The "60+ Renewal University" project, conducted in many universities across Turkey under the coordination of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, is now being implemented within Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. The details of the program were shared with the public at the first promotional meeting organized in collaboration with the university and the ministry.
The program, which will start with a promotional lesson on June 3, 2026, will be implemented with two days of two-hour training sessions per week. In the system planned with the “3+1” model, participants will receive three years of theoretical education, and in the last year, they will take an active role in volunteer and social responsibility practices. Students will be able to share their professional experiences with young people, participate in social projects, and be involved in campus life.
The project, prepared free of charge for individuals aged 60 and over, aims to support active aging, strengthen social ties, and promote lifelong learning.
Speaking at the promotional meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevinç Sütlü, a faculty member of the Department of Public Health at MAKÜ and the Coordinator of the Renewal University, stated that learning keeps a person alive at every stage of life, emphasizing that the project is not only an educational initiative but also a model of social solidarity.
Sütlü expressed that the foundation of the Renewal University is the understanding of “lifelong learning,” stating that participants will receive education in health, sports, culture, foreign languages, and personal development during the four-year process. Sütlü noted that different language courses such as Japanese and Chinese will also be included in the program, and a rich content has been prepared with cultural activities, games, cinema discussions, origami, and physical activities.
Sütlü stated that participants will not only be trainees but will be real university students, mentioning that there is a 70% attendance requirement in the program, but no exams will be conducted. In the fourth year, volunteer-based social practices will be implemented.
MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, who spoke at the meeting, also expressed that universities are not only institutions that provide academic education but also undertake important responsibilities with social responsibility projects that touch society.
Rector Dalgar stated that the university reaches different segments of society with projects such as the Children's University and the Village University, emphasizing that the Renewal University is also an important part of this understanding. He highlighted that it is a great gain for young people to benefit from the experiences of older individuals, noting that the program is a strong example of solidarity based on volunteerism.
Burdur Deputy Governor Mehmet Türk, who participated in the program, stated in his speech that a person needs to feel valuable at every age, expressing that the Renewal University will contribute to individuals' stronger connection to social life.
Deputy Governor Türk emphasized that the project is an important work that centers on the individual, thanking the academics, public institutions, and participants who contributed.
At the end of the program, certificates of appreciation were presented to the academics and public personnel who supported the project, and the event concluded with a group photo taken with the protocol, academics, and students aged 60 and over who attended the promotional meeting.
