Graduates of the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry took their first step into their professional lives with an oath ceremony. At the ceremony, attended by academics, students, and families, the graduates pledged to uphold ethical values and serve human health. The ceremony also included the awarding of prizes to students who demonstrated outstanding achievement and to academics who contributed to the education process.
Students from the Faculty of Dentistry at Near East University, which ranks among the top 500 universities in the world, came together for the Oath Ceremony, one of the most significant milestones in their professional lives. The ceremony, held at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center, was attended by a large number of academics, students, and families.
Beginning with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, the dentists of future, who successfully completed years of intensive education, experienced the pride of taking their first steps into their professional lives. Opening speeches were given by Near East University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan and Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy. On behalf of the graduating students, Berkay Hamurcu, the top student in the Turkish Program of the Faculty of Dentistry, and Mohanna Faraji, the top student in the English Program, shared their thoughts and feelings.
During the ceremony, students graduating from both the Turkish and English programs took their professional oaths and officially gained the title of “dentist.” At the ceremony, filled with the joy of graduation, certificates were also presented to students who achieved outstanding academic success and completed their programs with distinction. Dentist Emine Gül Tunç, the third-ranked student in the Turkish Program, Dentist Orçun Turgut, the second top-ranked student in the Turkish Program and also the second-ranked student in the faculty, and Dentist Berkay Hamurcu, the first-ranked student in the Turkish Program and also the first-ranked student in the faculty, were awarded for their outstanding achievements.
Educational Excellence Awards Presented!
The ceremony also included the presentation of the “Educational Performance Awards”, organized for the third time this year by the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry. These awards, given to recognize the dedicated work of faculty members in the field of education and to honor their contributions to students, were determined based on students’ achievement assessments. In the assessment process, in which all faculty members and lecturers involved in theoretical, practical, and clinical education at the faculty were candidates, feedback from 164 preclinical and 355 clinical students, as well as students studying in Turkish and English programs, was taken into account. Within this scope, the “Outstanding Contribution to Practical Education Award”, “Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Education Award”, “Young Educator Achievement Award”, “Educational Achievement Award”, and “Most Effective Educator Award” were presented to their recipients.
Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan: “Wherever you go, you will represent the scientific vision and values of Near East University.”
Near East University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan emphasized that dentistry is not merely a profession practiced with technical knowledge, stating, “Dentistry is a special profession that requires understanding people, alleviating pain, building trust, and never compromising on ethical values.” He added that the oath taken today was not just an ordinary ceremonial step. Tüzünkan said, “This oath is a very important promise that you will use your knowledge for the benefit of human health, that you will not deviate from honesty, and that you will carry your conscientious responsibility under all circumstances.”
Touching upon the academic success of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tüzünkan noted that the university’s ranking among the top 500 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education 2026 World University Rankings is a great source of pride, adding, “This success is not just a ranking; it is the result of years of hard work and faith in science and education.” Highlighting the importance of health education, Prof. Dr. Tüzünkan emphasized that graduates of the Faculty of Dentistry are stepping into a profession that directly impacts human lives, saying, “Our goal is not only to train individuals with a profession; it is to produce health professionals who are committed to ethical values and guided by scientific thinking.” Addressing the graduates at the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Tüzünkan said, “Wherever you go, you will represent the scientific vision and values of Near East University.”
Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy: “We prepare our graduates for the profession as individuals committed to ethical values and open to lifelong learning.”
In his opening speech at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy, Dean of the Near East University Faculty of Dentistry, stated that the faculty was proud to graduate a total of 134 students this year, 50 from English-language programs and 84 from Turkish-language programs. Recalling that the faculty was established in 2007, Prof. Dr. Ulusoy noted that they have trained 2,172 dentists to date, adding, “Our faculty plays a significant role not only at the undergraduate level but also in postgraduate education.”
Prof. Dr. Ulusoy stated that the faculty offers education in two programs, Turkish and English, and that a total of 765 students are trained this year. Emphasizing their student-centered approach to education, Prof. Dr. Ulusoy said, “With our curriculum updated annually, we aim to develop our students’ professional, scientific, and individual competencies. We prepare our graduates for the profession as individuals committed to ethical values, capable of taking responsibility, thinking critically, adept at teamwork, and open to lifelong learning.” He noted that students graduate not only with professional knowledge but also as individuals committed to ethical values, capable of critical thinking, and open to lifelong learning. Prof. Dr. Ulusoy also stated that the Collegium Dentalis system, implemented in 2024, significantly contributes to the academic, social, and cultural development of students. Thanking the faculty members for their dedication, Prof. Dr. Mutahhar Ulusoy said, “I thank all our lecturers who, with their academic knowledge and efforts, have brought our faculty to its current prestigious position.” Finally, Prof. Dr. Ulusoy congratulated the graduates and wished them success in their professional lives.
Berkay Hamurcu: “We will remain faithful to the oath we took today and the sanctity of the white coat under all circumstances.”
Dentist Berkay Hamurcu, the top graduate of the Turkish Program and Faculty of Dentistry at Near East University, said in his graduation speech that it was a great honor for him to be on the same podium. Hamurcu said, “Today we are experiencing one of the proudest and most unforgettable days of our lives.” Referring to his experiences during the clinical and preclinical periods, Hamurcu said, “Our first patient, our first clinical visit, and all the excitement we experienced were unforgettable for us.” Thanking the academics who supported them during their education, Hamurcu said, “I thank all our lecturers who trained us and our administration who always trusted us.” He also emphasized that the opportunities provided by the university played a major role in their success.
Hamurcu stated that he undertook various tasks during his student years and that the experiences he gained during this period contributed significantly to his development. Addressing her fellow graduates, Hamurcu said, “My esteemed colleagues, these white coats that we proudly wear are symbols of dedication to humanity and health. We will not only be physicians who provide treatment in clinics; we will be physicians who touch people’s lives, alleviate their suffering, and consider public health sacred. We will remain faithful to the oath we have taken today and to the sanctity of the white coat under all circumstances.”
Mohanna Faraji: “This is not an end, but a new beginning in our story.”
Mohanna Faraji, the top student in the English Program and a dentist, said in her speech on behalf of the graduates that graduation brought both happiness and sadness. She stated that it was not easy to part ways with friends with whom they had shared the same classrooms, clinics, and the challenging educational process for years, and expressed the excitement of starting a new life. Faraji emphasized that dental education not only provided them with professional knowledge but also made them stronger and more resilient individuals. Thanking the academics who guided them throughout their education, she said, “Our lecturers were always there for us, sharing their knowledge and experience. Their support is one of the most important reasons why we are here today.”
She also thanked her family for always believing in her, saying that the friendships and memories they formed at Near East University would accompany them throughout their lives. Stating that graduation is not a farewell but a beginning towards new goals, Faraji said, “This is not the end of our story. It’s just a moment when we close one chapter and begin writing a new one. I hope we all have the courage to dream bigger, work harder, and leave beautiful marks on the lives of the people we will serve.” She concluded her speech by saying, “I wholeheartedly congratulate all of us as the graduates of the 2026 class.”
