The increase in the number of university students in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has necessitated the restructuring of urban life and public services. In recent years, digital initiatives implemented particularly in major centers such as Nicosia, Famagusta, and Kyrenia—where universities are densely located—have demonstrated the strengthening of a student-oriented approach to urban development.
Within this process carried out by local governments and relevant public institutions, internet infrastructure around university areas has been improved, free wireless access points have been expanded, and municipal digital service platforms have been updated. These initiatives aim to facilitate faster and more systematic access to transportation, housing-related information, urban announcements, and public services for students.
The digital transformation process is being conducted through collaborations between universities and local authorities. Mobile applications and online platforms developed within this framework enable announcements, transportation information, and municipal services to be delivered to students through a centralized system. As a result, the city is no longer perceived solely as a physical living space but increasingly as a digital sphere of interaction.
From the perspective of students studying in New Media and communication-related fields, this transformation presents a noteworthy case both academically and in terms of everyday life. A student profile that has grown up immersed in digital technologies maintains its relationship with the city through social media, mobile applications, and online platforms. This situation necessitates the redesign of urban spaces in terms of user experience.
Experts emphasize that the student-oriented digitalization initiatives in Northern Cyprus hold significant potential for sustainable urban governance and participatory communication. However, it is also stressed that issues such as equal access to digital services for all student groups and data security must be carefully considered throughout this process.
In conclusion, when evaluated from a New Media perspective, the evolving digital campus and urban practices in Northern Cyprus point to a structural transformation that redefines the relationship between students and urban space.
— Written by Yağmur Kayacan
