A program titled "The Journey of Women in Academia: Experiences, Problems and Solution Suggestions" was organized at Erzurum Technical University (ETÜ) on the occasion of March 8, International Women's Day.

ETÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Çakmak and his wife Behtiye Çakmak, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ceren Sultan Elmalı, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Elanur Yılmaz Karabulutlu, EKAUM Director Assoc. Dr. Bahtinur Möngü and female staff working at ETÜ attended the program organized under the leadership of ETÜ Women and Family Studies Application and Research Center (EKAUM) to talk about the problems of women in the academy and evaluate their role in social change.

Behtiye Çakmak, who made the opening speech of the program held at the Life Center, touched upon the meaning and importance of March 8 International Women's Day and said: “Today is evaluated under the headings of civil awareness day, anti-sexism day, anti-discrimination day and women's day. I expected a day with such beautiful and inclusive content to include the entire world geography. Unfortunately, human rights and freedoms are restricted in the oppressed regions of the world, especially in Palestine and East Turkestan. People are being killed or left to die. In the journey of life that God has given us for a while, we walk on the paths we choose based on our wishes, desires, abilities and efforts. Every person and every situation we encounter on this path, whether good or bad, is a gain for us. It is in our hands to develop and beautify this road. Today, there are valuable speakers here who undertake various duties in the academy. They will share their experiences, problems and suggestions with us. We will listen to them with pleasure and gain from what they say. "I wish you all a lifetime of success," she said.

Speaking at the program, Rector Çakmak drew attention to the incidents of violence in the world and said: “I would like to start my speech with the statements of an employee of the Women's Solidarity and Democracy Association (KADEM) who drew my attention. “We come from the first tradition that believes that men and women are two equal halves of a whole. As members of a religion that adopts justice between genders as its motto, we believe that men and women will develop the earth together in mutual justice and equity, and we strive for this. These words can be the summary of the day. As you know, human beings are the most honorable being created by the creator. Ultimately, we are responsible for developing this world together as men and women. Because men and women have equal rights. A society in which women are not taken into account will be deprived of half of the mind. This situation is the biggest obstacle to social development and progress. It is very valuable for men and women to build this society together and for each of them to contribute to the extent of their own responsibilities and abilities in the construction process. "On this occasion, I congratulate March 8 International Women's Day.

In the program that continued after the opening speeches, issues such as gender, the place of women in decision-making mechanisms, being a female academician, being a woman in administrative life and being a woman in the service sector were discussed.

At the end of the program, sapling certificates prepared for the Women's Grove, which will be established at ETÜ Campus in memory of the day, were presented to the staff.  

Corporate Communications and Promotion Directorate 04.03.2024