Professor Dr. Emin Kasap, a candidate for the Rectorship of Samsun University, emphasized the necessity of establishing unbreakable links between the academic environment and Samsun’s urban potential to achieve sustainable development during a strategic meeting with civil society leaders.
Strategic Meeting with Samsun Civil Society
On the eve of management changes in the Black Sea region's universities, Professor Dr. Emin Kasap, a faculty member at Ondokuz Mayıs University and a serious candidate for the Rectorship of Samsun University, has intensified his activities to explain his new visions. On July 13, 2026, he visited the Samsun branch of the İlim Yayma Cemiyeti (Knowledge Spreading Society) and met with its head, Adnan İpekdal [1].
During this meeting, which focused on the university's role in the city's future, Professor Kasap emphasized that the university should not be an isolated island from society. He stated: "We will establish powerful bonds between the city and the university so that the knowledge produced in classrooms directly serves to solve the concrete problems of citizens and local industries."
Focus on Educational Quality and Local Cooperation
In outlining his plans, Kasap identified improving educational quality and strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation as the two main pillars of transformation at Samsun University. He believes that Samsun's economic potential, including the industrial and commercial sectors, requires more precise scientific support. According to recent economic analyses, despite a 21.8% growth in Gross Domestic Product, Samsun still faces structural challenges in maintaining its national standing [2].
Referring to these challenges, Professor Kasap promised that, if appointed, he would create new mechanisms for student internships in local industries and define joint Research and Development (R&D) projects with chambers of commerce. This approach had previously been discussed in strategic collaborations between the university and the Samsun Industrialists' Association (SAMSİAD) and is now proposed as an executive priority [3].
The University as a Driving Force for Urban Development
One of the highlights of Kasap's speech was utilizing the capacity of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a bridge between the people and the university. Adnan İpekdal also supported Professor Kasap's approach during the meeting, emphasizing that the link between urban dynamics and academic expertise could turn Samsun into an innovation hub in northern Turkey [1].
This vision includes developing university campuses in a way that their cultural and scientific spaces are accessible to all citizens, making the university the center of gravity for social events and urban problem-solving. It is expected that with the finalization of the rector appointment process in the coming days, practical steps will be taken to realize these slogans.
Professor Dr. Emin Kasap emphasized bilateral cooperation during a meeting with the head of the Samsun İlim Yayma Cemiyeti.
linkSources
- Şehir İle Üniversite Arasında Güçlü Bağlar Kuracağız! — Akasyam Haber (2026-07-13)
- Samsun Ekonomisinin Swot Analizi — Akasyam Haber (2026-07-14)
- Samsun Üniversitesi SAMSİAD ile stratejik ortaklık yapacak — Samsun Kent Haber (2026-02-06)
