Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities calls for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Doğuş University contributes to this goal by engaging in urban-focused research, educating future city-builders, and working with the local community in Istanbul. 

• Urban Planning and Architecture: With its Architecture and Civil Engineering programs, DOU equips students to design sustainable buildings and infrastructure. Courses emphasize resilient design (earthquake-resistant structures, energy-efficient architecture) and smart city concepts. Student projects often address real urban issues in Istanbul – such as affordable housing designs or green public space proposals. By training architects and engineers with a sustainability mindset, the university supports the creation of future cities that align with SDG 11 principles. 

• Campus as a Mini-City: The university manages its campuses in ways that model sustainable community practices. The Dudullu campus features accessible design, security measures, and emergency preparedness (regular drills) to ensure safety and resilience. Green spaces and cultural areas on campus provide a community feel. The campus thus serves as a microcosm of an ideal inclusive community: diverse, safe, and environmentally conscious. 

• Student Initiatives in Communities: Doğuş students are active in improving local communities. The Archi Doğuş Architecture Club has volunteered to renovate and beautify public school yards and community centers in underprivileged districts of Istanbul. The Disaster Management and Humanitarian Aid Club trains students in urban disaster preparedness and leads them in organizing neighborhood emergency drills. These efforts directly enhance community resilience and safety, echoing Goal 11’s targets for disaster risk reduction and inclusive urban planning. 

• Collaboration with City Authorities: Doğuş University partners with local government and NGOs to support urban sustainability initiatives. In career and project fairs held on campus, representatives from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and organizations like Green Crescent (Yeşilay) and LÖSEV join with 60+ student clubs to engage students on city issues. The university has also signed protocols with İstanbul’s municipal agencies to consult on projects such as improving public transportation and heritage site preservation. Through these partnerships, Doğuş actively participates in shaping Istanbul into a more sustainable and inclusive city, in line with SDG 11. 

• Research and Projects Highlights: 

  • Urban Planning Project: Doğuş University’s architects and civil engineers contributed to a Municipal Urban Renewal project in Istanbul’s Küçükçekmece district (2020–2021). Through TÜBİTAK-supported research, they evaluated structural integrity of old apartment blocks and guided evidence-based renovation plans. This project not only improved housing safety for hundreds of residents but also became a reference model for participatory, research-driven urban renewal – illustrating SDG 11 in action.

  • Research on Urban Solutions: Faculty research at DOU addresses urban challenges like traffic congestion, public transport improvement, and disaster risk reduction. For instance, researchers in civil engineering have worked on optimizing Istanbul’s transportation modeling to reduce commute times (contributing to safer, more efficient cities). The university also hosted an international symposium on Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation, sharing knowledge on flood management and heat island mitigation in cities. These academic contributions help inform policies for more sustainable communities. 

  • Heritage Conservation Research: DOU researchers also study historic structures in cities. A recent project “Determining Dynamic Characteristics of Historical Buildings by Experimental Methods” (2018) measured vibrations in Istanbul’s 19th-century Beyazıt Tower to assess its seismic stability. The findings (natural frequencies and damping ratios of the tower) were shared with city authorities, aiding in preservation efforts. By merging cultural heritage protection with modern engineering, DOU advances SDG 11’s call to safeguard heritage while making communities safe. 

  • Student Innovation – Community Spaces: As part of an applied research studio, Doğuş University architecture students re-designed an unused city lot into a sustainable pocket park. Their design, which won a national award, incorporated rain gardens, solar lighting, and accessible playgrounds. The project, documented in a 2024 exhibition, serves as a prototype for inclusive, green community spaces and demonstrates how academic work at DOU contributes to more sustainable and livable cities (SDG 11)

  • Selected Sample Publications:  

    • Disaster Resilience Research: “Comprehensive investigation of damage due to 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes in Türkiye: causes, consequences, and mitigation” (2025) – E. Damcı, R. Temür, Z. Kanbir, Ç. Şekerci, E. Öztorun Köroğlu. This extensive study assessed why certain buildings collapsed in the 2023 earthquakes and recommended mitigation strategies. Its recommendations (improved building codes enforcement, retrofitting techniques, community training) aim to make cities safer and more resilient, directly serving SDG 11’s targets on disaster risk reduction and urban resilience.