ÇAKÜ Secures Its First Jean Monnet Project "EU-SDG PATH"

Çankırı Karatekin University (ÇAKÜ) has reached a major milestone in internationalization, securing its first-ever Jean Monnet project under the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme. The 36-month initiative, titled "European Union’s Sustainable Development Goals Performance: Promoting Action for Transformation and Harmony (EU-SDG PATH)" also marks ÇAKÜ’s first centrally managed EU-funded grant.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Keskin from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences will serve as the academic coordinator. The project focuses on integrating EU sustainable development policies, the European Green Deal, and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the university's academic framework.

Students from Different Disciplines to Take Part in the Project

EU-SDG PATH welcomes students from diverse fields, including Forestry, Art, Design & Architecture, Health Sciences, and Engineering, alongside traditional EU studies programs.

International students will also participate, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and exchange of knowledge on European values, climate action, and sustainable development.

Six-Module Training and Practical Programme

EU-SDG PATH will provide students with comprehensive training and practical experience in sustainability and European Union values through  six-modules: project preparation, EU values, the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal, data analysis, evaluation, and academic publication.

The first module will lay the project’s technical groundwork; setting up infrastructure, planning resources, and informing local stakeholders about the project. The second module will cover European integration, the history of the European Union, its core values, and the concept of EU citizenship.

The third module will focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal, and EU climate change policies, while the fourth module will introduce data-driven methods for measuring and evaluating sustainability performance.

Data-Driven Decision-Making at the Core

The project will provide students with training designed to strengthen their skills in EU policies, sustainability, green transformation, and data-driven decision-making.

As part of this training, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods will be used in practical applications to measure and evaluate sustainability performance.

The fifth module will assess the project's impact and gather feedback from participants for a comprehensive review of the process, while the sixth module turns the results into academic output and publications.

Students to Receive “Jean Monnet Sustainability Ambassador” Title

Students who successfully complete the training and practical programme will receive digital and printed certificates recognizing their achievements, along with the title “Jean Monnet Sustainability Ambassador.” The goal is to give students' knowledge and skills in European values, sustainability, and green transformation greater visibility, supporting both their academic and professional growth.

Academic Outputs for Stakeholders

The project will produce policy briefs, open educational resources, and digital course materials on sustainable development and EU policy - all  planned to be made available through the university's website to students, academics, and other stakeholders.

Supporting Çankırı's Green and Digital Transformation

Beyond campus boundaries, EU-SDG PATH will support regional green and digital transformation efforts in collaboration with key local stakeholders, including the Çankırı Governorship, Çankırı Municipality, and the KUZKA Development Agency.

The expertise built through the project is expected to further ÇAKÜ's work in EU affairs and sustainability, laying the groundwork for more ambitious European initiatives down the line, including a future Jean Monnet Chair and Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence.