The Graduation Ceremony at Near East University continued with great enthusiasm on its second day at NEU Event Park. 809 students from the Faculties of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Architecture, Sports Sciences, Tourism, and the Vocational School of Health Services threw their caps in the air.
The 2025-2026 Spring Semester Graduation Ceremony at Near East University was filled with proud moments on its second day. On the second day of the ceremony held at NEU Event Park, a total of 809 students who qualified to graduate from the Faculties of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Architecture, Sports Sciences, Tourism, and the Vocational School of Health Services received their diplomas and experienced the joy of graduation.
Thousands of people filled the stands at the ceremony, where graduates enjoyed live music in the festival area before the program, followed by a DJ performance that created a lively atmosphere. The night was filled with colorful scenes, culminating with a fireworks show. Opening speeches were given by Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, and Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Rector of Near East University. Former Speaker of the Republic Assembly and Member of Parliament Zorlu Töre also attended the ceremony and presented diplomas to the graduates.
The ceremony also included a video message from AI-based academician AI. Prof. DUX. Following this, Defne Çilem Debreli, a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture, spoke on behalf of the Turkish program graduates, while Franklin Onyebuchi Eze, a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, spoke on behalf of the international students. Prof. DUX delivered a humorous speech. DUX said, “To be frank, I haven’t experienced as much exam stress as you. I haven’t stayed up all night to finish projects. But according to my records, some of you have transformed into semi-biological, semi-technological beings that rely on coffee for a semester.” He added, “Remember, success isn’t about knowing everything. Because it’s hard to compete with me in that regard. Success is about being curious, trying, making mistakes, and getting back up. And in that respect, people are still much better than us. I congratulate you all, may your path be clear.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “Wherever you are, whatever success you achieve, Near East University will continue to be your home.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, stated that graduation ceremonies evoke feelings of pride, responsibility, and that this year holds a special meaning for them. “I am experiencing the satisfaction of seeing a job done correctly. This year, that feeling is even deeper. Because you are the graduates of the first year we ranked among the top 500 universities in the world.”, he said.
Stating that the story of Near East University is actually much more than just the story of a university, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “This is the story of people who believe that goals, not opportunities, are the determining factor. Every obstacle we have faced over the years, instead of deterring us, has bound us more firmly to our goals.”
Emphasizing that the graduates are now part of the more than 60,000 Near East University alumni spread across the globe, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel congratulated the graduates by saying, “Today, you are receiving a diploma from one of the top 500 universities in the world. Wherever you are, whatever success you achieve, Near East University will continue to be your home. May your path be clear, your goals great, and your courage enduring.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Universities are not only institutions that produce knowledge, but also compasses that shape the future of societies.”
Stating that universities are not only institutions that produce knowledge but also compasses that shape the future of societies, the Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, said that a stronger academic structure emerges when they act together. In a significant part of his speech, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ touched upon artificial intelligence and technological transformation, stating that this transformation profoundly affects not only professional life but also how people define themselves. Addressing the graduates with the words, “You have professions, that is, you have a world of meaning.” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ emphasized that the real issue is being able to rebuild this world of meaning without losing it.
Stating that the most defining question in the future will be “Who am I?”, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ drew attention to the fact that identity has become a constantly reconstructed process rather than a fixed structure. Thus, stating that graduates should not only focus on professional success but also become individuals who create their own meaning and consciously shape their identities within a changing world, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ congratulated all graduates.
Defne Çilem Debreli: “We gathered not only for graduation but also to see the fruits of years of hard work and dreams.”
Defne Çilem Debreli, a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, emphasized in her graduation speech that this process not only resulted in academic success but also in developing patience, responsibility, time management, and the ability to restart in the face of challenges. She stated that the support of family, teachers, and friends was the strongest part of this journey. Debreli expressed that graduation is not an end, but a gateway to new beginnings, adding that true success lies not in the destination reached, but in the character gained along the way.
Franklin Onyebuchi Eze: “Struggle is not the opposite of growth, but often its source.”
Franklin Onyebuchi Eze, a graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and the valedictorian of his class, emphasized in his graduation speech that the challenges encountered during university years are a crucial part of personal development. He noted that students from different countries and cultures came together on a common journey, stating that low grades, missed goals, and repeated courses were not failures but a natural part of the growth process. Eze, giving an example from her own experience, said that retaking the Turkish course she had failed contributed to her ability to communicate with the local people today. Comparing difficulties to the wind that strengthens trees, Eze said, “Our greatest growth often comes from difficulties we didn’t choose but learned to overcome. Struggle is not the opposite of growth, but often its source.”
Muhammet Taha Elmas: “Today is not an end, it is the first step of a new beginning on the path of service to humanity.”
Muhammet Taha Elmas, the top student of the Vocational School of Health Services, emphasized in his graduation speech that studying in the health field means not only acquiring a profession but also undertaking the responsibility of touching human lives. He stated that in addition to the knowledge and experience they gained during their university years, they also developed a sense of conscience, patience, and responsibility, and that the graduates will serve humanity in different areas of health services in the future. Thanking his family, academics, and friends, Elmas stated that graduation is not an end but the beginning of a new journey dedicated to goodness and healing, adding, “Being from the Near East is a privilege.”
