Provision of Expert Advice to Government
Does your university, as a body, provide specific expert advice to local, regional or national government, for example through policy guidance, participation in committees, or the provision of evidence?
Karadeniz Technical University provides scientific and technical contributions to the policy, planning, and implementation processes of local, regional, and national public authorities through its academic expertise, research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary knowledge base.
The University provides expert support to public institutions through various mechanisms, including participation in strategic and regional planning processes, scientific and technical evaluation of public investments, scientific support for disaster and risk management, structural assessment of public buildings, provision of expert opinion in urban planning processes, collaborative research with public institutions, and participation in advisory boards.
Expert Contribution to Public Policy and Regional Development through the Trabzon Provincial Plan
One of the most comprehensive examples of the University’s contribution to public administration in 2025 was its involvement in the Trabzon Provincial Plan.
Coordinated by the Governorship of Trabzon, the Provincial Plan serves as a strategic roadmap covering numerous activities, projects, and programmes aimed at the economic, social, and environmental development of the city. Karadeniz Technical University acts as a direct strategic stakeholder in a significant proportion of the activities included in the Plan and collaborates with public institutions in areas such as local employment, youth policies, ecotourism, digital agriculture, forest management, coastal and marine ecosystems, industry, technology, health, environment, and regional development.
This collaboration demonstrates that the University directly transfers its scientific knowledge and academic expertise into local and regional policy processes.
Provision of Technical Expertise to the Ministry of National Education on Structural Safety and Earthquake Resilience
Karadeniz Technical University has a formal protocol with the Ministry of National Education entitled “Structural Inspection and R&D Studies in Educational Institution Buildings and Their Annexes”, focusing on the structural assessment of educational buildings and related facilities.
Within the scope of this collaboration, the University’s academic and technical expertise in earthquake engineering, structural health, structural performance, and risk assessment is made available to the public authority. This enables decisions concerning the safety of educational buildings to be supported by scientific and technical evidence.
The protocol is included in KTU’s official list of national cooperation protocols.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/ulusalprotokoller
Scientific and Technical Support to AFAD on Natural Hazards
Karadeniz Technical University also collaborates scientifically with the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD) on research into natural hazards and disaster risk reduction.
Under the “Cooperation Protocol on Natural Hazard Studies and Education” signed between the KTU Landslide Application and Research Center and Trabzon Provincial AFAD Directorate, collaboration includes scientific research on landslides, floods, and other natural hazards, technical assessments, disaster risk reduction activities, education and awareness programmes, and the transfer of scientific knowledge into disaster management practices.
This collaboration demonstrates how the University’s expertise directly contributes to the disaster management and risk reduction processes of public authorities.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/surdurulebilirlik/hukumete-bilgi-verilmesi-ve-destek-saglanmasi
Additional Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/ulusalprotokoller
Academic Expertise Provided to Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality on Disaster Risks
The University also carries out scientific and technical cooperation with the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality in the field of disaster risk reduction.
The collaboration covers the assessment of regional disaster risks such as floods, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes, droughts, and forest fires, the development of joint projects, the transfer of scientific evidence into local government practices, and the implementation of educational activities.
This initiative demonstrates that the University provides academic expertise to support local government policies on disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/surdurulebilirlik/hukumete-bilgi-verilmesi-ve-destek-saglanmasi
Provision of Scientific Advice for Urban Planning and Public Investments
Karadeniz Technical University also provides academic and technical expertise to local authorities on urban planning and the evaluation of public investments.
One important example is the interdisciplinary assessment work undertaken in relation to the Ortahisar Gülcemal Reclamation Area Project. Academic staff from Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, and other relevant disciplines contributed to evaluations of the project proposed by Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality.
The spatial, structural, environmental, and urban impacts of the project were examined scientifically, and academic opinions and recommendations were provided to the local authority.
This work demonstrates the University’s role as an expert institution providing scientific and technical assessments for major public investments.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/surdurulebilirlik/planlama-ve-gelistirme-konusunda-yerel-yonetimlerle-isbirligi-yapmak
Institutional Advisory Mechanisms with Public Authorities
Karadeniz Technical University maintains its exchange of knowledge and expertise with public institutions not only through individual projects but also through institutional advisory mechanisms.
The KTU Advisory Board Meeting held in 2025 is an important example of this approach. Representatives from the Governorship of Trabzon, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality, Ortahisar Municipality, Provincial Directorate of Health, Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Provincial Directorate of National Education, AFAD, Provincial Directorate of Industry and Technology, Ä°ÅžKUR, Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, DOKA, and other public institutions participated in the meeting.
The meeting addressed the transfer of knowledge produced at the University into practice, the communication of field-based needs to the University, the identification of potential areas of collaboration between public institutions and the University, and the joint development of solutions for regional priorities.
This structure demonstrates that the University operates a regular and institutionalised mechanism for expert consultation and knowledge exchange with public authorities.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/tr/haber/ktu-danisma-kurulu-universite-kent-is-birligini-guclendirmek-uzere-toplandi
Formal Cooperation Protocols with Public Institutions
KTU’s official protocol records for 2025 also demonstrate that the University systematically provides expertise to public authorities.
Collaborations with public institutions during 2025 included:
These protocols demonstrate that the University provides its scientific and academic expertise to public authorities in a structured and continuous manner in areas directly related to public policy and public services.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/ulusalprotokoller
In 2025, Karadeniz Technical University regularly provided expert opinion, scientific evidence, technical assessment, and policy-related support to local, regional, and national public authorities.
These contributions were demonstrated through participation in strategic planning processes such as the Trabzon Provincial Plan, technical studies concerning the structural safety of educational buildings, scientific cooperation with AFAD on disaster risk reduction, academic support to local authorities on urban planning and disaster management, institutional advisory boards involving public authorities, and formal cooperation protocols.
Together, these activities demonstrate that Karadeniz Technical University actively shares its scientific knowledge and academic expertise with public authorities in order to support public policy development, the evaluation of public investments, and the development of evidence-based solutions to local and regional challenges.
Outreach, Education and Capacity-Building for Policy- and Law-Makers
Does your university, as a body, provide outreach, general education, upskilling and capacity-building to policy- and law-makers on relevant topics such as economics, law, technology, migration and displacement, and climate change?
Karadeniz Technical University carried out training, knowledge-sharing, and expert-support activities in 2025 aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of local and regional public authorities. The University implemented these activities particularly in the areas of disaster management, risk reduction, technology, professional development, and regional policy through cooperation protocols with public institutions and institutional advisory mechanisms.
In this context, on 14 April 2025, the KTU Landslide Application and Research Center and the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD) signed the “Cooperation Protocol on Natural Hazard Studies and Education.” The protocol contributes to strengthening the knowledge and implementation capacity of public institutions through disaster risk reduction activities, scientific knowledge-sharing on natural hazards, and educational programmes. In addition, on 11 February 2025, a Cooperation Protocol on Disaster Awareness Training was signed with the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of National Education.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/ulusalprotokoller
The University also maintains regular knowledge and experience exchange with public institutions through the KTU Advisory Board. At the Advisory Board meeting held on 30 December 2025, knowledge was shared with representatives of public authorities and local governments on areas including R&D and innovation, disaster and environmental studies, industry, technology and entrepreneurship, youth and employment, international student policies, and vocational education. Mechanisms for transferring knowledge produced at the University into practice and for jointly identifying regional priorities were also discussed.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/tr/haber/ktu-danisma-kurulu-universite-kent-is-birligini-guclendirmek-uzere-toplandi
The University’s official protocol records for 2025 also include vocational training courses aimed at developing a qualified workforce in cooperation with the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of the Turkish Employment Agency, educational cooperation with the CBRN Defence and Security Brigade Command, and various academic consultancy activities carried out with public institutions.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/ulusalprotokoller
These activities demonstrate that Karadeniz Technical University made an institutional contribution in 2025 to improving the access of public-sector decision-makers and practitioners to scientific knowledge, their professional competencies, and their capacity to implement public policy effectively.
Participation in Government Research
Does your university, as a body, undertake policy-focused research in collaboration with government departments?
Karadeniz Technical University carried out policy- and implementation-focused research and evaluation activities in collaboration with public institutions in 2025. These activities were particularly concentrated in areas such as disaster risk reduction, regional planning, public safety, and environmental risk management.
In this context, the “Cooperation Protocol on Natural Hazard Studies and Education” implemented between the KTU Landslide Application and Research Center and the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD) constitutes an important example. The protocol provides for joint scientific and technical studies on natural hazards such as floods, flash floods, landslides, earthquakes, rockfalls, avalanches, drought, erosion, and forest fires in relation to the actions assigned to AFAD under the Urban Risk Shield Plan, Türkiye Disaster Response Plan, and Provincial Risk Reduction Plan. In this way, the research outputs are intended to contribute directly to public policy and disaster risk management practices.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/trabzonicinyurutulenprojeler
The University also conducts activities based on scientific knowledge and expertise in cooperation with public institutions within the framework of the Trabzon Provincial Plan (2024–2028), covering policy areas such as regional development, environment, employment, tourism, and technology. The Trabzon Provincial Plan is included among the official regional policy and planning documents published on the University’s institutional planning webpages.
Evidence URL:
https://www.ktu.edu.tr/yonetim/planlar
These activities demonstrate that Karadeniz Technical University not only shares knowledge with public institutions, but also actively participates in collaborative, policy-focused research and evaluation activities that support the development and implementation of public policies.
Neutral Platform for Discussing Issues
Does your university, as a body, provide a neutral and “safe” platform where different political and public stakeholders can come together to openly and constructively discuss common challenges?
In 2025, Karadeniz Technical University provided institutional platforms where different perspectives could be openly and constructively shared through advisory boards and multi-stakeholder meetings that brought together public institutions, local authorities, professional organisations, civil society representatives, industry stakeholders, and academics.
The 2025 Advisory Board Meeting of the KTU Faculty of Engineering brought together representatives of public institutions, local government officials, professional chambers, industrial organisations, and academics in the same setting. During the meeting, the views and recommendations of different stakeholders were collected and considered with the aim of contributing to the Faculty’s future strategic decisions.
In addition, the 2025 Advisory Meeting of the KTU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences was attended by representatives from the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, DOKA, the Social Security Institution, KOSGEB, Ä°ÅžKUR, Ortahisar Municipality, professional organisations, and sector representatives. During the meeting, different institutional perspectives, views, and recommendations were exchanged and evaluated.
Evidence URL:
https://dents.ktu.edu.tr/iibf/haber/fakultemiz-2025-birim-danisma-toplantisi-gerceklestirildi
These examples demonstrate that Karadeniz Technical University provides a neutral, inclusive, and institutionally facilitated platform where representatives from public authorities, local government, professional bodies, industry, civil society, and academia can express their views, discuss common challenges, and identify areas for joint solutions.
