for the next workshop.

Tree Planting Festival: "Green Campus, Green Future!" 

The second day of the workshop ended meaningfully with the Tree Planting Festival organized to contribute to environmental sustainability. Participants made a green touch to nature by planting blue cypress saplings, a drought-resistant species, on the university campus. Universities coming together on the UI GreenMetric Turkey platform planted saplings together, and this step towards a sustainable future gave a strong message for a life in harmony with nature.

Workshop Tour Program 

In the tour program organized after the workshop, participants first visited Salda Lake. While experiencing unforgettable moments in the unique nature of the lake, they were informed about the geological structure, ecosystem, and conservation importance of the region with the narration of Dr. Uğur Tozkoparan. 

Then, during the visit to Kibyra Ancient City, one of Burdur's most valuable historical heritages was discovered under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ünal Demirer. This ancient city, bearing traces of the Roman Empire period, once again highlighted how valuable sustainable tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage are. Thanks to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Demirer's informative and impressive narration, the silent stones of Kibyra almost came to life, turning the tour into a meaningful journey integrated with history and knowledge for the participants. 

This tour provided participants with important lessons on environmental and cultural sustainability and, in parallel with the overall theme of the workshop, created awareness for the dissemination of eco-friendly practices.

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