Abstract:

Universities play a special role in conducting scientific research at a universal level, producing information/technology and training qualified working power needed by the societies as well as in transforming the social, cultural and economical aspects of the region and the city where they are located. In order to increase the local contributions of the universities, the integration of the university and the city into each other should be provided and the perceptions of city dwellers towards the university should be made positive. Cumhuriyet University is one of the well-established universities founded in Turkey with the aim of fulfilling the above-mentioned functions. For the past 43 years, there has not been a comprehensive study on the interaction between the university and the city. This study draws attention to the issue as the first study to examine the institutional image of Cumhuriyet University, the perceptions of the city-dwellers towards the university and the expectations of them from the university. Within this context, the study aims to reveal whether the perceptions of the city-dwellers differ across socio-demographic factors such as  gender, age, educational level and income or not.  This study is of vital importance because it provides necessary scientific data on the integration of Cumhuriyet University into the city in implementing its future-oriented strategies and contributes to the social sciences literature as a study on the city-university interaction A survey was conducted on 3047 people living in Sivas.  In addition, a focus group interview was carried out with a group of representatives of public institutions in the city.  The data showed that the participants' perceptions towards the university are positive.  

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