Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) student clubs have garnered attention through their achievements in the University Student Clubs Collaboration and Support Program (UNİDES), organized by the General Directorate of Youth Services under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Aimed at promoting the effective use of youth centers and offices in areas with a high youth population, the program supports university clubs in developing sustainable projects for youth engagement.

To date, OMU has received support for 21 projects across four UNİDES calls. The university contributed 2 projects in the first round, 4 in the second, 7 in the third, and 8 in the fourth. Of these, 8 were carried out at the national level and 13 at the local level.

Environmental Club Sets a National Example

OMU’s Environmental Club has stood out with its nationally recognized projects under the UNİDES program. The club’s initiatives titled “Campus to Campus Climate Action,” “Waste 360: Reclaim & Transform,” and “Raise Your Voice for the Environment” received national-level funding across three different calls.

The club implemented its projects through a wide network of institutional partnerships, collaborating with the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, OMU Environmental Problems Research and Application Center (ÇEVSAM), the Department of Environmental Engineering, and environmental clubs from other universities. These collaborations strengthened the institutional impact of their work.

Club advisor Prof. Dr. Nurdan Gamze Turan noted that the supported projects contribute significantly to OMU’s “green and sustainable campus” vision and reinforce the university’s performance in the GreenMetric rankings. She also emphasized that national recognition of these projects greatly enhances OMU’s visibility and promotes environmental awareness.

About the UNİDES Program

The University Student Clubs Collaboration and Support Program (UNİDES) was launched to support the development of student clubs in universities, encourage inter-club collaboration, and provide stronger backing for student initiatives. By offering resources and training to student clubs, UNİDES enables students to develop academically and socially.

The program aims to support student clubs’ original projects and create a more sustainable and interactive environment within the university ecosystem. In this context, it provides financial support to help student clubs expand their outreach and develop community-beneficial projects.