Bursa Technical University is developing a project for Iznik.

Bursa Technical University (BTÜ) and İznik Municipality met at the “Project Idea Development Workshop.”

At the workshop hosted by İznik Municipality, BTÜ academicians and municipal managers developed innovative ideas for İznik. The workshop, aimed at an EU project, seeks to find solutions to İznik’s problems while increasing the district’s recognition. Bursa Technical University, which operates under the motto “integrating with the city, producing together with the city,” has rolled up its sleeves this time for the İznik district. In this context, the second “Project Idea Development Workshop,” following the first held with Yıldırım Municipality, was conducted by the BTÜ Project Support Office in collaboration with İznik Municipality. The opening of the workshop organized under the auspices of İznik Municipality was attended by BTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Çağlar, İznik District Governor Arif Karaman, İznik Mayor Kağan Mehmet Usta, BTÜ Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Beyhan Bayhan, Prof. Dr. Sinan Uyanık, and Prof. Dr. Barış Tamer Tonguç, General Secretary Selim Uzun, BTÜ faculty members, and İznik Municipality officials and staff. In his opening speech, BTÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Çağlar stated that the second workshop, following the one held with Yıldırım Municipality, was conducted with İznik Municipality, emphasizing that they act with the responsibility of being the only technical university in Bursa and its surrounding region. He expressed that they are working to be a university focused on social contribution, integrating with the city and reaching out to it.

Rector Çağlar indicated that the workshop would address the city’s problems in terms of social contribution and develop new project ideas, stating, “We place great importance on European Union projects. In this regard, we have made significant progress in national and international projects with the Project Support Office we established at the beginning of 2023. We wish to convert these projects into social contributions. We believe that very strong project ideas will emerge from our workshop today, which we conducted with the participation of 22 academicians and İznik Municipality staff, and that these projects will be implemented.”

İznik Mayor Kağan Mehmet Usta drew attention to the importance of local governments working in cooperation with the universities in their cities, saying, “The ideas for European Union projects in many areas that will activate the potential of our district will greatly contribute to us. The combination of our municipality’s work in environment, urban planning, disaster, culture, and social issues with the scientific support of our university will play a significant role in taking steps to make our district a more livable and smarter city.”

İznik District Governor Arif Karaman also stated, “One day the whole world will certainly notice İznik, which has a deep history and where many civilizations coexist. I hope that the workshop held in this context will help İznik become recognized worldwide, just as it is in Turkey.”

After the opening speeches, Dr. Oya Güler, Assistant Coordinator of the Project Support Office, provided project training. Oya Güler touched on points such as the Erasmus process and project priorities when discussing the scope of the project. After Güler’s presentation, the workshop proceeded.

At the workshop, tables were established for Environment and Green Energy, Post-Disaster Planning Projects, Social and Cultural Projects, Cultural Heritage, and Women – Youth. In these tables, expert academicians, municipal managers, and employees came together to discuss their ideas for developing national and international projects in the fields of social development and innovation. Strategies and cooperation potentials were identified to meet the needs of the local community in these areas. In the upcoming process, it is planned to write projects under the specified headings and apply for European Union grants.