The perception of international students living in Gümüşhane about Gümüşhane city and Turkey

The main purpose of the research is to determine the perceptions of international students studying at Gümüşhane University about the city of Gümüşhane and Turkey and to analyze the factors that feed these perceptions. Turkey has attracted attention as a global educational destination within the scope of internationalization policies in higher education in recent years. Especially with its strategic location between Europe and Asia, rich cultural heritage and historical depth, Turkey has become an attractive option for students from different countries. In this context, the perceptions of international students about Turkey are of great importance in terms of the country's higher education strategies and cultural diplomacy. The sample of the research consists of international students studying at Gümüşhane University in the 2024-2025 academic year and selected through purposeful sampling method. Quantitative research method was adopted in the study; A survey consisting of 5-point Likert-type and open-ended questions adapted from the scales developed by Paşalı Taşoğlu et al. (2021) and Barıtçı and Barıtçı (2018) was used as the data collection tool. The concept of "image" in the survey form was addressed in this study within the framework of "perception", which refers to individuals' mental representations and general evaluations. According to the research findings, the majority of participants evaluated Gümüşhane as a peaceful, calm and livable city. However, issues such as inadequacy of cultural activities and underdeveloped industrial infrastructure create negative perceptions. In general, Turkey is perceived as a safe country, and its political stability, educational opportunities and hospitality of the people are among the prominent positive elements. It was determined that participants mostly benefited from digital media and social media content in obtaining information, while interest in traditional information sources was more limited. The research offers guiding insights to local governments and university administrations for developing more effective strategies concerning international students.