Town-Gown Relationships: Perceptions and Expectations about Bartın University Town-Gown Relationships
Universities have missions to conduct scientific research, produce information and technology, fulfill the function of qualified human power needed by the societies at the universal level, as well as lead the transformation of the region and the city regarding social, cultural and economic perspective. The growth and development of universities and effective fulfillment of their functions are associated with the people’s perception about universities’ economic and social contributions to society along with getting approval and support from them. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions, evaluations and expectations of Bartın people towards Bartın University, which celebrated the 11th anniversary of the foundation in 2019. In the study, which used a mixed research method, 255 people were reached by using the criterion sampling method and the data were collected by demographic information form, scale and interview form. Findings revealed that Bartın people had little participation in the activities organized by the university and were not aware of these activities sufficiently. Findings also showed that socio-cultural activities organized by the university had enriched the social life, the development of the university had increased the possibilities of transportation both in the city and intercity and the increase in the number of the students positively affected the tradespeople. Additionally, it was concluded that the trainings and activities organized in the university contributed to the personal and professional development of the society. Moreover, the activities should be increased and cityoriented researches should be conducted. Participants, who stated the rapid development of the university as the most powerful aspect of the university, shared the suggestion that the academic staff should be increased in quantity and merit should be taken as the basis for the improvement.