Korkut Ata/Dede Korkut, the inventor of the kopuz and the master of the poets, is one of the wise types of the Turkish world; Dede Korkut Stories are also among the richest sources of Turkish culture. Osmaniye has preserved this polymath and his work, which is one of the common values of the Turkish society of which it is a part, within its cultural codes and has endeavored to carry it to the future. People with the characteristics of the polymath type were called the "Dede Korkut of the age" and had a say in the meetings. Osmaniye province and its surroundings have been the settlement area of various Turkish tribes throughout history. The names of Ulaşlı and Kınık are also found in Dede Korkut Stories. The tribes, which continued the nomadic lifestyle of animal husbandry in the region, have continued their existence and culture until today. The similarities between the socio-cultural life told in the stories and the culture of the region are quite obvious and high. It is possible to see them in social structure, economic activities and ceremonies. Dede Korkut type and Dede Korkut Stories have been valued in the minstrel tradition that has preserved its vitality in Osmaniye, and they have been treated as subjects in the works produced. Traces of Dede Korkut Stories can be found in the folk tales told in the region. As a matter of fact, one of the variants of the Bey Beyrek Story was compiled from Osmaniye. In the region, personal names such as Dede, Korkut, Ulaş, Burla, Selcen, Beyböğrek, Boğaç mentioned in the Dede Korkut Stories and place names such as Ulaşlı, Bayındırlı, Gökçedağ, Korkut Ata from which these names originate are found. In addition to the historical and cultural ties, the opening of the university, which was named Korkut Ata, was a turning point. There was a longing for the establishment of a university in Osmaniye, which became a province on October 24, 1996, and since 2000, the name of the university began to be put in words as Korkut Ata. A local newspaper called “Korkutata” started its publication life, and other newspapers supported the issue by keeping it on the agenda with their news. With the establishment of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University on May 29, 2007, cultural studies on Korkut Ata / Dede Korkut in the region gained momentum. Korkut Ata / Dede Korkut name has been widely used in both private and public institutions and organizations. Korkut Ata statues were erected in the city and on the university campus; the names and words in the stories are included on the pedestal and around the statues. Within the university, related articles were produced, conferences were given, symposiums were planned, panels were organized, brochures and web pages were prepared. In cooperation with the Karatepe Rug Cooperative, rugs with the theme of Korkut Ata were woven, magnets were made, and a Dede Korkut Corner was created in the university library, and material items such as books, stamps, commemorative coins, and slings were included here. The university, which sees the name it bears as one of its missions to promote and keep it alive; It continues to protect Korkut Ata / Dede Korkut, which is the common value and cultural heritage of the Turkish world, and to keep this cultural heritage alive at national and international level and to transfer it to future generations. Depending on the growth and development of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, studies will gain depth and diversity in cooperation with local, national and global stakeholders according to the requirements of the age. In this article, it is aimed to reveal and evaluate the projections of Korkut Ata / Dede Korkut and Dede Korkut Stories, which have an important place in the Turkish world, in Osmaniye, through literature review and field research methods.

Korkut Ata, Dede Korkut, Dede Korkut Stories, Osmaniye, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University.