The presidents of the Bandırma and Gönen City Councils met with university students at a special gathering organized within the Department of Business Administration at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. The event, which focused on local governance, civic participation, and the involvement of young people in urban administration, attracted significant interest.

Hosted by the Department of Business Administration at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, the “City Councils Meeting” was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 2:30 PM in the Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall. The presidents of the Bandırma and Gönen City Councils, which are among the most important civil stakeholders of local governments, came together with academics and university students to discuss the future of the region and the role of city councils in civil society.

The event was organized by Prof. Dr. Nida Abdioğlu, Bandırma City Council Coordinator of the Department of Business Administration, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu İşgüden Kılıç, Gönen City Council Coordinator of the Department of Business Administration. The speakers included Bandırma City Council President Dr. Murat Ergöz and Gönen City Council President Samet Arıker. The session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Metin Kılıç, a faculty member of Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University. In addition, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Prof. Dr. Fatih Ayhan, the Head of the Department of Business Administration, Prof. Dr. Aybeniz Akdeniz Ar, members of the Board of the Bandırma City Council, faculty members of the Department of Business Administration, and students also attended the event.

In the opening section of the discussion, both speakers explained the concept and functioning of city councils to the participants. Emphasizing that city councils do not hold the same status as municipalities but instead function as a strong civic voice in shaping local decisions, the speakers also highlighted the limitations imposed by the current legal framework regarding the binding nature of decisions. The emphasis on collective wisdom created by bringing together various stakeholders such as municipalities, neighborhood representatives, non-governmental organizations, and tradespeople emerged as one of the prominent themes of the session.

During the discussion, which continued around ongoing projects and the future vision for Bandırma and Gönen, the speakers shared their priorities regarding industrialization, the environment, traffic, and social living spaces. Both presidents underlined that young people should play a decisive role in shaping the future of Bandırma and Gönen.

In the section addressed to students, opportunities provided within the scope of the cooperation protocol signed between the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University and both city councils were explained in detail. Membership processes of the city councils, youth council structures, internship opportunities, and project partnerships were discussed. The speakers emphasized that university students could take an active role in projects that create added value for the city.

Concluding the session with advice for young people aiming for careers in local government, the speakers invited students to get to know their cities closely, take ownership of local issues, and become personally involved in local governance processes. This meaningful session, which will strengthen the cooperation between the city councils and the university, represents an important step for the future of our region. The active participation of young people in city governance is one of the cornerstones of democratic local governance.