“ACT OF KINDNESS” BY IZMIR UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) brought the leading names of the society together with the students to start an “act of kindness” movement. Student volunteers, who select “Civic and Environmental Engagement Projects” course, which was initiated as of 2013 – 2014 Academic year, will lead the society with the sustainable projects they will develop.

Civic and Environmental Engagement Projects Advisory Board, which is composed of Prof. Dr. Kamil Okyay Sındır, Bornova Mayor, Abdül Batur, Narlıdere Mayor, Tunç Soyer, Seferihisar Mayor, Abbas Güçlü, Education Editor of Milliyet Daily Newspaper, Deniz Sipahi, Aegean Region Representative of Hürriyet Daily News, Filiz Eczacıbaşı Sarper, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of IKSEV (Izmir Foundation for Culture, Arts, and Education), Rengim Gökmen, General Director of Turkish State Opera and Ballet, Aytül Büyüksaraç, General Director of Izmir State Opera and Ballet, and  Bülent Akgerman, Chairman of the Executive Board of ESIAD (Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen Association), and other board members met with student volunteers, who selected this course, the previous night. The Advisory Board members and students concerted to sustainable urban, cultural projects. Board members will guide the students on their projects.

Press conference was held at IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design Multi-Purpose Hall, following the meeting of the advisory board members with students. In his speech, IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Tunçdan Baltacıoğlu stated, “This act of kindness movement, based on volunteering and participation, is structured to raise socially responsive individuals by creating awareness, in addition to creating individuals who are competent in vocational education. This movement we initiated has been greatly supported by our academicians, who are experts in different fields, and press, as well as both business world and local administrations and civil society organizations.”

Prof. Dr. Baltacıoğlu stated that their purpose was to make this world a better place to live in through this course, and he said the following:

“Advisory Board members and we are contributing to the development of an efficient civil society with the purpose of raising generations, who are more responsive towards the society and the environment they live in. To make this world a better place to live in and mutually benefit from this outcome will be our biggest and most significant goal. In this context, advisory board members agreed upon providing concrete support to this movement we initiated by holding doors wide open to their resources. Advisory Board members will mentor students one-on-one with their projects.”

IUE Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Adıvar also stated that students would be volunteers in the course. He said, “While this course is mandatory in some institutions, our university is based on voluntarism. Students will not be engaged in readymade projects, they will develop projects for the benefit of the society by optimizing their creativity. Our duty is to ensure that the leading sectors of the society mentor our students, and to bring this act of kindness movement into the social agenda.”