Near East University hosted an inclusive gathering that strengthened social cohesion by bringing together education, culture, and social interaction, with students from various cultural backgrounds attending Democracy Secondary School.
At the event held on the Near East University campus, students from various cultural backgrounds came together in a multifaceted program that strengthened social cohesion by experiencing education, culture, and social interaction together. The event, which included participation from immigrant and refugee students studying at the Democracy Secondary School, was completed with an approach that supported learning and sharing together through culture and education. The event, realized in collaboration with the Near East University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Turkish Language Teaching, Social Contribution Commission, and Turkish Preparatory School, included educational activities, cultural excursions, and social interactions.
Organized in line with Near East University’s mission of social contribution, which ranks among the top 500 universities in the world, the event viewed education not only as an academic process but also reflected an approach that considers cultural participation, health awareness, and social development as integral parts of the program.
Education, culture, and social sharing together…
During the cultural trip organized as part of the program, students visited the Cyprus Car Museum, the Günsel Art Museum, the Cyprus Modern Art Museum, and the Herbarium and Natural History Museum. During the museum visits, students had the opportunity to get to know Cyprus’ artistic, cultural, and natural heritage up close, and enhanced their cultural awareness through collections that bring together different disciplines.
Following the cultural trips, various gifts, provided through the contributions of faculty members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and students from the Turkish Language Teaching Department, were presented to the participants at social events.
A campus integrated with culture beyond academic knowledge…
Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Head of the Museums Department at Near East University, stated that the Near East University campus is also a vibrant living space where culture is shared and transmitted. Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut, Head of the Social Contribution Commission and Director of the Turkish Preparatory School of Near East University,on the other hand, pointed out that these visits create inclusive learning environments through culture, stating that the university’s mission of social contribution finds concrete expression in the field through such activities. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır, Head of the Turkish Language Teaching Department at Near East University, stated that museum visits should not be seen as activities limited solely to the transfer of information. Ali Çoban, the principal of Demokrasi Middle School, expressed his satisfaction with the academic, cultural, and social contributions provided by Near East University, emphasizing that the “teaching Turkish as a foreign language” studies conducted by the Turkish Language Teaching Department and the Turkish Preparatory School have become more inclusive and meaningful through such activities.
