Equipped with knowledge, they were put into life… Graduation ceremony of Near East University Faculty of Arts and Sciences was held
Date Added: 03 February 2020, 11:37
Last Updated Date:17 November 2020, 15:50

Students who graduated from the Near East University Faculty of Arts and Sciences in the 2019-2020 Fall Semester received their diplomas with a graduation ceremony held in enthusiasm.

The ceremony was held at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center. Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, department heads, faculty members, students and parents attended to the ceremony.

The ceremony, which started with a minute of silence and the reading of the Turkish National Anthem, continued with the violin concert performed by Ilias Abdoulline, Ataturk Education Faculty Music Teaching Instructor.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, and Hasan Yılmaz on behalf of graduates made a speech.

Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul: “Near East University is the door of Turkish Cypriot community opening to abroad with education, science, art and technology...
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul in his opening remarks stated that the faculty provides services in the field of basic sciences and said, "The building, of which the foundation is not strong, collapses, and it is the same in education, if you do not lay the foundation of education on strong bases, you can not get anything from education.." Emphasizing that Near East University is the university of the firsts, Prof. Dr. Özkul stated that after starting education in 1988, Near East University is opening the door of the TRNC society to abroad in education, science, art, technology. Stating that great importance was attached to art and art studies at Near East University, Prof. Dr. Özkul, pointed out that Turkic republics, Balkan communities and Central Asian people are gathering at the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts in the TRNC.

He added that “GÜNSEL” electric car, which was designed by Near East University and will be introduced in February, will be put on the market. Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul underlined that R&D studies of the university are at the forefront, too. Stating that the articles published in international journals produced by academicians reveal the quality of scientific production of Near East University. Prof. Dr. Özkul stated that Near East University is leading the important studies that support development in the fields of science, education, technology and health. Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul concluded his words by stating that the students will reap the fruits of the education they have received for 4 years, and they were novices like birds which learn to fly from their nest when they first started their departments, but now they are individuals who can stand on their feet.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt: "Academic publications carried our university to the highest level in Turkey and the world ..."
Vice-Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt in his speech mentioned about the national and international scientific activities of the university, stated that the academicians of Near East University made publications in international journals indexed in WOS and Scopus and these publications have leveled the university to the highest level in Turkey and worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Kurt; “We had scientific events both locally and internationally. We hosted 40 percent of 100 scientists who pioneered Turkey at our university. We hosted Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar at our university. Events held at our university are very important because they give enthusiasm, pleasure, and motivation to our students. One day, our graduates will obtain the Nobel prize, why not! In this sense, I call out to our graduates, draw a line above all your expectations and double them, raise your expectations. Don't be ordinary because everyone is ordinary in this sense. Try to do new things, be innovative. Criticize the things you do, don't like them. Think about how you can do better. Build value and empathy for people. You are a Near Easterner and always proud of being a Near Easterner. I wish you every success.”

He explained the nature of the education given at Near East University…
Speaking on behalf of graduate students at the ceremony, Hasan Yılmaz, a student of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Department of Psychology, talked about the qualified education he received at the Near East University, giving examples of the quotations of famous thinkers Faucolt and Hai Yang.Yılmaz said, “Faucolt whom I follow his ideas with great curiosity says; 'There is no one where everyone is the same'. When I arrived on the island three and a half years ago and when I first stepped into the campus of Near East University, I seemed to witness an almost drawn portrait of the universality of academic, social life and knowledge. The famous educational philosopher Hai Yang says; “Teachers open the door, you have to enter yourself” first of all, I would like to extend my thanks to Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, our dean for always acting with the student-oriented system and for sharing with us the most up-to-date and correct information, and to all my valuable teachers who opened huge doors for us to enter.”

Hasan Yılmaz thanked his friends and family in the continuation of his speech and ended his words with a poem by Nazım Hikmet.

They threw the caps up ...
After the speeches, students were presented with their diplomas, and the students experienced the joy of graduating with the traditional capping ceremony.