Güneröz C., Uyanıker G., Gemalmaz Baş S. F.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE INCLUSIVE MUSEUM, cilt.19, sa.2, ss.1-29, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
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Yayın Türü:
Makale / Tam Makale
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Cilt numarası:
19
Sayı:
2
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Basım Tarihi:
2026
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Doi Numarası:
10.18848/1835-2014/cgp/a502
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Dergi Adı:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE INCLUSIVE MUSEUM
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Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler:
Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Scopus, Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Art Abstracts, Art Index, Index Islamicus, Art Source
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Sayfa Sayıları:
ss.1-29
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Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli:
Evet
Özet
This study examines the long-term institutional volunteer model of Ankara University Toy Museum through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Drawing on data from fifty-one volunteers, the research integrates quantitative descriptive statistics with reflexive thematic analysis to explore both the structural and experiential dimensions of volunteer engagement. Quantitative findings indicate a sustained participation pattern, with an average volunteer duration of 3.64 years and a continuation rate exceeding 50%. These structural indicators suggest that the museum operates a stable and institutionally embedded volunteer framework rather than an episodic or event-based system. However, limited research has systematically examined how university museums function as long-term professional formation environments through volunteer engagement. To deepen this understanding, qualitative analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic approach. Four major themes emerged: professional identity formation, participatory engagement and role ownership, institutional belonging and collaborative culture, and transformative long-term impact. The findings demonstrate that volunteer participation functions as a developmental ecosystem integrating experiential learning, shared responsibility, relational cohesion, and career orientation. Rather than serving solely as auxiliary support, volunteers actively contribute to institutional processes, while simultaneously constructing professional identities within a university museum context. Conceptually, the study proposes a sustainable institutional volunteer model that bridges participatory museology, informal learning theory, and socio-museology. By foregrounding volunteers as internal actors in museum ecosystems, the research extends existing discussions on participatory practice and offers empirical evidence from a university-affiliated museum in Türkiye. The study highlights the importance of structural integration, meaningful role-taking, and collaborative culture in sustaining long-term volunteer engagement.