MyKHAS

University Diversity Officer

KHAS Barrier-Free / Persons with Disabilities Commission

The KHAS Barrier-Free / Persons with Disabilities Commission aims to make university life more accessible, particularly for students with disabilities, by removing the barriers that members of the KHAS community may encounter on campus. Students are encouraged to share the challenges they face and request support by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

The Commission conducts an annual survey to gather the views of students with disabilities, and annual improvements are planned in line with the survey results. The studies included in the report prepared by the KHAS Barrier-Free / Persons with Disabilities Commission for the 2024–2025 academic year to be submitted to the Council of Higher Education are shared below.

Kadir Has University – Accessible KHAS Commission Meeting Summary

Attendees:
Mitat Çelikpala, Aslı Aktan Erciyes, Aslı Çarkoğlu, Muhammet Sevinç, Aslı Aktaş

Agenda Items:

Discussion on support measures for students diagnosed with ADHD, particularly regarding challenges faced during exams.
Evaluation of a graduate student’s request (H. S.) to attend courses online instead of in person.
Consideration of improvement actions to be implemented within the framework of “Accessible KHAS” for 2025.

Decisions Taken:

It was agreed to recommend that students officially diagnosed with ADHD be granted up to 30% additional time during midterm and final exams, taking into account their individual needs. The same supportive approach should apply to practical exams and project evaluations. The final decision for each student should be evaluated by the relevant department’s administrative board.
- The Commission will prepare a guideline to provide additional administrative support for instructors who approve extra exam time under this recommendation.
The request of graduate student H. S. for online course participation instead of attending in person was evaluated. It was determined that the issue does not fall under the Commission’s scope and should be referred to the relevant administrative units.
To identify the challenges faced by students with disabilities in areas such as accessibility, academic support, physical conditions, and social participation, the Commission decided to conduct a survey. The draft survey attached to the meeting notes was approved unanimously.

Commission Initiatives

Within the scope of the KHAS Barrier-Free / Persons with Disabilities Commission, the activities carried out and continued during the 2023–2024 academic year are listed below:

Construction of railings in the C Block lecture theatre garden for emergency outdoor access was completed.
Directional and informational signs, as well as tactile/guiding surfaces, were completed in the A Block basement lecture theatre and garden laboratories corridor for visually impaired users.
All signboards in the A Block basement lecture theatres and garden laboratories were converted into Braille-compatible formats.
A study was carried out to align the university website with WCAG 2.1 web accessibility standards and to make content more accessible for students with special needs and the wider public.
During the pandemic period, all printed resources requested by students from the Library Directorate were sent to them by post free of charge, ensuring barrier-free access to printed resources.

Non-discriminatory Admissions Policy

Kadir Has University is a foundation university that complies with Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye, which guarantees equality before the law without discrimination on the basis of language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, sect, or similar grounds. The University also complies with the rules and regulations of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in all of its procedures. In addition, KHAS abides by the National Student Selection and Placement Centre Regulations, which guarantee reliability, confidentiality, impartiality, and equal opportunity for all.

Kadir Has University’s Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination and the KHAS Barrier-Free / Persons with Disabilities Commission

At Kadir Has University, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which non-discrimination is a core principle. The University implements various practices to ensure equal access to resources and opportunities for all members of the community, regardless of individual needs.

At our Library Directorate, we offer equal and unrestricted services to everyone. For instance, a doctoral student in the field of law who is visually impaired receives full support through the digitization of books and research materials. Assistive technologies such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition) are used to convert printed resources into accessible digital formats, enabling seamless access for visually impaired users.

At our language school, ramps and elevators have been installed to accommodate physically disabled students, ensuring that their classes are held on the first floor. For students with hearing impairments, exams are tailored according to medical reports. If a student requires auditory accommodations, such as the use of headphones or a specific voice, these needs are addressed. In cases where individual assistance is necessary, personalized support is arranged during exams. Writing assistance is also provided for students facing challenges with written communication.

Our commitment to inclusion extends to adapting academic schedules when needed. For example, the semester schedule of a student requiring afternoon physical therapy was adjusted so that their classes were held in the mornings, while classmates’ schedules remained unchanged to avoid disruption.

Through these practices, we continually strive to create an equitable and supportive academic environment where all students can thrive, regardless of their unique circumstances.

The Accessible KHAS Commission

The Accessible KHAS Commission aims to eliminate the obstacles that students may encounter on campus, with a particular focus on making life easier for students with disabilities.

Members of the Accessible KHAS Commission:

Prof. Dr. Mitat ÇELİKPALA, Vice-Rector for Education
Prof. Dr. Aslı ÇARKOĞLU, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı AKTAN ERCİYES, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences
Aslı Ceylan BEBEK
Muhammet SEVİNÇ, Manager of Construction and Technical Affairs
Ceren Nurdan DİRİKOL, Student Representative

Disabled Students / Disadvantaged Groups

Work related to students with disabilities and disadvantaged groups is monitored by both the Dean of Students and the Academic Council.

The Dean of Students

The Dean of Students was established in 2023 to coordinate all processes directly concerning students, including their academic, social, and professional development. The Dean of Students supports students’ well-being and academic success throughout their university experience.

Administrative Units Affiliated with the Dean of Students:

Psychological Counselling and Guidance Office
Career Office
Erasmus and Exchange Office

The Dean of Students conducts an annual feedback survey for disadvantaged students. The results are evaluated by the Academic Council, and improvement plans are prepared accordingly.

The Kadir Has University Academic Council also plays a significant role in shaping the future of the University. Meeting twice a month, the Council works to ensure that education, research, and community outreach efforts remain aligned with the University’s vision of becoming a globally recognized research institution. Beyond performance metrics, it also focuses on creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all.

The Academic Council monitors and reviews training programs related to human rights, diversity, inclusion, and issues concerning disadvantaged groups. As one of the University’s senior management and oversight bodies, the Academic Council serves as a governing entity for matters related to human rights, disadvantaged groups, equality, and anti-discrimination. It also follows mentoring, peer support, and counselling services for underrepresented and minority members of the KHAS community.

At its core, the Academic Council is committed to building a university where every individual feels valued and where equality and anti-discrimination efforts are not merely policies but lived experiences.

The Barrier-Free KHAS Commission, established to ensure that the services and facilities offered at the University are accessible to all students, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, also carries out the necessary work under the Dean of Students. The Commission continues its efforts to create a barrier-free campus within the scope of its Directive.

The Library Directorate also provides individual support to disadvantaged groups upon request. Activities carried out in 2024 by the Library Directorate include:

Providing and maintaining infrastructure accessible only to the relevant student and digitizing textbooks, within the limits of copyright law, in order to provide visually impaired students with access to course resources.
Continuing support to ensure that disadvantaged students can access printed library resources through cargo delivery and return services.

Accommodations for students with disabilities are provided in accordance with their individual needs. Disability Accommodation Policy

The Disability Rights Conference-I, organized through the collaboration of the Kadir Has University Faculty of Law and the Istanbul Bar Association’s Disability Rights Center, took place on 13 August 2024 at the Cibali Campus. This event reflects Kadir Has University’s ongoing commitment to promoting the rights and inclusion of underrepresented groups, especially individuals with disabilities.

The conference featured leading experts in disability rights and included three focused sessions addressing accessibility in public services, legal capacity, guardianship issues, and the right to family life for individuals with disabilities. These topics were selected to highlight the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in Türkiye and to propose actionable solutions.

At Kadir Has University, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where the rights and voices of all individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, are valued and supported.

Directorate of Education Policies and Review

The report on the opinions of students with disabilities prepared by the Directorate of Education Policies and Review was shared with the relevant units of the University. This report was prepared to support planning for disabled members of the University and to identify areas for improvement.

KHAS Barrier-Free / Persons with Disabilities Students Views Report

Health Support Units

Healthcare Services

At the Health Unit located on the Cibali Campus, emergency and urgent treatment, as well as outpatient medical services, are provided for students and academic and administrative staff. The University is also in contact with fully equipped hospitals near the campuses, and referrals are made when necessary for further examination and treatment.

Kadir Has Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center

The Kadir Has University Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center is a sub-unit supporting students through counselling services. By placing student needs at the center, it aims to provide preventive and, when necessary, intervention-oriented mental health services in a safe and multicultural environment.

In this context, the Center held the “Mental Health Literacy” seminar for KHAS academics on 21 November 2024.

Topics covered in the seminar included:

Developing a deeper understanding of specific student behaviours and adopting an empathic, solution-oriented approach
Awareness of students’ developmental characteristics
Skills to cope with difficult emotions
Practising self-compassion
Crisis management and coping in crisis situations
Understanding the changing needs of students

KHAS Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center (KHAS-PDRM) enables students to recognize and effectively use their mental, emotional, and social potential and the resources around them. In addition, preventive studies are carried out for the problems that may arise during the educational process.

Principles

Competence: All counsellors and psychologists work within the scope of their education and competencies. When they encounter a situation beyond their limits, they are responsible for seeking support through scientific, professional, and technical resources and for further developing their expertise.

Honesty: Psychological counsellors and psychologists adhere to the principles of honesty, accuracy, and transparency in the counselling process. They make accurate statements regarding their qualifications and remain aware of their limitations.

Being sensitive and respectful: Psychological counsellors and psychologists are sensitive to individual rights and freedoms and act impartially while helping clients recognize their interests, abilities, and values.

Sensitivity to individual and cultural differences: Psychological counsellors and psychologists are aware of the needs and problems of different segments of society and seek to tailor their methods accordingly. Individual and cultural differences such as age, gender, religion, language, race, socioeconomic status, group or cultural membership, sexual orientation, and marital status do not adversely affect the service provided.

Confidentiality: Interviews are conducted in accordance with ethical and professional principles. The principle of privacy is fully respected. Conversations are not shared with others without permission, except in cases where someone’s life is in danger. Even in such cases, the individual is informed before information is shared. In some cases, students are also responsible for protecting confidentiality, such as in group counselling settings.

Contact
Burak TUNA, Specialist
Büşra Nur Ceylan, Specialist

Gender and Women’s Studies Research Center

Mission, Values and Vision Statement

The Gender and Women’s Studies Research Center at Kadir Has University aims to establish an intellectual hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and institutional transformation focused on gender equality. It seeks to critically re-examine discussions of equality and gender with an inclusive understanding that extends beyond binary definitions and includes LGBTI+ individuals.

The Center defines feminism as a social movement that seeks to end sexist and gender-based oppression and works toward systemic and sustainable change.

Mission

To educate and produce research for academic communities and the public, primarily but not exclusively in Türkiye, with the aim of contributing to the end of sexism and gender-based oppression.

Values

People orientation: The Center prioritizes people and acknowledges each individual in their full identity.
Communication: The Center values open, consultative, and active-listening-based communication.
Respect: The Center is a respectful and collaborative space that values differences in a non-hierarchical way.
Democracy: The Center strives to make decisions through democratic means.

Vision

Producing high-quality, scientifically driven research
Organizing gender equality plans and activities
Initiating active collaboration with the University through campaigns and workshops
Networking with other institutions
Organizing and attending seminars
Creating awareness campaigns
Contributing to diversity
Improving reputation management through communication and branding
Working on masculinity issues and engaging men in gender equality efforts

^{[1] This statement is heavily inspired by bell hooks, Feminism Theory: From Margin to Center, New York: South End Press, 2000.}

Social Responsibility Projects to Reduce Inequalities

Kadir Has University students produce social responsibility projects to support disadvantaged groups within the core programme. The core programme is compulsory for all first-year students. The social responsibility courses (KHAS 110 and KHAS 120) and the projects carried out within the scope of these courses are therefore not elective but mandatory.

More information is available on the social responsibility projects page.

KHAS Mentor-Mentee Program

The Kadir Has University Mentor-Mentee Program offers KHAS students the opportunity to learn from the experiences of alumni who are professionals in business life. Through the organization of the Career Office, successful female graduates are matched with KHAS students studying in the same semester, and mentoring meetings are held.

Within the scope of the program, mentors answer students’ questions about their departments, provide sectoral insight, and inspire them in relation to their professions. Female mentors particularly guide young female students by sharing their own experiences related to both student life and professional life.

Before the program begins, the Career Office organizes online training sessions for both mentors and mentees. Information regarding the initiation and implementation of the programme is announced annually by the Career Office.

In 2023, 27 female mentors and 44 female mentees participated in the program, supporting a total of 68 female students.

In 2024, 36 female mentors and 40 female mentees participated in the program, resulting in support and guidance for a total of 84 young women. This mentorship initiative is a cornerstone of the Women’s Access Scheme at Kadir Has University, helping young women gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need in their careers.

KHAS Buddy Program

The KHAS Buddy Program, organized by the University’s Directorate of Education Policies and Review, aims to facilitate the adaptation process of students beginning preparatory education or the first year at the University.

Within the scope of the program, students who are knowledgeable about the University, academically successful, and strong in communication act as both mentors and first friends to incoming students. Working under the titles “Superbuddy” and “Buddy,” these students share their experiences and offer practical support.

Main responsibilities of students participating in the KHAS Buddy Program include:

Contacting each new student on the list and, with their consent, creating a communication group
Maintaining regular communication with the group and responding quickly to questions
Organizing meetings to introduce new students to their departments, faculties, and social spaces
Inviting new students to Orientation Days and providing information about the event
Providing information about relevant administrative units, such as the Directorate of Student Affairs, International Office, Erasmus and Exchange Office, Career Office, and Directorate of Financial Affairs