In 2025, Near East University initiated and participated in cross-sectoral dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals, bringing together academia, government and local authorities, civil-society organisations, professional bodies, practitioners and other societal stakeholders.

Through international conferences, multidisciplinary workshops, panels and community-focused platforms, participants shared scientific knowledge, professional experience and community perspectives to address SDG-related challenges and explore practical solutions. These dialogues covered water security and environmental sustainability, community development, disability rights, children’s rights, gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.

International Cross-Sectoral Dialogue on Water, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

In December 2025, Near East University hosted two complementary international conferences—the 5th International Conference on Water Problems in Mediterranean Countries (WPMC-2025) and the 8th International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Environmental Management (NRSEM-2025)—creating a broad cross-sectoral platform for dialogue on water security, natural-resource management, climate resilience and sustainable environmental governance. Both conferences were delivered in hybrid format, combining face-to-face participation at Near East University with online international participation.

Together, the conferences brought together academics and researchers, local-government representatives, public-sector officials, professional organisations, engineering bodies, environmental stakeholders and experts from multiple countries. The participation of local government was embedded in the organisation of the conference itself, with Gönyeli-Alayköy Mayor Hüseyin Amcaoğlu serving as a Conference Co-Chair. This combination of scientific, governmental, professional and societal perspectives enabled participants to address sustainability challenges from different sectors rather than within a single disciplinary or institutional framework.

The dialogue covered water diplomacy, water governance, groundwater protection, desalination and water reuse, climate-related water scarcity, the water–energy–food nexus, sustainable cities, renewable energy, public health, wastewater management, smart-city applications and natural-resource governance. Discussions also examined decision-support systems, environmental performance measurement and practical approaches to strengthening resilience and sustainability in Mediterranean and other regional contexts.

By connecting scientific evidence with public-sector experience, professional expertise and environmental management perspectives, WPMC-2025 and NRSEM-2025 supported cross-sectoral dialogue on SDG-related challenges and possible solutions, particularly in relation to SDGs 6, 7, 11, 13 and 17.

Community Development through Academia–Civil Society Dialogue

The 5th Community Research and Development Symposium, jointly organised by the Near East University Center of Excellence and Girne University on 19–20 November 2025, brought together international speakers, academics, civil-society representatives, practitioners and community stakeholders to examine community development within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

A dedicated Service Quality Workshop involved representatives of associations working in business, education and health, who evaluated community-oriented services and proposed strategies for improvement. Further dialogue addressed inter-institutional cooperation for sustainable development, aging and quality of life, women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, ethics, community projects and child–environment–technology relations.

By bringing academic knowledge together with civil-society and practitioner experience, the symposium facilitated cross-sectoral discussion on service improvement, policy formation and stronger cooperation between institutions and communities, contributing to more inclusive and socially sustainable approaches relevant to SDGs 3, 5, 10, 11, 16 and 17.

Cross-Sectoral Dialogue on Disability Rights and Inclusive Public Services

On 5 December 2025, Near East University participated in the Disability Rights Monitoring Workshop, organised in collaboration with the Nicosia Turkish Municipality and the Disability Rights Monitoring Committee.

The workshop brought together the Nicosia Turkish Municipality Disability Unit, disability-rights organisations, academic experts and other civil-society stakeholders, including the Cyprus Hearing and Speech Impaired Foundation, Cyprus Turkish Disabled Sports Federation and Cyprus Turkish Orthopedic Disabled Association.

Participants shared perspectives on existing legislation and public services and discussed barriers affecting education, healthcare and rehabilitation, employment, entrepreneurship, physical and digital accessibility, transportation and multiple discrimination. The dialogue specifically addressed public accountability mechanisms, rights-based monitoring systems and the role of NGOs in monitoring implementation, and concluded with outcome recommendations and commitments to continued collaboration.

The workshop therefore provided a direct cross-sectoral mechanism through which local government, civil society and academia jointly examined implementation challenges and possible improvements, supporting SDGs 10, 11, 16 and 17.

Cross-Sectoral Dialogue for Children’s Rights and Early Childhood Protection

Near East University organised the Children’s Rights in Preschool Education Panel in 2025 to create a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral discussion platform focused on children’s rights, early childhood safety and protective social services.

The panel brought together perspectives from government, civil society, education and academia. Contributors included a Social Services Officer from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Family Strengthening Project Coordinator of SOS Children’s Village, the President of the Universal Children’s Rights Association, university academics and school educators.

Dialogue focused on rights-based public services, the responsibilities of the social state, family-support mechanisms, legal responsibilities in preschool education, protective and preventive social services, teachers’ rights-based classroom practices and digital safety. Participants shared practical approaches including early risk identification, family-strengthening models, legal procedures in cases of neglect and abuse, and strategies for safer digital environments.

By linking government responsibilities, civil-society experience and educational expertise, the panel supported cross-sectoral understanding of how different sectors can contribute to the protection and implementation of children’s rights, particularly under SDGs 4, 10, 16 and 17.

Cross-Sectoral Dialogue on Gender Equality, Rights and Empowerment

In 2025, the Near East University Gender Research and Application Center organised the symposium “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment,” creating a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral platform focused on gender equality, women’s rights and institutional responsibility.

The symposium brought together perspectives from the legislature, the legal sector, academia, civil society, journalism, entrepreneurship and professional practice. Participants included the Deputy Speaker of the Republic Assembly and a Member of Parliament, a retired Chief Justice, academics working in economics, law, politics and education, the Women’s Stories Association, journalists, entrepreneurs and professionals.

The dialogue addressed women’s representation in decision-making, legal and social reform, inheritance law, women’s economic participation, unpaid care work, gender-sensitive implementation of legislation, educational policy and curriculum reform, and barriers experienced by women in professional life. Participants considered how public policy, law, education, civil society and economic participation can contribute to greater equality and empowerment.

By bringing these different societal sectors into a shared discussion, the symposium enabled cross-sectoral exchange on structural challenges and possible responses related to women’s rights and gender equality, contributing particularly to SDGs 5, 8, 10, 16 and 17.

Cross-Sectoral Dialogue on Preventing Violence against Women

In November 2025, Near East University organised the event “We Have Something to Say, We Have the Power to Change” as part of activities marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The event addressed violence against women as a societal issue requiring coordinated responses from different sectors.

The dialogue connected academia, health professionals, gender-studies expertise and the public security sector. Alongside Near East University academics and health professionals, contributors included the Head of the Eastern Mediterranean University Women’s Research and Education Center and an Inspector from the Police General Directorate.

Discussions examined the physical, emotional, digital, economic and social dimensions of violence, with particular attention to dating violence, early recognition of risk, the responsibilities of health professionals, awareness within educational institutions and the legal and protective mechanisms available to women experiencing violence. The Police General Directorate representative provided information on formal reporting channels, shelters, social-service mechanisms and legal protection procedures.

By connecting academic and health expertise with public-security experience and gender-focused educational perspectives, the event supported cross-sectoral dialogue on prevention, early identification, protection and access to support mechanisms for women affected by violence. The initiative contributes particularly to SDGs 3, 5, 10, 16 and 17.