Within the scope of the European Union Project No. NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2022/440/790 "EU Scholarships for Perspective Students (ESPS)," coordinated by Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, in which our University is a partner, a "Student Workshop on Identifying Barriers to Social Cohesion" and a "Social Cohesion: Problems and Solution Proposals Panel" were held on May 8–9, 2025. The workshop, attended by our University's Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk, HBV Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Orbay, HBV Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences faculty member and Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Celal TaÅŸdoÄŸan, and our University's Faculty of Fisheries Dean and Project Regional Coordinator Prof. Dr. Mehmet Tahir Alp, addressed the barriers to social cohesion in a multidimensional manner with the active contributions of ESPS project advisor academics and students, and solution proposals were developed. 

   On Thursday, May 8, a "Student Workshop on Identifying Barriers to Social Cohesion" was organized at "GiriÅŸim Limanı" (Enterprise Port) located at Mersin University Young Entrepreneur Research and Application Center, with the participation of 33 students under international protection and temporary protection status. During the workshop, students had the opportunity to share the problems and experiences they face in academic, social, and cultural adaptation processes.

The participating students, in groups formed with mentor academics, shared assessments on various topics including adaptation to university life, language barriers, psychosocial support needs, cultural identity, factors affecting academic success, and the contributions of scholarship programs. Serving as mentors were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Özbay, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmail Akçay, Res. Asst. Dr. Ali Ammar Kurt, Res. Asst. Dr. Mehmet Kara, Res. Asst. Murat Genç, Res. Asst. Rükneddin Halil Yamaç, Res. Asst. Muhammed Erkam Doğru, Res. Asst. Hatice Özmüş, and Res. Asst. Makbule Merve Akgöz.

    On Friday, May 9, the "Social Cohesion: Problems and Solution Proposals Panel" was organized under the moderation of Asst. Prof. Dr. Serra Sevde HatipoÄŸlu. The panel featured speakers including Clinical Psychologist Seda SunguroÄŸlu from the Directorate General of Migration Management, Representative Ercan Gön from the Turkish Employment Agency Mersin Provincial Directorate, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ä°rep KıroÄŸlu Bayat from Mersin University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Lecturer Dr. Kandemir Atçeken. The panel discussed public and university policies for strengthening social cohesion and the effectiveness of student support services.

    Following the panel, a Tarsus city tour was organized with the participation of 33 students under international protection and temporary protection status. During the tour, accompanied by ESPS Regional Coordinator Prof. Dr. M. Tahir Alp and mentor academics Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Özbay, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ä°smail Akçay, and Res. Asst. Hatice Özmüş, students visited the Kırkkaşık Bedesten (allocated to female artisans), the Tarsus Museum, and the St. Paul's Well archaeological site. The tour, which offered cultural exploration and socialization opportunities, concluded with an enjoyable lunch and return to Mersin.

    These events provided significant gains in supporting students' individual and social adaptation processes.