SDU strengthens international art and education cooperation with the Erasmus+ IGNITION Project.
Süleyman Demirel University (SDU) participated in the international partners meeting held in Athens as part of the Erasmus+ IGNITION project, which is being carried out in partnership with Ireland, Spain, Greece, and Türkiye.
The international partners meeting of the IGNITION – Training Resources for Drama and Dance Facilitators in Youth Work project, supported under the Erasmus+ KA220-YOU program, was held in Athens, the capital of Greece, from October 9-12, 2026.
Dr. Mustafa Kayabaşı, a faculty member from the Department of Performing Arts at Süleyman Demirel University's Faculty of Fine Arts, represented our university at the meeting of the project, which is being carried out in partnership with Crooked House from Ireland, FOCO Europa from Spain, Kinitiras from Greece, and Süleyman Demirel University from Turkey.
New Approaches to Youth Work Through Drama and Dance
The three-year IGNITION project aims to use drama and dance as tools for education, communication, and creative expression in youth work.
As part of the project, practical guides, training materials, and digital content are being developed for youth workers, trainers, and arts practitioners.
The meeting held in Athens addressed training guidelines for drama and dance facilitation, initiatives supporting youth participation, and the preparation of training videos. Discussions also took place regarding project dissemination, budget management, quality assessment processes, and future activities.
SDU assumes important responsibilities in the project.
Suleyman Demirel University is one of the international partners in the IGNITION project, undertaking responsibility in various areas of study.
Our university is taking the lead in developing the sustainability strategies of the project and is also responsible for the preparations for holding the international partners meeting in Isparta.
Among those contributing to the project is Oğuzhan Şahin, a graduate of SDÜ's Department of Performing Arts and a collaborator with Crooked House in Ireland. This collaboration is significant for maintaining the academic and artistic ties between our university and its alumni on an international scale.
Contributing to the Cultural and Artistic Visibility of Isparta
The IGNITION project aims to contribute to Süleyman Demirel University's internationalization goals, as well as to the visibility of Isparta in the fields of culture, art, and education.
The international meeting planned to be held in Isparta as part of the project will provide an opportunity for representatives from the fields of art and education from different countries to come together in the city.
Bringing together local youth activities, creative drama and dance practices with international knowledge sharing can create new learning and production opportunities for both university students and young people in the city.
The IGNITION project aims to contribute to the development of art-based, sustainable educational approaches in youth work by combining SDÜ's academic expertise with the experiences of partner institutions in Europe.
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Project Information
* Project: IGNITION – Training Resources for Drama and Dance Facilitators in Youth Work
* Program: Erasmus+ KA220-YOU
* Project No: 2025-1-IE01-KA220-YOU-000352984
* Coordinator: Crooked House (Ireland)
* Partners: FOCO Europa (Spain), Kinitiras (Greece), Suleyman Demirel University (Turkey)
* Meeting: Athens, 9–12 October 2026
