On October 19, 2026, Dialogue Empathy Ecology Peace EnGender (DEEP EnGender) and TOSAM – The Center for Health, Society and Prevention Studies at Bahçeşehir University (BAU), Türkiye, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for long-term collaboration in youth learning, academic research, knowledge exchange, and community development.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Narlı, Founding Director of TOSAM at Bahçeşehir University, and Dr. Anna Christi Suwardi, Founder and Chairperson of DEEP EnGender. The partnership marks an important step towards strengthening connections between academic institutions, civil society, young people, researchers, practitioners, and communities across different geographical and cultural contexts.
Building Collaboration through YILA and DEEP GRIP
The initial framework of cooperation will be developed through two complementary programmes initiated by DEEP EnGender: the Youth-Inclusive Learning Academy (YILA) and the DEEP EnGender Graduate Research Internship Programme (DEEP GRIP).
Through YILA, the partnership aims to expand opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful learning experiences, thematic discussions, guest lectures, mentoring, and youth–academic dialogues. The programme will also create spaces for storytelling, public speaking, peacebuilding, sustainability, and ecological regeneration, encouraging young people to exchange perspectives and engage with issues affecting their communities.
Meanwhile, DEEP GRIP will provide opportunities for academic and research collaboration, particularly through the participation of eligible Master's and Doctoral students. The programme will facilitate research mentoring, interdisciplinary exchange, community-engaged research, collaborative research development, academic writing, and opportunities for publications, seminars, and conferences.
Together, these two programmes provide an initial platform for connecting youth development, academic engagement, and collaborative knowledge production.
Beyond Programmes: Opportunities for Community Development and Joint Initiatives
While YILA and DEEP GRIP provide the initial pathways for cooperation, the partnership is not limited to these two programmes. The MoU establishes a broader framework through which DEEP EnGender and TOSAM–BAU can explore additional areas of collaboration based on shared interests, institutional capacities, and emerging opportunities.
One important area is community development and community-engaged initiatives. This may include participatory research, locally grounded learning initiatives, community empowerment, and collaborative activities that connect academic expertise with the knowledge, experiences, and priorities of local communities.
The partnership also creates opportunities to explore interdisciplinary research, public dialogue, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives addressing social and ecological challenges. By bringing together academics, researchers, graduate students, practitioners, young people, and community actors, both institutions can explore approaches that translate research and learning into meaningful contributions to society.
This broader vision recognises that knowledge development does not take place only within academic institutions. It also emerges from community experiences, local practices, and collaboration between different actors working towards shared social objectives.
