Sustainability at TOGÜ

TOKAT GAZIOSMANPASA UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES

The sustainability strategies included in Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University's institutional policies have been prepared by the TOGÜ Campus Sustainability Coordination Office. The objectives, targets, and actions included in the strategies were determined by our university's Sustainability Coordination Committee, and the data related to the academic studies conducted, the projects carried out, and the physical conditions of our institution were obtained from the relevant administrative and academic units of our university and grouped together. The UN Sustainable Development Goals have been taken as the basis for our university's activities, and the categorization of work and operations related to these goals has been grouped under the headings of settlement and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and education-research

BASIC SETTING AND INFRASTRUCTURE  STRATEGIES

Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University is developing the physical conditions of its campuses by adopting the “green campus” concept in line with its goals of becoming a more environmentally sustainable and livable university. The planning of educational and research structures on our campuses has been carried out taking into account the region's climatic conditions, terrain and soil structure, water resources, and other ecological factors. Since its establishment, our university has prioritized the balance between hard surfaces and green spaces in its settlement planning. For every new building requirement, the building footprint is designed to be minimal, and planning and design strategies that improve the quality of green spaces are implemented. The strategies related to the settlement and infrastructure activities carried out on our campuses are as follows.

• Reducing energy consumption and losses, increasing energy use efficiency,
• Promoting the use of renewable energy sources in existing buildings and prioritizing the use of renewable energy systems in new buildings,
• Increasing efficiency in energy production (generators), transmission, and distribution, reducing energy losses in the electricity production and distribution infrastructure,
• Achieving indoor and outdoor air quality in line with international standards,
• Establishing an effective waste and recycling management system,
• Ensuring land use, water management, and the protection of natural resources,
• Ensuring disaster-resistant construction conditions across all our campuses,
• Improving the quality and quantity of green spaces on our campuses,
• To transform all buildings and recreation areas to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities and special needs,
• To prioritize the concept of “environmental sustainability” in decision-making processes, both technically and socially, within university life and management practices,
• To establish a framework for collaboration with national and international universities on green campuses and to ensure joint action.

Table.1. Setting And Infrastructure Basic Strategies

BASIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

TOGU campuses' sustainable management policies include fundamental objectives such as the conservation of natural resources, their equitable distribution, efficient use, and preparedness for crisis situations. The electricity management strategies at TOGU Taşlıçiftlik Campus incorporate important practices developed to address the demand for efficient electricity consumption in response to the increase in the student-staff population and the number of buildings. These strategies aim to promote the efficient use of electricity consumption and production while ensuring the sustainability of electricity production sources and the security of the campus's electricity consumption and production. TOGU's basic strategies for energy management are categorized under the following headings.

• Awareness and Education: Organizing training and seminar programs for students, staff, and the community to promote the efficient use of electricity consumption across all campuses, conducting awareness campaigns and initiatives.
• Efficient Equipment and Appliance Use: Widely using high-efficiency motors, pumps, sensor-based lighting, LED lighting, and other tools that reduce electricity consumption, prevent waste, and enable more efficient use of electricity.
  
  
• Sustainable Landscape Management: Minimizing electricity consumption in the lighting systems of green areas, vehicle and pedestrian paths on our campus with astronomical time relays and sensor-controlled high-efficiency LED lighting. Selecting high-efficiency groups for irrigation system motors and pump groups to carry out irrigation activities with lower power and higher efficiency.
• Electricity Production Management: Utilizing solar panels on open and roof areas to generate renewable electricity and achieve an environmentally friendly infrastructure.
• Collaboration and Partnerships with Stakeholders: Working closely with distribution companies, retail companies, student communities, academic and administrative staff, local governments, public institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations, and professional associations to raise social awareness by implementing joint projects and activities for sustainable and efficient electricity management.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly review activities related to electricity efficiency, electricity savings, and production, as well as electricity management policies and objectives, and make continuous improvements in this regard with the energy management unit and other stakeholders.

Table.2. Basic Energy Management Strategies

BASIC WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

The basic strategies for waste management at our university are determined by the Zero Waste Management Coordination Office. The objectives of the Coordination Office are: To manage all waste generated as a result of education, teaching, research, production, and service activities in the units of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University; to collect it separately according to its source, type of recycling, and disposal method; to safely store collected waste temporarily, to send it outside the university, to deliver it to environmentally licensed waste treatment facilities, and to ensure the final disposal of waste that cannot be reused, all in a manner consistent with a sustainability approach. In line with these objectives, the coordination office aims to raise awareness among university staff and students about the zero waste project and increase the sustainability of the project through artistic and cultural activities.

Areas of activity of the Coordination Office: Within the scope of the Zero Waste Project, the Coordination Office is responsible for establishing and implementing a zero waste management system in all university campuses and independent buildings, obtaining zero waste certificates, providing necessary training, carrying out activities to prevent and reduce waste generation, and ensuring that waste is collected separately at source according to type for recycling. The principles of the work carried out by the Zero Waste Management Coordination Office on TOGÜ campuses are as follows.

• The management and disposal of waste generated within university boundaries must comply with the provisions of Environmental Law No. 2872 and the regulations issued based on this Law.
• During the separation, collection, transportation, recovery, and disposal of waste, it is essential to use methods and processes that do not pose a risk to water, air, soil, plants, and animals, do not cause discomfort through noise, vibration, and odor, prevent negative impacts on the natural environment, and thus do not harm the environment and human health.
• It is essential that different types of waste are collected separately at source.
• Waste is transported/disposed of by persons, institutions, or organizations that have obtained a transport/disposal license from the Tokat Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. However, waste types other than those required by law to obtain a license may be transported by municipalities.

Strategies for waste sorting and disposal in waste management have been determined by our university's Sustainability Coordination Board with the aim of minimizing the amount of waste produced on our campuses and increasing the amount of recycled waste. All data related to zero waste initiatives and waste management carried out on our campuses are entered into the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change's ECBS system.

Table.3. Basic Waste Management Strategies

WATER MANAGEMENT BASIC STRATEGIES

Water management strategies at TOGU Taslıciftlik Campus include important policies and practices developed to cope with the increasing student and staff population and water demand. These strategies aim to promote the efficient use of water while ensuring the sustainability of water resources and water security on campus. To encourage efficient water use, water conservation and water efficiency strategies include implementing methods such as water recycling and reuse, rainwater harvesting systems, and managing water with smart technologies. Protecting water resources and ensuring water quality are also important parts of water management strategies on campus. TOGU campus water management strategies are based on the following key areas.

• Awareness and Education: Organizing educational programs and seminars for students, staff, and the community to promote water conservation and efficient water use across all campuses, and conducting awareness campaigns and initiatives.
• Use of Water-Efficient Equipment and Appliances: Widely use equipment and appliances that reduce water consumption, prevent waste, and enable more efficient use of water, such as low-flow faucets, water-efficient toilet systems, sensor-activated and pedal-operated faucets, aerators, and smart irrigation systems.
• Sustainable Landscape Management: Watering green areas on campus at the most appropriate times using irrigation systems, planting water-resistant and climate-appropriate plants and trees, and minimizing water consumption by prioritizing irrigation with rainwater and natural spring water.
• Wastewater Management: Having an environmentally friendly infrastructure for the collection and safe discharge of wastewater without mixing it with clean water sources.
• Collaboration and Partnerships with Stakeholders: Working closely with student communities, academic and administrative staff, local governments, public institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations, and professional associations to achieve sustainable and efficient water management, raising social awareness by implementing joint projects and activities.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing activities related to water efficiency and conservation, as well as water management policies and objectives, and making continuous improvements in this context.

Table.4. Basic Water Management Strategies

BASIC STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is provided by public transportation vehicles offered by local authorities in the University's Central Taslıciftlik Campus and campuses located in the districts. With approximately 30,000 students and 3,500 staff members, the university plans to collaborate with stakeholders to improve public transportation options and integrate alternative transportation methods into its campuses. Plans include creating safe bicycle lanes to encourage bicycle use on campuses, installing electric vehicle charging stations, facilitating access to public transportation, and encouraging the reduction of private vehicle use. This will provide users with new and environmentally friendly alternatives for both transportation to and within campuses. The benefits that can be achieved by implementing these policies are listed below.

• Reduction of carbon emissions: Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions will be significantly reduced with the decrease in private vehicle use.
• Reduction of traffic congestion: Traffic congestion will decrease within campuses and in transportation to campuses, making transportation easier.
• Healthy living: The health of students and staff will improve with the increase in physical activities such as walking and cycling.
• Development of public transportation systems: More efficient use and development of public transportation systems will make travel from city centers to campuses more convenient for users.
• Economic gains: Improving public transportation options and using sustainable alternatives such as bicycles and electric scooters will save fuel.

Table.4. Basic Sustainable Transportation Strategies

BASIC STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University's sustainability policies are addressed within a broad framework that also encompasses the fields of education and research. Based on the university's general sustainability principles, TOGÜ's sustainability policies in the fields of education and research can be summarized as follows:

Sustainability in Education:

• Curriculum Integration: TOGÜ has added many course contents that include sustainability criteria and goals to its associate degree, undergraduate, and graduate education programs with the aim of integrating sustainability concepts into its curriculum. These course contents cover topics such as environmental awareness, sustainable development, renewable energy, and waste management, detailing the concept of sustainability. The university administration's goal is to enrich the course contents related to sustainability in the short term.
• Elective Courses and Programs: Offering elective courses, minor programs, and graduate programs that enable students to specialize in sustainability is among the goals of the university's departments and divisions. These programs aim to provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills in sustainability issues.
• Applied Education: TOGÜ attaches importance to applied education so that students can put their theoretical knowledge into practice. In this context, trainings such as field studies, laboratory applications, internships, and community projects are organized, and the quality and quantity of education are targeted to increase.
• Awareness Raising: TOGÜ organizes various events to raise awareness of sustainability issues among students and staff. These events include seminars, conferences, workshops, and campaigns.
• Green Campus Practices: TOGÜ also implements sustainability practices on campus. These practices include activities such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and recycling.

Sustainability in Research:

• Sustainability-Focused Research Projects: TOGU supports research projects with a sustainability theme and allocates resources to these projects. These projects aim to find solutions to environmental problems, develop sustainable technologies, and benefit society. One of the university's most important goals is to ensure that projects, especially those carried out within the scope of Scientific Purpose Projects (SPP) and the Technopark established within the university, are consistent with the sustainability approach.
• Interdisciplinary Collaborations: Researchers from different disciplines are encouraged to come together in the education and research activities carried out at the university to produce solutions to sustainability issues with a multidisciplinary approach.
• Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination: TOGU disseminates its research findings in the field of sustainability through publications, conferences, and seminars, ensuring sharing through events involving local community participation.
• Application-Oriented Research: The university's management philosophy supports and aims to increase application-oriented research that produces practical solutions to sustainability problems and provides direct benefits to society.

Table.6. Basic Education and Research Strategies