Author(s): Veysi GÜNAL
In this study, the change in the impact area of Harran University’s Department of Geography is discussed with regard to preferences. In other words, the distribution of the students who registered to the department between 2005-2019 by region and provinces has been revealed. In addition, the factors affecting this distribution are discussed. When evaluated in this context, it is understood that two main results have emerged. The first one is the increasing share of students from Southeastern Anatolia Region among the total students. In fact, while the share of this region in 2005 was 45.2%, it increased to 90.4% in 2019. The second is the significant increase in the share of students from ?anl?urfa. In this context, it is seen that the share of students from ?anl?urfa in total increased from 12.9% to 74.2% between 2005-2019. This situation shows that the impact area of the Geography department is narrowed. According to this, the department has addressed to the Southeastern Anatolia Region today. In fact, the change has been so much that the impact area of the department has been limited to the province of ?anl?urfa. The decrease in the number and share of students from other provinces of Southeast Anatolia Region since 2013 has showed this. The decline in the number of provinces in the impact area of the department is another evidence for change. In fact, While the number of provinces in which students came to the department in 2005 was 18, the number of provinces decreased to 11 in 2019. In this change in the department, especially 2008 was the year of change. There are two main reasons for this general change. These are the increase in the number of departments in Turkey and in student quotas. Accordingly, there is a significant increase in the number of departments since 2008. The total number of departments increased from 25 in 2005 and 32 in 2008 to 65 in 2019. Quotas have increased from 1.087 (2005) to 5.227 (2019) during this period. It can be said that these increases have led to a decrease in the number of educational migrations to ?anl?urfa due to the fact that the students preferred the departments close to them. This situation has reduced student-centered socio-cultural interaction between regions. In this context, it is possible to discuss the introduction of non-regional quotas to the departments in order to reduce this negative effect.
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