Organized within the student-centered structure of Collegium Dentalis, an initiative of the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Presentation Competition concluded with impactful presentations showcasing projects shaped by student-driven social responsibility and field engagement.

Strengthened by Academic Participation and Support

The event was attended and supported by our Faculty Vice Deans Prof. Dr. Sevcan Kurtulmuş Yılmaz and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özay Önöral, Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Fügen Dağlı Cömert, and esteemed faculty members.

Projects were evaluated by a jury composed of members of the University Quality and Accreditation Coordination Board: Prof. Dr. Fezile Özdamlı, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Arıkan Sarıoğlu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nabi Berkut, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Oshan Uluşan.

Each collegium selected one Sustainable Development Goal and developed field-based social responsibility projects accordingly. The evaluation process was based on a rubric-based scoring system developed by the Faculty of Dentistry. Each project was assessed under seven criteria: project impact, SDG alignment, creativity, implementation, content quality, community involvement, and presentation skills—emphasizing measurable and sustainable impact.

Collegium Projects and Presenters

Auris – SDG 5: Gender Equality

Presented by: Berkay Hamurcu & Şeyda Nur Bursa
The Auris team implemented a three-stage awareness-raising project:

• Distributed brochures and conducted brief awareness activities across campus to increase visibility on gender equality.
• Conducted a field visit to Near East College, encouraging female students to consider STEM career paths.
• Shared health-based messages focused on equality with families during pediatric appointments at the Pedodontics Clinic.

The team expressed their intention to establish a student club to sustain and expand the impact of their project.

Nova – SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Presented by: Hüseyin Emre Bölücek
Nova adopted a public health–oriented approach focusing on raising awareness about Hepatitis B:

• Researched national vaccination systems in TRNC and Türkiye to identify accessibility factors.
• Conducted a campus-wide awareness survey to assess students’ knowledge levels.
• Designed an informative poster based on survey findings and disseminated it both digitally and in print.

The team plans to extend similar awareness efforts to cover other vaccination-related public health topics in the future.

Zenith – SDG 15: Life on Land

Presented by: Ahmet Kayhan & Ege Erdoğan
Zenith centered their efforts on environmental awareness:

• Conducted a waste collection activity around the Near East Pond.
• Designed and distributed eco-conscious brochures on campus.
• Announced their next step: a beach cleanup campaign at Alagadi Beach, aimed at expanding their environmental outreach.

Zenith’s project delivered strong messages about the importance of living in harmony with nature.

Orion – SDG 4: Quality Education

Presented by: Büşra Elbüken & Faisal Batal
Selected as the winning team, Orion adopted a comprehensive and inclusive approach to equitable access to education:

• Visited a Special Education Center and provided oral health training using educational materials tailored for children with special needs.
• Carried out informative sessions on oral and prosthesis hygiene at a nursing home, engaging elderly individuals in interactive discussions.
• Future initiatives include STEM workshops for refugee children, a “digital sibling” mentorship platform, and mobile libraries for disadvantaged students.

Working Together for a More Sustainable Future

The event was praised as an opportunity for students to not only apply their academic knowledge but also strengthen their social responsibility, project management, community awareness, and teamwork skills. Jury members highlighted both the quality and applicability of the projects.

Organized under the Collegium Dentalis system, this event continues to foster sustainability awareness and contribute to the holistic development of dentistry students at Near East University.