The graduation ceremony of the Spring Term of the academic year 2017-2018 of Near East University Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering has been realised at the Hall 4 of Near East University Grand Library.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel; Head of Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects, Gürkan Yağcıoğlu; Vice Rectors of the Near East University Prof. Dr. Murat Kocaoğlu and Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Sadıkoğlu; Dean of Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş; NEU Academicians and students, and guests attended the graduation ceremony which was realised in great excitement.

It was stated that as usual, the graduation ceremony had begun with a minute’s silence, followed by the national anthem. This was later followed by a short video screening prepared for the graduates.

Prof. Dr. Gökçekuş: “We have yet to realize many new departments, articles to be published and organise international conferences...”
Making the opening speech, Dean of the Near East University Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş, stated that in the past he had provided continuous service for 22 years at the Near East University, and now he was very happy to be back at the NEU after 4 years; and emphasised that as he felt in the first moment when he began to work at the NEU in March 1992, he felt the same excitement and happiness currently as he returns back to the NEU.

He said that he perceived returning back t the Near East University as his ‘second spring in life’ and as a result of the first 6 months and with much support, they had established initially the department of environmental engineering, later to be developed into the current status as Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. Prof. Dr. Gökçekuş further added that there was yet to realize many new departments, articles to be published and organise international conferences. He reminded everyone that Faculty of Civil Engineering was one of the first faculties to be established at the Near East University and that during the academic year 1992-1993, there were only 38 students who were undertaking their undergraduate education, with English as the language of instruction at the faculty. Later in May 2013, the undergraduate programme with Turkish as the language of instruction was initiated. Currently as the end of the academic term 2017-2018 approaches, there are a total of 1287 students from 33 different countries studying in either Turkish or English programmes offered at the NEU Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. He pointed out that in fact, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering was currently the Faculty of NEU which has the highest number of international students within the campus.

Prof. Dr. Gökçekuş: “With this diploma, you are igniting a ‘torch’ for your future lives!”
Prof. Gökçekuş expressed that so far approximately 3300 graduates had been given and that they had all picked up many prestigious jobs around the world. He added that this made them rather proud and told the graduates that with their diplomas, the graduates were ‘igniting a torch’ for their future lives. This torch was explained to be the torch of science and technology; and therefore he wished the graduates the best of luck as they progressed with the light shed by their torches to their career lives.

Yağcıoğlu: “The in-service training opportunities and works to be carried out by Near East University Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering will progress as a result of the E-Areas Cooperation Protocol recently signed”
Making a speech, Head of Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects, Gürkan Yağcıoğlu, stated that as it is the situation in many developed countries around the world, graduating from a university to start one of the oldest and the most esteemed job in the world was highly significant in our country as well. He emphasised that the first and foremost key feature of this job was honesty and advised the graduates to bear this in mind; be responsible and aware individuals while they progressed in their work. He stated that only once science is utilized in the correct way cold the engineers of a country take their countries to advanced civilization status. He pointed out that experience in one’s job was as important as one’s knowledge in the field. Therefore, he advised the graduates to establish strong bonds with the available experienced figures around them.

Subsequent to Yağcıoğlu’s speech, Vice Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Murat Kocaoğlu made a speech and said that the NEU Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering was established with the provisions of the Founding Rector of Near East University, Dr. Suat Günsel, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S.Günsel as the 19th Faculty of the University. Once considering the contributions of the construction sector and the environment to the civilisation status and economy of a country, the importance of the decision can easily be understood. After making this point, Prof. Dr. Murat Kocaoğlu said welcome to everyone present at the graduation ceremony at the first year of the establishment of a significant faculty-NEU Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

Prof. Dr. Kocaoğlu: “We strongly believe that you will each be an engineering who is sought after due to his/her success in your fields with the accumulated knowledge and experience to be gained with each passing day.”
Prof. Dr. Kocaoğlu further stated that the Near East University was an institution continuing to gain momentum-making it number 1 in northern Cyprus and third among the universities in Turkey. He emphasised his belief that in time they were expecting the NEU to be among the most prestigious universities around the world due to the academic activities of the highly skilled and competent academicians of the Near East University and resultantly, the graduates of the NEU Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering will cooperate with Union of the Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to make great contributions to both the infrastructures and the superstructures of our country.

Later, graduating with the highest rank from the faculty, Baran Mohammed made a speech; which was followed by folk-dance and music performances from Turkish Cypriots, Palestine and India. The graduation ceremony then progressed with the presentation of the diplomas and medals to high degree graduates by Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S.Günsel. Sbsequently, all graduating received their diplomas and the ceremony ended with throwing graduation caps in the air.