Organized by Bingöl University, the International Symposium on "Youth's Quest for Meaning in the Modern Age" was held at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Congress Center at Bingöl University on 15-16 October 2018. The Dean of the Faculty of Theology of Near East University, Professor Mehmet Mahfuz Söylemez attended the symposium.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University, Professor Mehmet Mahfuz Söylemez chaired a session and delivered a speech at the symposium which was attended by more than 60 academicians, researchers, and a large number of rectors.

The symposium provided platform for the participants to make presentations and share statistical data regarding the young people's interests, leisure perceptions, goals, relations with NGOs, employment, internet use, regular sports, TV watching , music, and engagement in social media.

Prof. Dr. Söylemez: "We need to train well-rounded young people Wwo will be the executers of the future"...
In his closing speech, Professor Söylemez underlined that the young people were the architects of breakthroughs and changes in every era and highlighted the importance of being together with all stakeholders in order to discuss what to do to raise well-rounded young people.

Professor Söylemez underlined the importance of the symposium that organized by Bingöl University which is one of the pilot universities of Turkey. Referring to the importance of the meeting in bringing the problems of the young people to the table, Professor Söylemez extended his appreciations to mainly Bingöl University Rector Professor Ibrahim Çapak and everyone who contributed to the event.

Young People are alienating to their essence and the society...
In his closing remarks, Bingöl University Rector Professor Ibrahim Çapak stated that the symposium was very fruitful in terms of providing platform to discuss current youth problems and put forth solutions.

Underlining that the young people were alienating to their essence and the society, Professor Çapak expressed his views regarding the issue. “We need to create a communication channel with our young people away from informatics ignorance and disinformation. We need to take steps not towards the culture of consolidation, but towards forming the culture of understanding the human, essence and the nature. I would like to thank Bingöl Governorate, Bingöl Municipality, ARGETUS, Bingöl Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ensar Foundation and the Union of Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen for their contributions to the symposium. Hopefully, this symposium has been fruitful one and a means towards forming a good youth for our country” said he.