Bilkent has become the first university in Turkey to be awarded the Gold Certificate by the FISU Healthy Campus program, an initiative developed by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The program aims to promote well-being among students and the broader campus community through health, physical activity and sustainable living practices.
Joining the program in 2022, Bilkent was recognized on October 4th as the only institution in Turkey to achieve this certification. The program, which includes 161 universities globally, evaluates participants on 100 criteria related to areas such as physical activity, mental health, nutrition, disease prevention, environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Only seven other universities worldwide received the Gold Certificate.
The FISU Healthy Campus initiative is designed to counter the trend of students neglecting their health during their academic studies. It encourages universities to integrate physical activity and healthy living into daily campus life by creating accessible and supportive environments.
Ahsen Küçükdurmaz, Director of the Physical Education and Sports Center, emphasized that “a healthy campus should not be seen solely as efforts related to physical activity or health. The guidelines and standards established through this program provide benefits to the university as a whole. Our participation will also allow us to share best practices with universities around the world.”
This recognition highlights Bilkent University’s commitment to promoting a healthy campus environment for both students and staff.