7th Information Days of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been initiated through cooperation between Near East University and Prime Ministry Disabled Services Coordination Board and Manisa Celal Bayar University at Hall 4 of İrfan Günsel Congress Centre with huge attendance.
According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, the 7th TRNC Barrier Free Information Days was initiated with an opening ceremony to which Prime Minister Ersin Tatar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Prof.Dr. İrfan S.Günsel, Rector of Manisa Celal Bayar University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ataç, Rector of Kütahya Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal, Vice Rectors, Head of Prime Ministry Disabled Services Coordination Board Günay Kibrit, Chair of Near East University Centre of Excellence Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı, Chair of Near East University Communal Research and Development Prof. Dr. Fahriye Altınay, Head of Institutes from Turkey, deans, academicians, students and guests attended.
Algım and Famagusta Special Education Centre students’ show received great applause
The 7th TRNC Barrier Free Information Days commenced with a minute’s silence, followed by the national anthem. It was pointed out that the students of Faculty of Health Sciences sang the national anthem with sign language. Subsequently, Algım Special Education Centre and Famagusta Special Education Centre performed a show, which was highly liked. Then, special education students presented a gift to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University, Prof.Dr. İrfan S.Günsel. Likewise, Prof.Dr. İrfan S. Günsel gave the students various presents.
Following the above, Head of Prime Ministry Disabled Services Coordination Board Günay Kibrit, Vice Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Rector of Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal, Rector of Celal Bayar University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ataç and TRNC Prime Minister Ersin Tatar each made a speech.
Günay Kibrit: “First Step was taken in 2013 at the helm of Near East University Centre of Excellence”
In his speech, Head of Prime Ministry Disabled Services Coordination Board Günay Kibrit summarised the development of TRNC Barrier Free Information Days since the date of first initiation. He stated that the first step was taken in 2013 through cooperation between Head of Near East University Centre of Excellence Prof. Dr. Nedime Serakıncı and Near East University Communal Research and Development Centre, and also Celal Bayar University with the participation of non-governmental organizations. He stated that each year it has become a more developed and more beautiful event. Furthermore, he expressed many thanks to officials and everyone from Turkey for always providing support.
Günay Kibrit: “Near East University offers constant support to disabled individuals”
Günay Kibrit said: “While the necessary steps were being taken in this path, Near East University academicians Prof.Dr.Zehra Altınay and Prof.Dr.Fahriye Altınay, and Mustafa Özhan Kalaç from Celal Bayar University provided constant support and enabled us to reach the point we have set goal to. The primary mission of the Coordination Board for the Disabled Services is to build a bridge between disabled people and the state and to enable people with disabilities to live without disabilities in the society. We see that IT can easily offer barrier free lives to the disabled. In fact, 90% barriers are eliminated. Near East University is a constant support provider for the disabled and there is a need for us to be all aware that there are disabled individuals living amongst us in the society.”
Prof Şanlıdağ: “Universities are based on transforming all scientific data obtained through academic studies, research and R & D activities for the benefit of the society."
Starting from Plato and Aristotle to the present day, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasised that the universities that produce, disseminate and present information to the society are institutions based on the philosophical principles of idealism and that they integrated different elements such as science and education. Furthermore, he stated that universities are based on transforming all scientific data obtained by academic studies, research and R & D activities for the benefit of the society. Moreover, he said that they use their energy to contribute to the economic, social, psychology and cultural development of local and global societies with their education and research experience in line with their mission of transforming society.
Prof Şanlıdağ: "We are determined to work continuously "
He said: “Hosted by Near East University, we are extremely happy to hold the 7th Barrier Free Information Days is being realised through cooperation with Manisa Celal Bayar University, TRNC Prime Ministry Disabled Services Coordination Board, TRNC Barrier-Free Information Platform and Turkey Barrier-Free Computing Platform. We, as members of the University, will continue our efforts to increase their access to social life, public institution services, education and information by utilizing information and technology services for our disabled brothers and sisters.”
We are in peace of taking concrete steps towards the rights of people with disabilities in the TRNC
Prof. Şanlıdağ: "In the final declaration of the International Barrier-Free Informatics Congress held on 11-13 September 2019 in Istanbul, , we stated that the Near East University will do its part in three important topics such as equal opportunities in education, regulation of education curriculum and employment of disabled people. We are in peace of taking concrete steps towards the rights of disabled people in TRNC.
For personally being at the 7th Barrier Free Information Days and supporting our disabled brothers wholeheartedly. I would like to thank Rector of Manisa Celal Bayar University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ataç, Rector of Kütahya Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın, to Dr.Mustafa Özhan Kalaç for organising the TRNC Barrier-Free Information Days for the 7th time. To the President of the TRNC Prime Ministry Disabled Services Coordination Board Günay Kibrit, to Prof.Dr.Fahriye Altınay, Head of Social Research and Development Centre, Chair of Disability Rights Monitoring Committee Dr. View Zehra Altınay, and public institutions and organizations that support our Symposium came to Turkey to representatives of civil society organizations.”
Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal: “No matter how much investment is made in ‘Human’ it is always at the centre of creation”
Rector of Kütahya Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal said: “Kütahya Dumlupınar University has developed the Barrier-Free Routing and Information System at the point of education and shared this with other universities. technology developed every day under the sea, a submarine, a plane at night can go to a place you want, so the money spent on these tools and equipment to increase human welfare, disabled citizens, disabled students can be spent to facilitate the lives of the stressed. Furthermore, human beings are at the centre of creation, so no matter how much investment is made in human beings and as members of such a belief we are very to have found the opportunity to contribute to the 7Th Barrier Free Information Days, hosted by the Near East University.”
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ataç: “Near East University is always by Celal Bayar University’s side”
Rector of Manisa Celal Bayar University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ataç said: “We are the grandson of an ancestor who has taken humanity as the centre of humanity in the history of mankind and civilized history, which focuses on human in the light of science. we are progressing step by step towards becoming a university where all awareness is created, how knowledge can benefit humanity and society in this field and how it can be activated. Furthermore, as Manisa Celal Bayar University, We are a university that can use technology in this process in order to create awareness in this field with a person who has laid the foundation of an unobstructed world. He emphasised that they knew Near East University was always by Celal Bayar University’s side; and expressed great gratitude.
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar: “Everyone with a disability is a candidate and everybody should help each other with a sense of responsibility”
In his speech, Prime Minister Ersin Tatar stated that, as can be deduced from its name-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus- we were a Turkic Republic. While protecting our own people in this important geography, we will continue work hard to facilitate the lives of our disabled citizens, as a citizen on the basis of equality, aim not to make discriminations and to protect them through various activities and messages given in this direction. He reminded that everyone is a candidate to become a disabled person and, in this regard, everyone should help each other in a sense of awareness and responsibility.
Subsequent to the speeches, Rector of Manisa Celal Bayar University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ataç, Rector of Kütahya Dumlupınar University Prof. Dr. Kazım Uysal presented gifts to Prime Minister Ersin Tatar in memory of the day.
