QUALITY
Activities for Increasing Accessibility
Thanks to the efforts carried out to ensure that physical spaces comply with accessibility standards and to enable the full participation of individuals with disabilities in campus life, our university was entitled to receive the Physical Accessibility Award (Orange Flag) in 2020 within the scope of the “Accessible University Awards” organized by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK).
Maintaining its determination in the same field, it once again received the Physical Accessibility Award in 2024. In addition, by being granted the Accessibility in Socio-Cultural Activities Award (Blue Flag), the university crowned its holistic approach and best practices in accessibility.
Link to Evidence of Flag Awards
Comprehensive arrangements have been made in the physical infrastructure to ensure the full and equal participation of students with disabilities in campus life. Within this scope, basic infrastructure elements such as ramps, disabled elevators, and accessible toilets have been reorganized; physical accessibility mapping was carried out in all buildings, and identified deficiencies were resolved. Moreover, student living areas, cafeterias, libraries, laboratories, and campus walkways have been made accessible, thereby creating a barrier-free physical environment throughout the university.
On the other hand, Çağ University has taken important steps within the framework of quality assurance criteria and activities for disadvantaged groups. Various academic units of the university have made applications based on the principles of accessibility, inclusiveness, and equality.
Within this scope:
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School of Foreign Languages
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Vocational School
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Faculty of Arts and Sciences
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Faculty of Law
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Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
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Institute of Social Sciences
have applied for the Orange Flag Award.
In addition, the Departments of Turkish Language and Literature and Psychology within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Social Services and Child Development Programs within the Vocational School, have applied for the Accessible Emblem Program to increase equal opportunities in access for disadvantaged groups.
These applications demonstrate Çağ University’s inclusive approach toward disadvantaged groups, its egalitarian policies in education, and its commitment to the quality assurance system.
Course Materials and Digital Access: To ensure equal access to courses for visually or hearing-impaired students, course materials are provided in digital and adaptable formats. Within this scope, content is prepared in accessible formats such as screen-reader-compatible texts, and accessible versions are delivered to students either alongside or instead of standard formats such as PDF.
Disability Counseling: To provide one-on-one support for students with disabilities in all academic processes, a Disability Counseling Mechanism (Disability Student Unit Representatives) has been established. This mechanism systematically provides guidance for students in course selection, exam accommodations, access to academic materials, and other educational processes. Thus, close communication is established with disadvantaged students, and support is provided for their activities. Representatives have been appointed in academic units to maintain communication with disadvantaged students and receive their feedback and suggestions.
Disability Student Counseling Link
Accessible Access Room: Located on the ground floor and specially designed for orthopedically and visually impaired individuals, the Accessible Access Room includes three computers equipped with JAWS software, a Braille keyboard, and a book reading device. This device can read any printed material (book, magazine, newspaper, bill, etc.) — whether colored or black-and-white — aloud within 5 seconds.
Braille Library: A special collection of 107 sources prepared in Braille alphabet is available for use by visually impaired individuals.
GETEM Database Subscription: A subscription is provided to the Visually Impaired Technology and Education Laboratory (GETEM) database, which contains 29,719 audiobooks, electronic audio descriptions, and other accessible resources for visually impaired individuals.
Building Areas and Physical Arrangements: University buildings are designed to accommodate visually, orthopedically, and hearing-impaired individuals. Within this scope:
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Elevator access has been arranged in accordance with IFLA standards.
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An accessible restroom is available on the 3rd floor of the library.
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Tactile walking paths (yellow bands) for the visually impaired have been implemented.
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Handrails for the disabled are available at building entrances.
Digital Resource Access: Both on and off campus, 24/7 access is provided to the university’s databases and e-book collections.
On-Campus Audio Navigation Application: An audio-guided navigation system is used to enable visually impaired individuals to move independently within the campus.