The 5th Community Research and Development Symposium, jointly organized by the Near East University Center of Excellence and Girne University, was held on 19–20 November 2025 at Girne University. Chaired by Prof. Dr. Zehra Altınay, Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay, Prof. Dr. Gökmen Dağlı, and Prof. Dr. Umut Akçıl, the symposium brought together international speakers, academics, civil society representatives, and stakeholders to explore key issues related to community development within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event opened on 19 November with keynote presentations by Prof. Dr. Murat Özgören (Near East University) and Prof. Dr. Anna CohenMiller (Nordic University). The program continued with the Service Quality Workshop, moderated by Prof. Dr. Adile Öniz Özgören, where representatives from various associations—including business, education, and health-related civil society organizations—evaluated the quality of community-oriented services and proposed strategies for improvement.

On 20 November, the symposium resumed with an invited lecture by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çetin (Manisa Celal Bayar University) on Community Service and Ethics. Several thematic panels followed. Under the theme Inter-institutional Cooperation for Sustainable Development, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Didem İşlek moderated discussions on aging, quality of life, and community-based projects. Contributions came from Mustafa Özhan Kalaç, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emete Toros, and others presenting collaborative initiatives. Additional panels addressed women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, and child–environment–technology relations, led by scholars such as Prof. Dr. Mukaddes Sakallı Demirok, Prof. Dr. Fatoş Silman, and Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bicen, along with practitioners and artists.

Concluding with online paper presentations, the symposium provided a multidisciplinary platform that emphasized sustainable development, ethical service, policy formation, and enhanced cooperation between institutions and communities—contributing to the broader goal of building a more resilient, inclusive, and socially responsible society.