The Social Contribution Sub-Working Group, operating under the Departmental Quality Commission of the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Aksaray University, convened to evaluate the department’s social contribution activities within the framework of quality assurance and to plan initiatives aimed at their improvement. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Cihat YILDIRIM, Head of the Social Contribution Sub-Working Group, and attended by Prof. Dr. Turan AÇIK, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selim Serkan ÜKTEN, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman OKUMUŞ, and Res. Asst. Dr. Bahar KAYMAZ, Member and Rapporteur of the Sub-Working Group.
The discussions focused on sharing the Department of History’s academic knowledge and expertise with society, supporting activities aimed at enhancing historical awareness, and increasing the department’s potential for social contribution. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of implementing a systematic approach to the planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of social contribution activities. Furthermore, views were exchanged on aligning the department’s social contribution activities with societal needs at local and national levels, developing opportunities for cooperation with relevant stakeholders, and evaluating activities in line with their intended objectives. Monitoring social contribution activities through measurable indicators, documenting the results obtained, and utilizing evaluation findings to inform improvement processes were also addressed as fundamental elements of the quality assurance approach. The activities are expected to contribute to enhancing the quality of the Department of History’s social contribution initiatives, strengthening university–society interaction, and fostering a quality assurance culture within the department. The Department of History at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Aksaray University continues its efforts to share its academic knowledge and expertise with society in line with its sense of social responsibility and to develop its social contribution activities through a participatory, systematic, and sustainable quality assurance approach.
