This study aims to examine the interaction between students, particularly those coming from the Turkic World through exchange programs such as; Erasmus, Orhun, and Academic Cooperation at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, and the perception of social memory and identity in Turkiye. The relationship these students, who share common historical and cultural ties with Turkiye, establish with the country’s social memory will be analyzed within the framework of Jan Assmann’s theory of communicative memory. According to Assmann, communicative memory is a dynamic form of memory shaped through individuals' daily lives and their interactions within social environments. In this context, students studying in Turkiye are provided with an opportunity both to reassess their own cultural identities and to engage with Turkey’s collective memory. Yet, an essential question arises: Are these students, with diverse cultural backgrounds, merely recipients of Turkiye’s social memory, or do they act as active agents in shaping it? The mutual interaction that occurs through social relationships fosters cultural exchange and leaves enduring traces in the shared memory. Although these students share historical ties to the Turkish language and culture, the relationships they form go beyond personal experiences and gain significance at the societal level. Therefore, student exchange programs offer not only academic benefits but also contribute significantly to cultural rapprochement, mutual understanding, and cooperation, thus creating a foundation for the sharing of social memories and the construction of multicultural identities.
: Communicative Memory, Social Memory, Cultural Interaction, Identity Construction, Student Exchange Programs