Kastamonu University has been awarded a grant of 39,259 Euros under the 2026 call of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program, supported by the European Union. 

The grant support provided within the scope of the ESC51 Volunteering Projects has increased compared to the 30,216 euro grant received last year. As part of the project, it is planned for our students to participate in short-term volunteer activities at partner organizations in Greece and Lithuania. 

The project aims for our students to closely learn about different cultures, increase their participation in volunteer and social responsibility activities, and gain awareness of intercultural dialog and tolerance. Additionally, it aims to support the more active participation of young people in social and civic life and to increase access for disadvantaged youth to international volunteer activities.

Our Rector: "Our Students Will Gain International Experience"

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated that the obtained grant would contribute to students gaining international experience and said the following:

“We care not only about the academic development of our students but also about their self-improvement in various fields. Our eligibility for a higher grant under the ESC Program compared to last year is a result of our efforts in the field of internationalization. I believe that our students will closely learn about different cultures and gain international experience through the volunteer activities they will carry out in Greece and Lithuania.”

Our Rector thanked the Erasmus Coordination team and everyone who contributed to the process. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to the President of the Turkish National Agency, İlker Astarcı, the President of the Higher Education Council, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and the YÖK members for their contributions to the internationalization efforts of higher education institutions.