Kastamonu University Child Education Application and Research Center implemented numerous activities, training, and collaborations for children and families throughout 2025. The center maintained an intensive and high-quality program throughout the year, including practical studies supporting children's development, family education, library-based activities, and international academic interactions, all conducted in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Our University's Baby and Children's Library, one of the center's important components that serves children aged 0–8 in our province, received significant interest throughout 2025.  The library was actively used as a living-learning space through visits from university and high school students as part of school visits, parent-child meetings, and child-literature-focused lessons held throughout the year. During this process, the Baby and Children's Library was visited by 1096 parent-child groups, 26 schools, 512 students, and 30 teachers.

Among the year's highlights were the Parent School meetings, which aimed to increase parents' knowledge and awareness of parenting skills and of child development and education. In three events held throughout the year, parents came together with our university's academics to discuss topics such as the impact of family relationships and cultural messages on the parenting experience, the use of digital technology in early childhood, and the role of drama in child education.

Another significant event organized by the center was the "Nature-Based Approach in Early Childhood Education and Forest School Pedagogy" panel, which was held with the support of our University's Specialization Coordination Office.

As part of the panel, preschool teachers, teacher candidates, and parents from our province and surrounding provinces met with expert academics and educators from Uludağ University, TED University, Gebze Private Vahide Yılmaz Kindergarten, and our university.

The center also gained attention through collaborations with academic social responsibility projects and student communities, including awareness events on children's rights and children's theater throughout the year. The center, which prioritizes social contribution, completed 2025 with a multifaceted calendar of activities focused on children, families, and education. 

Two separate events were held in collaboration with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. In this context, first, children aged 7-14 and their mothers were hosted on campus within the framework of the School Support Project, a multidisciplinary program that included STEM and art workshops, a stress management talk, and a visit to the Faculty of Communication studios.

In the second event, a rich program was offered to children aged 4-7 who receive services at the Children's Homes Site, including theater performances, games, and art workshops. 

The center also took steps toward its internationalization goals. Throughout the year, academics from different countries were hosted at the Baby and Children's Library; good practices were shared, and opportunities for joint work were developed through visits held as part of Erasmus International Week. 

Assoc. Professor Dr. Aysun Ata Aktürk, Director of our university's Child Education Application and Research Center, evaluated 2025 as an intense and productive working period focused on child education and development. Stating that they met with an increasing number of stakeholders and participants throughout the year as a center, Aktürk said that the Baby and Children's Library, which offers an out-of-school learning environment for children aged 0-8 in our province, their families, and schools providing education to this age group, has received significant interest.

Aktürk stated that children spend quality time with their parents in the library through educational materials such as books, puppets, and intelligence games, and that they have the opportunity to socialize, adapt to community rules, and become familiar with concepts related to different disciplines.

Stating that the activities carried out within the center contribute to the learning processes by bringing together children, parents, and teacher candidates with field experts, Aktürk noted that they aim to reach more children with the same focus in the coming period and to continue collaborations with stakeholders in the field of child education. He also emphasized that the positive feedback received after the events and the happiness on the children's faces provided significant motivation for their core work. 

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated in his assessment that the Child Education Application and Research Center provides social and educational contributions to children and families in our province, especially in our region. Stating that such applications, which bring together our university's knowledge with society, have created awareness in the field of child education, our Rector emphasized that the studies carried out by the center are being implemented with a sensitive, sustainable, and collaborative approach to local needs.

Our Rector stated that they will continue to support value-generating studies for our province and region in the coming period, and thanked all academic and administrative staff who contributed.

Within the scope of the Regional Development-Focused Mission Differentiation and Specialization Program carried out by the Council of Higher Education, Kastamonu University, which specializes in forestry and nature tourism, continues its academic, scientific, and application-oriented studies in this context. 

The studies conducted by the Specialization Coordination Directorate for Forestry and Nature Tourism, located within our university, focus on the conservation, planning, and sustainable management of the natural resources in the Western Black Sea Region. 

In the activities carried out by the coordination, forestry, nature tourism, and ecotourism are among the priority areas of work. The region's forest resources, biodiversity, and natural tourism potential are being addressed through scientific projects, field studies, and institutional collaborations. The academic outputs obtained within the scope of the ongoing studies aim to produce practical results. 

Within the framework of specialization studies, international collaborations are being carried out in addition to national projects. Our university aims to enhance knowledge and experience sharing through joint studies conducted with universities and institutions from various countries, while also incorporating current approaches in forestry and nature tourism into academic research.

The specialization approach is based on the principle of utilizing academic knowledge accumulation together with the infrastructure and human resources of our University. In this context, while the principle of financial and institutional sustainability is observed, efforts to attract investors to the region continue. The aim of the activities carried out is to contribute to the economic structure of Kastamonu and the Western Black Sea Region and to increase employment opportunities. 

Within the scope of specialization studies, joint projects are being undertaken with public institutions, representatives from the private sector, and universities. Thanks to these studies, which are carried out through interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaborations, it is possible to apply academic knowledge across various fields. Additionally, activities are being carried out to raise public awareness on nature conservation and sustainable tourism through public education, workshops, and information events.

As part of the specialization efforts carried out to date, a total of 64 projects have been supported, with an approximate investment of 72 million TL. Scientific and practical studies are being conducted within the framework of protocols signed with the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, the General Directorate of Forestry, as well as various universities and institutions. 

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, emphasized that the ongoing studies are part of our University's long-term strategic vision and made the following assessment: Forestry and nature tourism are among the areas directly related to Kastamonu's natural structure and the opportunities it offers. We prioritize translating academic studies conducted in these areas into practical applications. We believe it is essential that the knowledge produced contributes to our region and country, particularly our province, and is shared with public institutions, sector stakeholders, and the community. As part of its specialization efforts in forestry and nature tourism, our university addresses scientific research, educational activities, and field applications in a coordinated manner. In this direction, we aim to contribute to the protection and planned, sustainable use of our province's and region's natural resources through the projects and collaborations we develop.