At the first ceremony organized by Near East University for 2023-2024 Fall Semester graduates, 175 undergraduate students and master’s and doctoral graduates from 5 faculties threw their caps.

Near East University’s 2023-2024 Fall Semester graduates took their first steps towards their new lives with the ceremony held at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center. In the first of the ceremonies held with intense participation, 175 students who completed the Near East University’s Atatürk Education, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture Faculty and Civil and Environmental Engineering faculties threw their caps with enthusiasm. At the same ceremony, master’s and doctoral graduates of the same faculties also conferred upon their diplomas.

At the ceremony, which started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, a music recital was given by academician-artists of Atatürk Faculty of Education, Assist. Prof. Dr. Erkan Sülün, Lecturer Gözdem İlkay and Lecturer İmge Dinçer.

The opening speeches were made by Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and Near East University Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Dean Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş. Dean of Near East University’s Atatürk Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Yağmur Çerkez, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Director of the Graduate Education Institute, Prof. Dr. K. Hüsnü Can Başer, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Bülent Bilgehan, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Özge Özden, academicians, students and their families attended the ceremony.

At the ceremony, which was held with great enthusiasm, on behalf of the graduating students, Doğa Ateş, a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kardelen Çakal, a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Laury Cheista, a graduate of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yağış Erzen, a graduate of the Atatürk Faculty of Education, and Oluwasegun Henry Jaiyeoba, a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering, expressed their feelings.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “No matter where you go in the world, never forget that you are a member of a very big family.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stated that a total of 680 students will receive their diplomas at the graduation ceremonies that will continue throughout the day and said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate all our students who have successfully reached one of the most meaningful crossroads of their lives at the end of a devoted journey.”

Addressing the graduates, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “In today’s world where information and technology are rapidly developing, I believe that the information you will produce and the role you will play in your professional lives will make great contributions to our society and the world.”

Emphasizing that Near East University is a student-centered international campus university, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “You have been equipped with a student-oriented education approach. By using the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout your education life, you have improved your ability to communicate effectively and accurately. Each of you represents a different country, a different culture and a different history of the world. And today, you graduated from Near East University, which is ranked among the best universities in the world by many independent higher education rating institutions, with students from 143 different countries. I am sure that this multicultural atmosphere and the friendships you have made, as well as the academic education you have received, have developed and enriched you. Remember, no matter which corner of the world you go to, you are now a member of a very big family.”

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş: “You are no longer just graduates, but representatives who will contribute to the development of society.”
Dean of Near East University Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş in his speech said “Today, we celebrate not only your academic achievements, but also your character, perseverance and determination for success. You are stepping into a new life with your wealth of experience that will guide you in the future. Remember that the road to success is not straight. Enjoy your journey, evaluate it and continue learning. Each of you has the power to create a positive impact, inspire others and leave your mark on the world. Your future is full of hope. I look forward to seeing the contributions you will make to society.”

Doğa Ateş: “I have full faith that we will walk towards a future full of success together.”
Speaking on behalf of the graduates at the ceremony, Doğa Ateş, a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, stated that the education process was difficult and fast, and said, “We are now at the beginning of a new path and have stepped into a new era. I believe that we will walk towards a future full of success together. Food science is an exciting and multi-disciplinary branch of science. This science, which covers a large part of our lives, ensures that food is controlled from the production stage to consumption, giving importance to human health. The most important reason why I chose this department is to contribute to people’s consumption of healthy foods, and this is a great honor for me.”

Kardelen Çakal: “Work hard and lovingly, fight for the values you believe in.”
Kardelen Çakal, a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, said, “The department we studied gave us analytical thinking, openness to innovations and the ability to understand the human mind and behavior. At the end of our education, we are aware that we will perform our profession in accordance with ethical principles, that we will not ignore human dignity and that we will constantly strive to improve ourselves.”

Laury Cheista: “Let’s take with us the resilience and fighting spirit that completes us.”
Laury Cheista, a graduate of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, expressed her happiness by saying, “We are here not only as graduates, but as a family. “As a testament to the power of perseverance, friendship and resilience.”

Laury Cheista said that each of the experiences they gained throughout their education life is very important and said, “Every moment we step into new adventures; Let’s take with us the resilience and fighting spirit that completes us. Life is an unpredictable adventure and success is often achieved by overcoming difficulties. We will overcome the difficulties we face without giving up, with what we have learned in our education life.”

Yağış Erzen: “We learned not only academic knowledge but also the responsibilities of the teaching profession.”
Yağış Erzen, a graduate of Near East University Atatürk Faculty of Education, said, “The education we received taught us not only academic knowledge but also the responsibilities of the teaching profession.” Emphasizing that teaching is a sacred profession, Yağış Erzen said, “This sacred profession also includes the responsibility of shaping young minds, which are the guarantee of our future, guiding them and providing beneficial individuals to society. We are ready to fulfill this responsibility properly with the training we have received.”

Oluwasegun Henry Jaiyeoba: “We thank our professors for taking us to higher academic heights than we ever imagined.”
Oluwasegun Henry Jaiyeoba, a graduate of Near East University Faculty of Engineering, said, “Our graduation is a reward for the effort, dedication and determination we have shown over the past few years. We will carry this feeling of success throughout our lives. We express our deepest gratitude to everyone who walked with us on this journey. Our families, thank you for believing in us and allowing us to achieve our dreams through education. We thank our teachers for taking us to academic peaks higher than we ever imagined.”

Oluwasegun Henry Jaiyeoba emphasized that what they gained at university was not just the theoretical knowledge in textbooks, and said that extracurricular activities and friendships also improved them. Addressing his friends, Jaiyeoba said, “As we move forward in life, we will inevitably encounter failures and setbacks. We will continue to push our limits to be the best.”