Karadeniz Technical University supports participatory governance processes and implements election and representation mechanisms that enable different components of the University, particularly academic staff and students, to take part in institutional decision-making processes. The University’s governance structure is established in accordance with Higher Education Law No. 2547 and the relevant higher education legislation. Within this framework, the University Senate and the University Executive Board serve as key governing bodies in institutional decision-making.

Elected Academic Representation on the University Senate

Academic staff are represented through elected members on the Senate of Karadeniz Technical University, one of the University’s principal academic decision-making bodies.

According to the University’s official governance webpage, the Senate consists of:

• the Rector, who serves as Chair,
• Vice Rectors,
• Deans of Faculties,
• one academic staff member from each faculty elected by the relevant Faculty Board for a three-year term, and
• Directors of institutes and schools affiliated with the Rectorate.

Accordingly, academic staff from each faculty are represented on the University Senate through a formal election process conducted by the relevant Faculty Board.

The Senate determines the fundamental principles governing the University’s education, scientific research, and publication activities; considers regulations concerning the University as a whole; and makes decisions regarding academic programmes and the academic calendar.

Evidence:
https://ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/UKIC1Hi9W6

A recent example demonstrating the practical implementation of this election mechanism is the Faculty Board meeting held at the KTU Of Faculty of Technology on 6 November 2025. During the meeting, an election was conducted to determine the academic staff member who would represent the Faculty on the University Senate, and Prof. Dr. Erol Ä°skender was elected as a Senate Member.

This example provides direct evidence that academic representatives on the University Senate are selected through an election process.

Evidence:
https://ktu.edu.tr/ofteknoloji/haber/fakulte-kurulu-dekanimiz-prof-dr-irfan-acar-baskanliginda-toplandi

Elected Student Representation and Participation in University Governance

The University operates the Karadeniz Technical University Student Council mechanism in order to ensure that students’ views, expectations, and concerns are communicated to University management.

The KTU Student Council Directive aims to establish effective communication between students and the University’s governing bodies and to promote student participation, particularly in decision-making processes related to education and teaching.

The student representation system is structured as a democratic, bottom-up representation mechanism.

Within the University:

• Department/Programme Student Representatives are elected by students within their respective departments or programmes,
• Academic Unit Student Representatives are elected from among Department/Programme Student Representatives, and
• members of the Student Council Executive Board are elected from among the members of the Student Council General Assembly.

According to Article 8 of the Directive, the Department/Programme Student Representative is elected from among the students of the relevant department or programme by the majority of those participating in the election.

According to Article 10, the Academic Unit Student Representative is elected from among the Department/Programme Student Representatives of the relevant academic unit.

Through this system, the University provides an institutional framework that enables student representation at department, academic-unit, and university levels.

Participation of the Student Council President in the Senate and University Executive Board

One of the key arrangements through which student representation is extended to senior University governance processes concerns the responsibilities of the Student Council President.

According to Article 13 of the KTU Student Council Directive, the Student Council President participates in meetings of the University Senate and the University Executive Board when matters concerning students are discussed.

This mechanism enables students’ views, requests, and concerns to be communicated directly to the University’s senior decision-making bodies.

Evidence:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/dosyalar/arsinmyo_N4VQl.pdf

Additional Evidence – KTU Department of Student Affairs, Internal Regulations:
https://ktu.edu.tr/oidb/kurumicimevzuat

Elected Academic Representation on the University Executive Board

Elected representation within the University is not limited to the Senate. The structure of the University Executive Board also includes academic members selected through an election process.

According to KTU’s institutional governance structure, the University Executive Board consists of the Rector, who serves as Chair, the Deans of Faculties, and professors elected by the University Senate to represent different academic units and fields within the University.

This demonstrates that academic staff are represented through election-based mechanisms at different levels of the University’s institutional governance structure.

Evidence:
https://ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/UKIC1Hi9W6