‘University-Municipality’ collaboration to support women

Balçova Municipality and Izmir University of Economics (IUE) have signed a cooperation protocol aimed at giving neighborhood houses a new identity, improving the marketing of the products produced there, and thus increasing women's income. The agreement, which covers research, development, and design studies to be carried out by IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, was signed by Balçova Mayor Onur Yiğit and IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu.

EMPHASIS ON ‘COLLECTIVE WISDOM’

Stating that both institutions could accomplish significant work through collective wisdom, Balçova Mayor Onur Yiğit said, “I completed my master’s degree at Izmir University of Economics. We cannot even begin to describe IUE’s contributions to Balçova since 2001. It has increased the city’s added value and changed its structure. We are grateful for this. Since my candidacy for mayor, I have always said that I would be in contact with universities and work together with them. It is now 2025. We are living in a very different era. In the light of technology and science, I hope we will accomplish great work together with collective wisdom. We are starting at this point today, but we will definitely expand this scope. As the mayor, I will take the lead. I sincerely thank everyone who contributed and wish this collaboration to be beneficial.”

“SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION IS OUR DUTY”

Stating that universities have three fundamental duties—education, knowledge production, and social contribution—Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu emphasized that social contribution has come to the forefront in recent years. He noted that the European University Association also prioritizes social contribution and said: “IUE’s vice-rector responsible for social contribution is from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design. Since its establishment, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design has embraced social contribution as its mission. We have a faculty that has extended its reach to Izmir and beyond, undertaking valuable projects. When we talk about social contribution, we start with our own campus, then move to our immediate surroundings—Balçova, Izmir, and nearby areas. Therefore, being able to contribute to Balçova, starting from our own campus, makes us happy and is something we see as part of our duty. If we can provide even a small contribution to the people of Balçova with collective wisdom, it will bring us joy. I hope this will be the beginning of a successful collaboration for both institutions and that it will continue in the future.”

“WE WILL CREATE AN IDENTITY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS”

Providing information about the cooperation protocol after the signing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Ender Yazgan Bulgun, Dean of IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, said, “First, we will analyze the structure of the neighborhood houses. Then, we will work on creating an identity. We will make recommendations for everything from display units for the products created in these houses to their logos. We will focus on improving product marketing and increasing their sales potential. In other words, we will completely redefine the identity of the neighborhood houses and work on their redesign. Our goal is to make them more visible. We will also narrativize the neighborhood house process. This project is expected to take four months.”

Following the signing ceremony, Mayor Yiğit presented Rector Abacıoğlu with a handcrafted wooden box and a traditional filigree-embroidered cloth from Mardin, made by neighborhood house trainees. In return, Rector Abacıoğlu gifted Yiğit the books Kervan Köprüsü and Ege Otları, published by IUE Press.