The Psychology Application and Research Center at Erzurum Technical University (ETU) was officially inaugurated with the program titled “Being a Parent Who Supports Development in Childhood”, organized in collaboration with the University’s Science Communication Office.
The opening ceremony, held at the ETU Rectorate Foyer Area, was attended by ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Cakmak, Erzurum Provincial Police Chief Onur Karaburun, Erzurum Provincial Director of Family and Social Services Hasan Aykut, Chief Physician in Hospital of Erzurum Şehir İbrahim Hakkı Tör, as well as numerous academics and invited guests.
In her opening speech, the Director of the Psychology Application and Research Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sümeyye Ulaş, emphasized that mental health is one of the fundamental elements of both individual and social life. She stated that the center aims to provide scientific, ethical, and accessible psychological support services to the community. Uasş noted that the center is structured to serve not only university students but also all citizens, offering a wide range of services including individual counseling, psychoeducation programs, post-crisis and post-disaster psychosocial support initiatives, and scientific research activities.
In his remarks, Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Cakmak highlighted that the center is a concrete reflection of the university’s mission of social contribution. He stated that seminars, talks, workshops, and psychosocial support activities aimed at supporting students’ mental health are actively ongoing. Rector Cakmak added that the center’s services have been expanded to include the people of Erzurum, providing psychological counseling services for children, families, and adults. He also noted that the center includes individual counseling rooms, an education and observation room, and play and interview rooms, forming a strong infrastructure for both therapy services and training programs for mental health professionals.
As part of the program, the workshop titled “Being a Parent Who Supports Development in Childhood” provided parents with information on child development, healthy communication, psychological resilience, and supportive parenting attitudes. During the interactive session, participants had the opportunity to ask questions, and practical examples and case studies were shared to enhance parenting skills.
Within the scope of the event, children also experienced a science-oriented program. Students from Erzurum Polis Amca Kindergarten visited the laboratories of the High Technology and Research Center (YUTAM), gaining firsthand insight into scientific working environments. They later participated in activities at MUCITPARK Science and Idea Workshop, where they explored the fun world of science through experiments, creative workshops, and interactive applications.
Directorate of Corporate Communication and Promotion
02.18.2026
