NATURE AND ECOSYSTEMS

METU campuses consist of very rich land, lake, and marine ecosystems that very few universities in the world have. It is one of the principles of our University to use these ecosystems as natural laboratories to protect and develop them in addition to coming up with exemplary strategies for their sustainable use. Moreover, our institution supports the efforts to establish new principles regarding the following subjects and put them into practice.

• Sustainable practices (such as plastic waste management and air pollutant emission limits) to prevent sea/water/air pollution caused by activities carried out on land.
• Establishing observation and prediction systems to monitor the health of aquatic and marine ecosystems and sharing data related to them open for online access (e.g., Lake Eymir and DBE Coast).
• Developing an integrated management strategy prepared specifically for METU to protect land and sea creatures and ecosystems and demonstrating this on the relevant web pages.
• Creating a database on the unique biodiversity of campuses, developing practices for the protection of endangered species as listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the protection of the ecosystem against invasive species.

ZERO CARBON

METU is committed to taking the necessary steps to minimize its carbon footprint by 2030 and to realizing its goal of having a carbon-free campus life by 2040. For this purpose, our University considers the preparation of an action plan that will cover the following topics and put it into practice as of 2023 as a primary objective.

• Setting targets and developing strategies for reducing energy consumption on campus and creating mechanisms for their implementation.
• Working on technology and building infrastructures that will save energy on campus (energy measurement systems in buildings, efficient lighting, energy saving in computers, thermal insulation in buildings, smart heating, and smart lighting technologies, etc.).
• Installing solar panels in convenient places such as building roofs and parking areas in order to meet the energy needs of the campus by 100% renewable energy sources.
• Setting criteria for reducing on-campus vehicle traffic and promoting public transportation, bicycles, and electric vehicles.

HEALTHY LIFE ON CAMPUS

The vision and mission of the Middle East Technical University in the field of health have been determined by taking into consideration public health, individual health, environmental health, as well as occupational health and safety. The health policy of our University has a contemporary understanding that requires integration and coordination with international and national authorities.

The health policy prioritizes a sustainable public health and preventive medicine approach to protect and improve public and individual health while minimizing diseases and disabilities. Therefore, it attributes utmost importance to issues such as school health, adolescent health, the health of the elderly, health of female employees, chronic and infectious diseases, and hygiene practices.

METU promises to comply with all the rules regarding occupational health and safety, which are based on the right to life and the right to protect bodily integrity and kept under protection by universal principles of Law and international conventions to which Turkey is a party, in addition to constitutional regulations. For this reason, the University is responsible for maintaining an environment of health, safety, and well-being for everyone at the University, including staff, students, and all other visitors.

One of the targets of our health policy regarding individual health is to raise the individual's awareness on issues such as personal hygiene, nutrition, and lifestyle, and thus to enable them to improve their health. In the field of curative services, it is ensured that all stakeholders receive the kind of curative service they need at international standards. For this, an organization including sufficient health personnel, medical devices, and materials is provided.

It adopts sustainable proactive approaches that will protect and improve environmental health while especially caring about such key issues as adequate infrastructure, water safety, air pollution, and waste management.

TOBACCO SMOKING

Every member of the METU community is expected to make responsible choices regarding tobacco smoking. Smoking can affect individuals and those around with detrimental consequences. At METU, we expect everyone to engage and contribute a healthy and safe educational environment that plays a crucial role in supporting each student to reach their full academic potential. We value the health and well-being of every member of our community.

METU commits to the fulfillment of its obligations regarding the implementation of prohibitions and taking institutional measures in accordance with the Law on the Prevention of Harms of Tobacco Products (4207/2008).

INORGANIC WASTE AND RECYCLING

METU considers solid waste and recyclable products as a resource that will contribute to the quality of life, inclusive and sustainable economy, and integrity of nature in a way that supports sustainable development. While preparing action plans on solid waste and recycling, these three essential elements (quality of life, inclusive and sustainable economy, integrity of nature) reflecting the interdependent and interacting parts of sustainable development are taken into account, and none is more prominent than the other. METU solid waste and recycling policies are designed to guide all official institutions, organizations, businesses, and individuals with which it cooperates. The relevant stakeholders are expected to use solid waste management systems based on recycling waste, reusing, or not generating waste.

METU is committed to reusing solid waste as a resource and takes steps to encourage sustainable use of natural resources in its decision-making processes. It establishes systems that can make useful products from materials considered waste but have natural value by reviewing them economically, environmentally, and socially. This way offers some facilities to create new job opportunities, use sustainable energy, protect human health, and enhance environmental quality. METU has full responsibility to decrease the consumption of disposable materials from paper, plastic, and aluminum while minimizing food waste. Our staff will carry out all internal and external correspondences using the "Electronic Document Management System." Educational materials in each course will be shared utilizing ODTUCLASS, the learning management system of METU. Necessary arrangements will be made for students to get the minimum number of printouts. Disposable and non-environmentally friendly service materials made of plastic, aluminum, or foam cannot be used in canteens, cafeterias, restaurants, and buffets located on the campus. These products cannot be sold in the markets on the campus. In all kinds of academic/social meetings and events to be held on the university campus, reusable service products will be preferred instead of disposable products. All suppliers will be expected to sell products in reusable or recyclable packages on the university campus.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD

• METU is committed to reducing organic waste (mostly food) in all outlets within its campuses.

• METU values that the daily products in the campus are treated fairly throughout the supply chain. One of our key priorities is to ensure food wastage is reduced and the source of food and other products are sustainable and local as much as possible. We also encourage the availability and consumption of more plant-based foods in addition to reducing the consumption of dairy products.

REDUCING FOOD WASTE

• Waste prior to preparation, that is spoilage waste: generated by overproduction, trim waste, expiration, spoilage, overcooked items, contaminated and dropped items as well as unintended kitchen waste due to equipment breakdown or other unforeseen problems.

• Preparation (or prep) waste: generated as a by-product of the preparation of meals.

• Waste during the service (or service leftovers): food ready for service but not served to members.

• Waste after the service, plate waste, or table scraps: discarded by customers after food has been sold or served.

The policy extends not only to facilities owned by the University (e.g., Cafeteria or Social Building) also to restaurants operated within the campus by third parties.

The policy entails the measurement of all food waste across the campus on a regular basis and taking necessary steps to reduce waste at every possible phase from purchase to consumption by the customer. The University is responsible for the coordination of waste reduction efforts in all restaurants by introducing preventive measures such as encouraging smaller portions and awareness programs to reduce plate waste, optimizing the purchase and usage levels of food to minimize spoilage and prep waste as well as service leftovers.

• METU also commits to ensuring affordable, nutritious, and healthy food choices (including vegan and vegetarian menus) across all the outlets.

• By revising its procurement guidelines, METU is also committed to ensuring all food consumed within the campus, to the extent possible within the budgetary constraints, is produced using sustainable methods (whether from sea or land, including the conditions of the workforce who are involved in the production) and from the local producers. This commitment extends to all outlets (including those owned by the third-party sellers) and to suppliers.

 

ACADEMIC FREEDOM, INTEGRITY, INCLUSIVENESS, AND EQUALITY

METU commits to support and conduct all kinds of innovative and creative academic work, including research on basic and applied sciences, and to disseminate suggested practices that rely on scientific research. The university members will adhere to the basic principles that respect freedom of thought and the diversity of academic endeavors. In all academic activities (education, research, project, etc.) at METU, ethical principles stipulated by the values covering human rights, respect for the rights of other living things, and the environment are followed. In line with these principles, researchers are responsible for fully and accurately declaring the methods and results of their research to ensure full transparency and accountability to the University and the scientific community.

METU is a community that sets a vision on sustainable development, emphasizing universal respect for human rights, and placing justice, equality, and non-discrimination at the center of its initiatives as well as encouraging all for a life in harmony with nature. Its vision on sustainable development requires attaching importance to academic activities that promote universal values based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to combat inequalities, build an inclusive and peaceful social environment for all members, and ensure the protection of the planet with its natural resources. METU agrees to undertake transformative steps to build a sustainable university community utilizing education and research as a driving force. It ensures access to inclusive and equitable quality education for all, including individuals with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations. It also serves lifelong learning opportunities to educate all for a sustainable future. METU is responsible for preparing all with the necessary knowledge and skills to accelerate creating sustainable systems through education for sustainable development. Through continuous development in research capacity, scholars add scientific knowledge for policy debates localizing on eradication of poverty, sustainable social and economic growth, paths to combat climate change, and the other environmental challenges.

Towards this end, METU commits to the following actions to increase diversity and equality within the community:

• Monitoring the acceptance, success, and completion rates of those students from the lower income groups, people with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups and continue financial and other support (such as mentorship and advisership) for their education.
• Taking affirmative action in the application and acceptance of international students from low and middle low-income countries.
• Ensuring equality in employment with regard to gender, cultural and religious background.
• Opposing all forms of exploitation (child labor and modern slavery) in its suppliers and contractors.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

• Prioritizing and ensuring the sustainability of Science Communication and Citizen Science studies,
• Increasing the value attributed to scientific approach and scientific development by the society,
• Sharing the knowledge, activities, and outputs of METU with society by prioritizing their benefits,
• Strengthening both internal and external communication in order to make the interaction of METU with its internal and external stakeholders continuous and effective.