2018-2019 Academic Year Spring Term graduates of Near East University Faculty of Architecture received their diplomas with a glorious ceremony held in the Near East Primary School Courtyard.
According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press & Public Relations Office of NEU, the graduation ceremony was realized with the participation of TRNC third President Derviş Eroğlu, Tourism and Environment Minister Unal Ustel, NEU vice Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, NEU Faculty of Architecture Dean Prof. Dr. Zeynep Onur, NEU Faculty of Architecture Deputy Dean Assistant Professor Sema Uzunoğlu, department chairpersons, faculty members, students and their parents.
The graduation ceremony began with a moment in silence in mourning of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish Cypriot leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük, TRNC Founding President Rauf R. Denktaş and all martyrs and followed by singing the national anthem. Then, the Latin Dance Show of the Near East University Dance School Students was highly appreciated. Berkay Pekmezci, one of the students of the Interior Architecture Department, added color to the ceremony with a dance show.
Prior to the presentation of diplomas, Vice Rector Associate Professor Mustafa Kurt, Faculty of Architecture Dean Professor Zeynep Onur, and on behalf of graduates, Mustafa Gaber Ahmed and Kübra Kendir delivered a speech expressing the meaning and importance of the day.
Kübra Kendir: “We are equipped with the requirements of the profession of architecture… ’’
Addressing the attending body on behalf of all graduates, Kübra Kendir stated that everyone had a different story and spoke about the crucial role of their distinguished faculty members in equipping them with comprehensive knowledge and skills required to fulfill their profession successfully.
“Architecture is not only a science; it is also a way of life. Architecture is a profession that allows us to put our creativeness on papers via our pencils both to touch the lives and give direction to lives. An architect is a competent and critical thinking person who is open to innovations, who has new Invigorating ideas to shape the future. For this reason, Architecture also needs multilateral thinking ability and a vast knowledge accumulation. In line with the quality education we received at the Near East University Faculty of Architecture, we have gained comprehensive professional knowledge, skills and experiences required to address the needs of the profession. Thanks to the distinguished education we received at this prominent faculty, we have learnt to look at life from another perspective; from the window of images. We have met nationally and internationally renowned scientists within the body of Near East University, we had the opportunity to ask them questions and get precious answers to shed light on our lives. Today, we are setting a foot towards our future as architects. On behalf of my friends, who are at the threshold of their professional lives, I would like to extend my appreciation to our very precious family members, to our teaching staff, who spared no sacrifices in raising us as well equipped individuals, and to our friends who faced the challenges together with us” said she.
Prof. Dr. Zeynep Onur: “From now on, as a designer, you are a candidate for a long and endless challenge…”
Underlining that the Faculty of Architecture with all her departments adopts the mission of Near East University, which has a leading role in expanding the boundaries of knowledge in today’s world of civilization, Professor Zeynep Onur addressed the graduating students and expressed her views: “From now on, you will be continuing your way by undertaking many roles in life. In order to ensure a successful and happy life, you need to learn more and add on the knowledge and experiences that you have acquired throughout your educational lives, you need to discover yourselves, you need to be your own person and go after your interests and dreams while setting out to shape the future.
As a designer, you are now a candidate for a long and endless challenge. Architecture is a difference and it was a life style. Dealing with the future; designing the future, requires great responsibility. This responsibility extends from your smallest occupational element to the future of your community, your country. Due to your profession, you must adopt free-thinking as a very important ethical value throughout your life. I hope you will be a person creating works reflecting your own, not the liking of others. I hope you will never lose the courage of trying to be your own. This is the difference between “survival” and “living”. I hope you will have the belief, desire and joy to sustain this story for the rest of your life. We consider all of you as individuals equipped with comprehensive knowledge and skills who are capable to create their own values and change the world. You are graduating from the NEU Faculty of Architecture which has a proven quality and excellence in education. Our graduates have left their marks on many outstanding projects in the field of architecture, interior architecture and landscape architecture in various countries across the world. Their accomplishments indicate the power of our faculty in exceeding the boundaries of our country. It’s possible that you will encounter challenges; I firmly believe that you will overcome all challenges thanks to quality education that you received at Near East University” noted she.
Professor Zeynep Onur ended her remarks by congratulating the graduates and extending her appreciations to her colleagues for their devoted efforts to raise so well-equipped individuals.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt: “Architecture is a Synthesis of Science and Art…”
Assuming that Near East University is a 4th generation university, Associate Professor Mustafa Kurt stated that Near East University adopts 4.0 industry model and aims to transform all scientific data that they obtained through academic studies, and R & D activities for the benefit of society.
“Today we are experiencing the excitement and enthusiasm of celebrating not an end but a new beginning. Our students, each of who has a distinguished value for us, will step into their professional lives as a part of Near East Family. Our graduates have received their education in the context of equality principle in a contemporary environment where they had the opportunity to combine practice with theoretical knowledge, have a say in academic debates, and participate in many activities. We know that the only treasure that cannot be taken from their hands, cannot be handed back and cannot be torn off from them is the education that they have received at the Near East University, the world brand educational institution that proven her quality and excellence in education. Near East University stands forefront as an internationally known prestigious university. The greatness of Near East University is not numerical; it is not physical either. The greatness of a university is always assessed by taking into consideration the science that it produces and therefore the number of scientific articles published in high index journals. 297 scientific events in 2018 and 312 scientific events in 2019 were realized under the umbrella of Near East University. As of 2018, more than 1200 articles of faculty members of Near East University were published by prestigious journals scanned by Web of Science and Scopus, the largest abstract and citation databases of peer-reviewed literature covering tens of thousands research topics across all scientific disciplines. This means that there is a scientific activity on our campus almost every day except Sundays.
You may graduate from any university, but it is a privilege for you to graduate from the world brand Near East University, which has play a catalyze role in accelerating the innovative scientific studies and science production for the benefit of the society” noted he.
Associate Professor Kurt ended his remarks by wishing outstanding success for all the graduates.
Faculty’s top scoring graduates were decorated with medals… Their diplamas were presented.
Following the opening remarks the top scoring graduates of the Faculty of Architecture of Near East University were decorated with medals and presented their diplomas by TRNC 3rd President Derviş Eroğlu, Tourism and Environment Minister Unal Ustel and Near East University vice Rector Associate Professor Mustafa Kurt.
TRNC 3rd President Derviş Eroğlu presented the diploma to his grandchild…
The 3rd President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Dr. Derviş Eroğlu presented the diploma to his grandchild who graduated from the Department of Interior Architecture. Then, the graduates took the professional oath and received their diplomas. Upon receiving their diplomas, the graduates experienced the joy of graduation by throwing their caps.
