The “2024 Barrier-Free University Flags and Program Order Ceremony,” organized to promote a barrier-free university environment, was held on June 6, 2024, at YÖK with the participation of YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar.
In the program, where university rectors and disabled students participated, awards were given to those who received the 'Barrier-Free University Flag' by YK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar. Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, and Barrier-Free University Coordinator, Dr. Assist, attended the ceremony. Prof. Dr. Kerim Güney and Technician Funda Karakiraz from the Department of Construction and Technical Affairs participated in the ceremony.
Our university has achieved significant success within the scope of the “Barrier-Free University Awards 2024” organized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), which aim to promote barrier-free and accessible university campuses. Our university, which has taken steps to encourage disabled individuals to participate in university life more comfortably and equally, ranked first in Turkey by receiving 38 flags in the “Barrier-Free University Flags” category.
Our university has achieved significant success by receiving a total of 38 flags: 4 in the Social Cultural Activities category (Blue Flag), 24 in the Accessibility in Space (Orange Flag) category, and 10 in Accessibility in Education (Green Flag). Necmettin Erbakan University ranked second with 20 flags, and İnönü University ranked third with 17 flags.
In the ceremony organized to ensure equality of opportunity in education at all levels, to eliminate the obstacles experienced in the entrance to higher education and the education process, and to encourage the creation of a barrier-free ecosystem in universities, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar presented an award to our Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal.
While 112 universities applied for 1709 flags to receive the 'Barrier-Free University Flag', 76 universities were entitled to receive 319 flags in total. 228 Orange Flags, 55 Green Flags and 36 Blue Flags were given to 76 universities. In the award ceremony, 15 universities were also awarded 49 insignia. Marmara University, Anadolu University, and Dokuz Eylül University each received 11, Anadolu University and Dokuz Eylül University received 8, and Sakarya University received 4 insignia, respectively.
Speaking at the ceremony, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar explained the difficulties disabled students face in accessing universities. Stating that everyone must overcome these obstacles, Prof. Dr. Özvar noted that according to the Higher Education Information System data, 58 thousand students with different disability levels have problems accessing education and information.
Prof. Dr. Özvar said, “At this point, although significant progress has been made in many universities in terms of space accessibility, we need to make more efforts to make education and program contents accessible to students with different disabilities.”
"Physical barriers are not obstacles. The real obstacle is the obstacle in hearts and minds."
In his speech, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, emphasized that the perseverance and determination of millions of disabled people living in our country is an example for everyone and that their struggles in every aspect of life are admirable. Noting that remembering the issues of disabled students and employees and producing solutions is one of the most essential duties, our Rector stated that the efforts made to facilitate the access of disabled individuals to education, physical spaces and socio-cultural opportunities have created a severe awareness.
Stating that the barrier-free university awards program organized by the Council of Higher Education is one of the most beautiful manifestations of this awareness, our Rector said that physical obstacles are not the main obstacle. The main obstacle is the obstacle in hearts and minds. In the continuation of his speech, our Rector stated that at Kastamonu University, they continue their efforts to ensure that disabled individuals do not feel excluded. Emphasizing the importance of the studies carried out to facilitate the lives of disabled students with an understanding of barrier-free and accessible student-friendly campuses, our rector stated that they are happy to reach their barrier-free university goals, but they still have much work to do.
Stating that the work of the barrier-free university will continue with an understanding of sustainability, our Rector thanked all academic and administrative staff who contributed to this success. He also thanked the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, the members of the Council of Higher Education and the members of the commission that evaluated the award applications, who provided support for an accessible and barrier-free university for disabled students and employees in all areas.
