NEVU Ranks Third in Türkiye in the Sports-Friendly Campus Rankings
The award ceremony for the “Sports-Friendly Campus” project, implemented by the Councilof Higher Education (YÖK), was hosted by Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVU), with the participation of YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar and the rectors of 30 universities.
Following assessments conducted by YÖK based on 45 different criteria, 31 campusesqualified for the title. Karadeniz Technical University ranked first, Erzurum Technical University placed second, and host university NEVU achieved significant success by rankingthird in Türkiye.
NEVU Rector Prof. Dr. Semih Aktekin emphasised the University’s commitment to raisingphysically and mentally strong generations in line with the “Century of Türkiye” vision, noting that NEVU had broken new ground in Türkiye by adding “Traditional HorsebackArchery” to its curriculum as an elective course. YÖK President Özvar announced that theprogram would gain an international dimension with the introduction of a three-tier ratingsystem beginning in 2027.
31 University Campuses Receive the Sports-Friendly Campus Title
Speaking at the ceremony, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar stated that the Sports-FriendlyCampus Program aimed to create campuses where students and university staff were moreactively engaged in sports and encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.
Özvar explained that the Sports-Friendly Campus criteria included sports infrastructure, theactivities of student clubs, initiatives supporting mental health, efforts to combat addiction, accessibility practices, and activities aimed at preserving traditional sports.
A New Era for the Sports-Friendly Campus Program
Sharing details about the future of the program, Özvar stated that new criteria focusing on accessibility, sustainability, and effective use would be introduced beginning in 2027. He added that a three-tier rating system consisting of bronze, silver, and gold levels would alsobe implemented.
Özvar further noted that they aimed to expand the Sports-Friendly Campus Program internationally and that universities abroad, particularly those in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, would be invited to participate in the coming period. He emphasised thattheir primary goal was to foster a campus culture in which students and academic andadministrative staff actively incorporated sports into their daily lives.
NEVU Proud to Rank Third in Türkiye
NEVU Rector Prof. Dr. Semih Aktekin stated that the University aimed to provide a holisticeducational environment supporting students’ physical, mental, and social development andcontinued to carry out initiatives designed to promote a culture of healthy living throughoutthe campus.
Expressing great pride in NEVU’s third-place ranking in Türkiye, Aktekin said that thisachievement was a tangible indication of the University’s commitment to creating a healthier, more active, and more liveable campus.
A First in Türkiye: Elective Horseback Archery Course
Emphasising the importance NEVU attaches to preserving traditional sports, Rector Aktekin stated that the University had broken new ground in Türkiye by adding “TraditionalHorseback Archery” to its curriculum as an elective course. He noted that the initiative aimedto pass Türkiye’s cultural heritage on to future generations.
Drawing attention to the social responsibility and sports projects implemented by NEVU in recent years, Rector Aktekin stated that free equine-assisted activities were organised forindividuals with disabilities. He added that the University’s Vocational School of EquineStudies was actively involved as a partner in eight different EU projects in the fields of “Riding for People with Disabilities” and “Equestrian Vaulting for People with Disabilities.”
Recalling that NEVU had hosted numerous national and international events, Aktekin expressed great pride in hosting Türkiye’s first Para-Climbing Championship, organised in cooperation with the Turkish Mountaineering Federation.
At the conclusion of the Sports-Friendly Campus Program, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar and Governor of Nevşehir Hüseyin Kök presented certificates to the universities thathad qualified for the Sports-Friendly Campus title.
