While 250 academicians were awarded in 6 categories at the Near East University Science Awards ceremony, the owner of the Dr. Suat Günsel Gold Medal Honor Award became Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman.
Near East Science Awards, presented by Near East University to support and honor scientific productivity, found their owners with a magnificent ceremony held at the Near East University Atatürk Culture and Congress Center. At the ceremony where the academics who could not receive an award last year due to the pandemic conditions received their awards. 250 academicians were awarded in 6 categories; Near East University Faculty of Engineering Deputy Dean and Head of Artificial Intelligence Engineering Department Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, awarded for the first time in the science category and received Dr. Suat Günsel Gold Medal Honor Award.
At the award ceremony held with the participation of President Ersin Tatar, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Labor and Social Security Hasan Taçoy, Deputy of Nicosia Ahmet Savaşan and President of YODAK Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı, in addition to the Publication Award, Publication Honor Award, Young Researcher Award and Young Researcher Encouragement Award categories, which are given considering academic performance data in each of the years 2020 and 2021, other awards were also given for the first time this year in the Most Influential Researcher Award and Best Academic Performance Award categories.
In the magnificent ceremony attended by 500 guests, the opening speeches were made by Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, YODAK President Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu and President Ersin Tatar.
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “I do congratulate you, our esteemed professors, who deserve the awards they have received with their efforts, productivity, belief in science and knowledge.”
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, who hosted the award ceremony, emphasized the research vision of Near East University and said, “While universities shape the future of societies by raising qualified individuals who will carry the society forward; with the scientific knowledge, new ideas and new visions they produce; they stand out as the most important institutions that shape the intellectual and physical infrastructure of social progress. As Near East University, our research vision is the result of the concrete, conscious and systematic realization of our vision! Because we know that this is the factor to carry forward the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot Community; the only way to integrate our country with the world; to work, research, develop, produce and meet with the world”.
Referring to the success of Near East University in the lists published by international higher education rating institutions such as Times Higher Education and AD Scientific Index, Prof. Dr. Günsel said “The decisive factor in this success is undoubtedly that you, our esteemed scientists, produce science with a sustainable stability and share this with the scientific world with your published articles in 2021; You alone produced about 51 percent of the scientific articles produced by the universities in our country.”
Stating that 2022 will go down in history as the year when Near East University will permanently realize its goal of being among the top 500 universities in the world, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “Because we believe in the effort, potential and determination of our esteemed scientists; I know that you will continue to produce with the same vision and dedication and bring the quality information you produce to the world. This historical responsibility rests on your shoulders. As the Near East Enterprises, our duty is; which we see as the third pillar of the university qualification; to transform the scientific knowledge, research and development activities produced by you into products by supporting them with all our means; to meet with our people and the world”.
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel ended his speech by saying; “By presenting Dr. Suat Günsel Gold Medal Honor Award and the science awards we have given in 7 categories in total, we do congratulate you, our esteemed professors, who deserve these awards to the end with your efforts, productivity, and belief in science and knowledge, and on this path we set out to realize great goals; I want you to know that I am honored to be a companion colleague with each of you.”
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “If you are producing science, you are also producing responsibility!”
In his speech at the award ceremony, Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized that bridges are built between the world in the minds and the outside world at the Near East University campus. “Today, while the science awards are finding their owners, we are not showing ourselves with our hands, we are pointing out that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and added; “Dear guests; Thinking is an effort that takes effort. However, you must have a method for it. It should be thought of in terms of correlation between data, which for many of us is a good reason to back off. We did not give up here on this campus. On the other hand, if you speak, you take responsibility, and if you write, too. But if you are producing science, you are also producing responsibility”.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, in his speech in which he mentioned many views and names that pioneered the world of science, concluded with Ziya Pasha’s words, “A man’s manifestation is his production, not words; his mind stands out in his work”, and said “I congratulate all our academics who are entitled to receive science awards today, and I thank them with the hope of achieving many more successes together.”
YODAK President Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı: “We will continue to develop and produce with the changing world every day.”
Starting his speech at the Near East University Science Awards ceremony by expressing his happiness to attend such an award ceremony in the 30th year of his education life, Higher Education Planning, Supervision, Accreditation and Coordination Board (YODAK) President Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı said, “Every step of the academician in the research and article writing stages is effort and perseverance.” Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı said, “There are many material and moral rewards that a person can receive in life. But the award you will receive here today is the best gift you can transfer to your children.
Referring to the establishment years of the faculties of the Near East University, especially in the field of health, Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı said, “I would like to thank Founding Rector Dr. Suat Günsel for the vision he set years ago. I am a person who knows very well the struggle he put up against many people who tried to prevent the foundation of the Medical Faculty Hospital in 2006. The achievements of the Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences and Pharmacy of the Near East University cannot be disputed.”
Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı ended his speech saying “I sincerely congratulate the Near East University and its board of directors for their success. I congratulate all our award-winning lecturers and I am sure that the number of our award-winning lecturers will increase next year. With the changing world every day, we will continue to develop and produce.”
Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu: “When you look at the education nests from the outside, only high-rise buildings can be seen, however, it is the lecturers inside the building that raise it.”
Starting his speech by saying that he regards the awards given as honorary awards, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu emphasized that he closely follows the achievements of Near East University in the fields of education, art and science. Minister Çavuşoğlu said, “We all have a common purpose. That is, our universities should contribute to our country, the world and humanity with the quality of education and the research they put forth.” Minister Çavuşoğlu said, “When you look at the education nests from the outside, you can only see high-rise buildings, but it is the lecturers inside that raise the buildings” and added that academics should be more motivated and academic publications should be brought together with the world more often.
Congratulating the award-winning academics at the night, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu said, “The Near East University, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will continue to carry their names with confident steps into the future and make their names known on the other side of the world. All these developments are happening and will continue to be, thanks to you. The flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will rise even higher thanks to our invaluable academics, administrators and institutions.”
Ersin Tatar: “With all these achievements of Near East University and our valuable academics, we are making our voices heard all over the world.”
Stating that he is happy to be at the event of Near East University Science Awards, President Ersin Tatar said, “The Near East University continues to carry out its duties as the locomotive institution of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the best way possible. I congratulate each and every person who contributed to all these scientific studies.”
President Tatar said, “In the face of all the political troubles we are experiencing as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we are making our voices heard to the whole world with all these achievements of the Near East University and our esteemed academics.”
Stating that it is necessary to adapt to the rapidly changing world and to catch up with the developing science, President Tatar said, “The world is changing and developing day by day. Thus, we need more qualified and scientific studies every day. Near East University and its administrative staff demonstrate this in the most successful way.”
President Tatar also ended his speech saying “It is a pride for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that the Near East University announces and will announce to the whole world what can be done more academically and scientifically. We have never been hopeless, we will never be hopeless again. We have accomplished many things because of you. That’s why we can’t thank you enough, our esteemed scientists.”
