Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world, has successfully completed a six-month Turkish language course for immigrant students in collaboration with Democracy Secondary School.
Near East University, ranked among the top 500 universities in the world and the 39th most influential university globally, has completed its Turkish language course for immigrant students as part of its ongoing educational initiatives for disadvantaged individuals. The “Turkish as a Foreign Language” program, which supports students’ adaptation to education and social life by improving their Turkish language skills, was implemented as part of Near East University’s social responsibility efforts. Students who successfully completed the program, which lasted approximately six months and was conducted in collaboration with the Near East University Turkish Language Teaching Department, the Turkish Preparatory School, and Democracy Secondary School, were awarded certificates. The project also made a significant contribution to improving the Turkish language skills of immigrant and refugee students and supporting their social integration.
The training program, given twice a week by Near East University Atatürk Faculty of Education Turkish Language Teaching Department students Yekda Umut Kösen, Irmak Kuzukesen, İrem Nisa Gül, and Berivan Doğan, was conducted on a voluntary basis.
Following the completion of the program, a certificate ceremony was held at Demokrasi Middle School, attended by Near East University Turkish Language Teaching Department faculty members Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır, Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut, and Dr. Tülay Kaya Tekman, as well as Demokrasi Middle School Principal Ali Çoban. Certificates were presented to the successful students, as well as to the faculty members and prospective teachers who contributed to the project.
Social integration strengthened through Turkish language education!
Speaking at the ceremony, Democracy Secondary School Principal Ali Çoban stated that the project made significant contributions to the students’ educational lives and social development. Emphasizing that learning Turkish is crucial not only for the academic success but also for the social integration of students from different countries, Çoban said, “Thanks to this collaboration with Near East University, our students have achieved significant gains. I thank the academics and teacher candidates involved in the project.”
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır stressed that universities should also be institutions that develop solutions to social problems, adding that through the training they undertook, they contributed to the social integration process of students whose native language is not Turkish. Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut, one of the project managers, emphasized the importance of Turkish language instruction for cultural integration, saying, “Language is one of the most fundamental tools for an individual to connect with the society in which they live. The progress our students have shown during the training process has made us extremely happy. I congratulate all the teacher candidates who contributed.” Dr. Tülay Kaya Tekman emphasized the students’ efforts during the project, saying, “Throughout the six-month period, we observed significant progress in our students’ Turkish communication skills. This success was possible thanks to the dedicated work of our prospective teachers studying at our university.”
