Altınbaş University Dean of Students Dr. Duygu Kotan Türkden: “Volunteering starts with contributing to your city”
Altınbaş University Dean of Students Dr. Faculty Member Duygu Kotan Türkden emphasized that education in the modern world should go beyond the boundaries of the classroom and screen in her statements on volunteering and social responsibility.
In today's world, trying to fit education into classrooms or screens and compressing theoretical knowledge is insufficient to grasp the spirit of social responsibility and volunteerism. Experts agree that volunteering and cooperation will remain just a few memorized words unless they are put into action. Altınbaş University Dean of Students Dr. Faculty Member Duygu Kotan Türkden emphasized that education in the modern world should go beyond the boundaries of classrooms and screens in her statements on volunteerism and social responsibility. Prof. Dr. Duygu Kotan Türkden drew attention to the opportunities brought by digitalization as well as the limitations it creates and said, “Thinking that we reach the whole world from behind the screens actually imprisons us in a small world.”
Brain Rot and the importance of socialization
Referring to the concept of “brain rot”, which came to the agenda with the research conducted by Oxford University in late 2024, Dr. Duygu Kotan Türkden drew attention to the need to improve the emotional intelligence and socialization competencies of young people and children. “Compressing education to theoretical knowledge is one of the biggest obstacles, especially for Generation Z. However, it is of great importance for students to get involved in real life and socialize, especially in this period when the pandemic and digitalization are accelerating. The city and the world we live in is a great school for learning.”
They collected garbage and distributed food
Kotan Türkden stated that they have been encouraging their students to volunteer and social responsibility projects at their universities for the last three years, and talked about the peer coaching program launched in this process. She stated that students who are new to the university adapt with the support of volunteers from upperclassmen. Kotan Türkden also said that within the scope of the “Social Responsibility and Volunteering” courses, students have the opportunity to take responsibility in real life. “They take part in many activities from garbage collection to food distribution, from children's workshops to health screenings. After the courses are over, they continue these activities through student clubs. We believe that these efforts will leave a lasting mark on the lives of our students.”
“We pioneered volunteering at the Istanbul Marathon with 220 students”
At the 46th Istanbul Marathon of Türkiye İş Bankası, 220 students from Altınbaş University took part as volunteers. Prof. Dr. Kotan Türkden pointed out that the students, who served at the water stations throughout the event, were the largest volunteer student group of the marathon. Kotan Türkden stated that this effort of the students was crowned with the “largest volunteer student group” award by Spor Istanbul. “This award proved once again how strong our university's vision of redefining education with an understanding that touches life is,” he said.
“Volunteering is the key to touching life”
Prof. Dr. Faculty Member Duygu Kotan Türkden concluded her statements with the following words: “Doing good and contributing to our environment is not only taught in the classroom; it needs to be experienced and lived. Volunteering enables our students to touch life and understand their social responsibilities. Individuals who do not internalize this understanding will continue to see goodness only as a popular concept.”