In the first ceremony organized by the Near East University for the 2022-2023 fall semester graduates, 350 students graduated from 7 faculties and 1 college threw their caps and received their diplomas
Date Added: 25 January 2023, 06:42


Students who graduated from the Near East University in the fall term of 2022-2023 received their diplomas at the ceremony held at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center. At the first of the graduation ceremonies, 350 students who graduated from the Faculty of Nursing, Pharmacy, Economics and Administrative Sciences, Tourism, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sports Sciences and Health Sciences and Health Services Vocational School of Near East University celebrated their graduation enthusiasm by capping off.

The vice-rectors, deans and faculty members of Near East University did not leave their students alone at the graduation ceremony, where the graduates and their families showed great interest.

The ceremony started with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, University of Kyrenia Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Prof. Dr. Ümran Dal Yılmaz, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy Prof. Dr. İhsan Çalış, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Şerife Zihni Eyüpoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Prof. Dr. Tülen Saner, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş, Dean of Faculty of Sports Sciences Mehtap Tiryakioğlu, Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Adile Öniz Özgören, Director of Vocational School of Health Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Aykaç, vice deans, heads of departments, academic and administrative staff, students and their families attended to the ceremony.

At the ceremony, on behalf of all faculty deans, Dean of Tourism Faculty Prof. Dr. Tülen Saner and Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Şerife Zihni Eyüpoğlu delivered speeches. After Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ's speech, Günay Ertopaloğlu, a graduate of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, on behalf of the Turkish graduates, and Kehinda Titilayo, a graduate of the Faculty of Nursing, shared their feelings on behalf of the international students.


Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Whatever the feeling you are experiencing at that moment, always focus on continuing your progress and walking without being a prisoner of your feeling.”
Starting his speech by congratulating the graduate students, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “We are experiencing sadness and happiness together in the first weeks of 2023. While graduating you to send you off for your next adventure, we, unfortunately, lost our teacher Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan last week. Our esteemed teacher, whom we remember with the deepest respect, gave us a final lesson when he passed away from this world. He reminded us again that life; sadness, happiness, success, failure and many other opposite emotions and situations. That is why, no matter what feeling you are experiencing at that moment, always focus on continuing your progress and walking ahead, without being a prisoner of yoour feelings.”

"Keep in mind that your graduation is a beginning, not an end," saying Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ further added, “Each of you represents a different country, a different culture and a different past in the world. You graduated from the Near East University, which has students from 143 different countries and is ranked among the best universities in the world by many independent higher education rating institutions. I am sure that this multicultural atmosphere you live in and the friendships you have made will enrich you as much as the academic education you have received. And remember that wherever you go in the world, you are now a member of a very big family.”


Prof. Dr. Tülen Saner: “All of our students who graduated from here today have a strong background. They are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to compete at the national and international level.”
Near East University Faculty of Tourism Dean Prof. Dr. Tülen Saner started her speech by greeting the graduates and said, “Near East University; In addition to the academic education it provides, it continues to create an atmosphere in which students can improve themselves with its significant achievements in the fields of art, science, health and technology.”

Prof. Dr. Tülen Saner said, “In the list of the international higher education rating agency Times Higher Education, ODTÜ URAP and AD Scientific Index 2023 World University Rankings, it is on the list as the best university of the TRNC by far; Near East University ranked 5th in Turkey and 408th in Europe. In addition, in the list of the best academics of the TRNC, 9 of the top 10 academicians of the TRNC are from Near East University, furthermore, 15 of the top 20 academicians are also from Near East University.”

“All of our students who graduated from here today have a strong background. They are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to compete at the national and international level,” saying Prof. Dr. Saner, also added “I'm sure; you, our esteemed graduates, will represent us in the best places in the best way. You will be the ambassadors of the Near East University and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”


Prof. Dr. Şerife Zihni Eyüpoğlu: “Each of you came from many different countries and met here. We are all proud that you will represent Near East University all over the world.”
Near East University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Şerife Zihni Eyüpoğlu also delivered a speech, starting her speech by commemorating Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan. “I would like to commemorate Ümit Hassan, our Rector, who passed away last week. We all felt the deep sadness of his loss. Like all my colleagues, I am proud to have known and worked with such an extraordinary person. May my dear teacher Ümit rest in peace."

Stating that he was honored to speak on behalf of the deans of the faculties, Prof. Dr. Şerife Zihni Eyüpoğlu said, “As Near East University, all of our faculties are working hard to prepare our students for their future careers and at the same time to provide them with the necessary equipment by providing them with the best education to adapt to the constantly changing and demanding working environment all over the world.”

Prof. Dr. Eyüpoğlu further said,“You have all come here today as talented and esteemed individuals. Addressing the graduates by saying "You are ready to overcome the challenges that will continue to improve yourselves. Today is not an end, it is a beginning. A new life lies before you. A new life full of new demands, new responsibilities and new opportunities. I would like to thank each and every one of you individually for what you have contributed to your faculties and our university during your stay here. Each of you came from many different countries and met here. We are all proud that you will represent Near East University all over the world.”


Günay Ertoplaoğlu: “Education always continues in life. Thus, we will continue on our way by renewing and improving ourselves every new day.”
Speaking on behalf of the students who graduated from the Turkish programs of the Near East University, Günay Ertoplaoğlu, the top graduate of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of the Near East University, said, “We have dreamed of the day we will graduate for years. Today, we have successfully completed this long and enjoyable adventure.”

Günay Ertoplaoğlu, who said that university life has improved them in many ways, further said, “With the quality education and knowledge that the Near East University conveyed to us; We will be successful individuals who know their responsibilities and adhere to Atatürk's Principles and Revolutions.

Ertoplaoğlu, who thanked students' families and faculty teachers for their support throughout their education life, said, “Our education life did not end with the diplomas we received. Education always continues in life. That's why we will continue on our way by renewing and improving ourselves every new day."


Kehinda Titilayo: “We weren't just conferred upon a diploma. We've also made lasting friends, a family, and memories that will last a lifetime. Near East University has truly become another home for us, apart from our homes.”
Kehinda Titilayo, who graduated from the Near East University Faculty of Nursing as the top graduate in the fall term of 2022-2023, started her speech on behalf of international students with the phrase "Welcome" in Turkish. Saying that she is proud to speak on behalf of the 2022-2023 fall semester graduates, Kehinda Titilayo congratulated all her graduate friends and said, “Today we have successfully completed a very important stage of our lives. We grew up with the education we received here, improved ourselves and turned into esteemed individuals for our societies. I would like to express my gratitude to the Near East University and to each and every person here, especially our professors.”

“Wherever we go, we will always look back and remember how this university brought us academically and socially. What we learn here is not just a syllabus. We learned how to take care of each other, we learned to understand diversity by coming from different cultures, we learned not to give up even if we failed," said Kehinda Titilayo, and further added "We didn't just earn a diploma. We've also made lasting friends, a family, and memories that will last a lifetime. Near East University has truly become another home for us, apart from our homes.”

“Personally, I would like to thank my superhero father very much,” said Kehinda Titilayo. “My dreams have come true, I am now a nurse!” Emphasizing that she made esteemed friends at the Near East University, Titilayo gave her speech in Turkish. “Congratulations to all of my graduate friends. Don't give up until you reach your goal.” Kehinda Titilayo also said, “I wanted to express my feelings in Turkish words. Because here, in an important part of my life, I have walked a long way with the Turks. I wanted to show my gratitude in this way”, and received great applause from the hall.