A research on the religious and values education activities of the personnel of the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Higher Education Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK): The case of İstanbul province

The Directorate of Religious Affairs is the official institution that implements common religious education activities in Turkey in order to enlighten society on religious issues. Within this scope, the Presidency of Religious Affairs has taken various steps in order to carry out activities that can reach all segments of the society where it is tasked to provide religious services with the effect of changing religious understandings and living standards. Considering the needs of the age, especially the changes since 2010 in religious services have drawn attention. In this study, the Religious and Values Education activities carried out in the General Directorate of Credit and Dormitories Institution, which is among the activities of the Presidency that have diversified from day to day, were discussed. In this context, it is aimed to evaluate the religious and values education activities carried out by the personnel of the Directorate of Religious Affairs in Higher Education Credit and Dormitories Institution (KYK). In line with this goal, a qualitative study was conducted with the relevant staff and the university students residing in KYK dormitories. By asking semi-structured interview questions, in-depth interviews have been conducted with 12 staff members who worked/have been working in dormitories within the province of Istanbul and 20 students who were in contact with the interviewed staff. Based on the data obtained, it can be said that the activities carried out by the Presidency personnel are demanded by certain students. It has been determined that students coming from outside the city need more guidance, especially in the first year they leave their families. However, it is thought that the application should be developed by taking into account the opinions and suggestions of the young people in terms of content and quality in order to keep the interest in the application alive and to meet the expectations.