Dear Students and Esteemed Stakeholders,

In today’s world, where societies are aging rapidly, accurately understanding the phenomenon of aging and developing qualified solutions in this field has become more important than ever. Gerontology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the aging process holistically through its biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Within this framework, our department aims to educate qualified professionals who can enhance individuals’ quality of life, support independence, improve care processes, and contribute to the fight against ageism.

The educational approach of our department focuses on equipping students with two core competencies simultaneously: scientific understanding and practical capacity. In our program, students learn the biopsychosocial foundations of aging while also gaining experience in thinking about and producing solutions for practice-oriented issues such as functionality, independent living, social support networks, care processes, and age-friendly environments. Our educational process is designed not merely to transmit knowledge, but to build a professional formation that enables students to conduct evidence-based assessments, carry out needs analyses, design interventions, and evaluate their impact.

With an approach that brings scientific knowledge together with social needs, we attach great importance to educating students who are equipped with theoretical knowledge, field experience, practical skills, and a sense of ethical responsibility. Our goal is to graduate competent, sensitive, and solution-oriented professionals in the fields of active and healthy aging, age-friendly environments, care services, social policy, and intergenerational solidarity.

Our department operates from a perspective that challenges stereotypes about aging and advocates for the full, dignified, and active participation of older adults in social life. Through an approach that combines academic production with social contribution, we aim to build a structure that learns and produces together with our students, stakeholders, and society. We invite all students interested in gerontology to think, produce, and contribute with us in this field that helps shape the future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Aslı Gözde AKIŞ
Head of the Department of Gerontology