Ukrainian Rector: "We can establish an institute of human values and human rights"

Üsküdar University is expanding its international cooperation protocols. Üsküdar University, which has carried out many important studies with Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University of Ukraine since 2019, has signed a cooperation protocol for a new and more comprehensive cooperation. Within the scope of the studies carried out in cooperation with the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RINAP), attention was also drawn to the 'Manifesto of Universal Human Values and Rights', which was prepared jointly with the Eurasian National University of Kazakhstan L.N. Gumilev and signed by nearly 400 thousand people. Pointing out that it is not enough just to sign the manifesto, Ukrainian Rector Prof. Vitalii Kotsur satated that "We can establish an institute of human values and human rights together with Üsküdar University."

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, Rector of Ukraine Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Prof. Vitalii Kotsur, Vice Rector of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University of Ukraine Assoc. Prof. Oksana Kovtun, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, Program Coordinator, RINAP Board Member Prof. İlham Miraç and members and academicians attended the meeting.

In the meeting moderated by Prof. İlham Miraç, important topics were discussed and the importance of the cooperation between RINAP and Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University of Ukraine since 2019 was emphasized.

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "Even if countries are at war, scientific exchanges should continue"

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that scientific exchanges should continue even if countries are at war. Tarhan stated that "We had planned common things, good things. We were able to do some of them, some of them we could not. There is a common area in our history, there are many common features. Based on those common areas, it is necessary to focus on what we can do going forward. For example, even if countries are at war, scientific exchanges should continue. It has always been like this all over the world, and this is the way it should be. In such a situation, our priorities are to produce science and to be able to exchange cultures. For this reason, it is useful to make a plan after this protocol, determine a roadmap and proceed in this way. There are monthly meetings from time to time. There are comings and goings together. We can continue this in the face of student mobility and academic mobility. In some areas in Ukraine, we tried to help the victims of the war. Some joint work can also be done on these issues regarding the arrival of the students there. Our students get to know the university, they get to know us."

"Awareness will contribute to the betterment of the world"

Referring to the support given by Ukraine Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University to the 'Manifesto of Universal Human Values and Rights', Tarhan stated that "I would especially like to thank him for embracing this manifesto, for recognizing every depth of it. This manifesto is intended to be presented to the United Nations Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Security Council of the United Nations. If there is such an approval process in the security council in some way, it will create global awareness. In other words, the first step in solving an event, a problem, is the formation of awareness. The second step is to make a plan for it. The third step is to take action. Therefore, I think that this awareness will contribute to the betterment of the world. We are happy that he especially emphasized this and showed sensitivity to it, and I especially want to thank him."

Prof. Nazife Güngör: "This is a world issue"

Underlining that it is important for humanity to come together and stand shoulder to shoulder for its common values, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that "We were very pleased when we received that message of ownership of the manifesto from our Rector. Because this is a world issue. A text written by our professor Nevzat Tarhan. In this text, we are actually addressing the whole world from Üsküdar University. Let the wars stop. We want human values to find the value they really deserve and for people to live comfortably in peace in this world. It is also very important and valuable to receive such a message of support from a university in a country at war. Thank you very much. Of course, from now on, yes, our cooperation becomes even more important in this sense. It is very important for us to stand together, shoulder to shoulder and take a stand together for humanity, for the common values of humanity."

Prof. Vitalii Kotsur: "The cooperation manifesto is a very important document for us these days"

Mentioning that they wholeheartedly accepted the Manifesto of Universal Human Values and Rights, Rector of the Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Prof. Vitalii Kotsur stated that "We have been following your services and events on the Internet for 5 years. We also attended your conferences online. After the contract, COVID began, then war broke out. This war is raging. There are a lot of casualties both on the Russian side and on our side. More than 500,000 people lost their lives. That is why the manifesto for cooperation that you jointly prepared in Kazakhstan is a very important document for us these days. We wholeheartedly accept this document."

Prof. Vitalii Kotsur: "We can establish an institute of human values and human rights"

Pointing out that the continuation of genocides shows that there are great mistakes in education systems, Prof. Vitalii Kotsur stated that "The Manifesto for Universal Human Values and Human Rights is a very important manifesto. It is not enough just to sign it, but this manifesto must be taught as lessons of human values. Today, many students and teachers are far from human values. Compassion is one of the greatest human values. In the modern world, technologies are advancing rapidly, and we support it. However, wars and the continued genocide of unsympathetic people in Ukraine and elsewhere show that there are major inaccuracies in our education system. That is why it is not enough just to sign the manifesto, and we propose to open centers to learn and teach it. Together with you, we can establish an institute of human values and human rights."

Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan: "Ukraine is not just any country for us"

Mentioning that Ukraine is now a country that is in solidarity shoulder to shoulder in today's conditions, Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan stated that "Ukraine is not just any country for us. In today's conditions, it is a country where we are in solidarity shoulder to shoulder. For this reason, we see today's meeting not only as any university from any country, but also as a platform of brotherhood and solidarity. That is why we are ready for all kinds of cooperation."

Presentations were made

At the signing ceremony, Vice-Rector of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University of Ukraine Assoc. Prof. Oksana Kovtun made a presentation. Stating that it is very important for them to be here during the war, Koytun expressed that they, as a university, are among the top 100 universities in Ukraine in 2023. Koytun noted that they also cooperate with universities from many countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Moldova, Germany, England, and the USA. Informing about Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University, Koytun added that they are one of the oldest and most respected pedagogical universities in Ukraine.

Assoc. Prof. Oksana Koytun: "We supported the Manifesto for Universal Human Values and Rights..."

Stating that they signed the 'Manifesto for Universal Human Values and Rights' prepared jointly by Üsküdar University and Kazakhstan L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University, Koytun stated that they could establish a partnership with the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) and share the thoughts of Said Nursi at their universities. Drawing attention to the importance of teaching religion and science together as a pedagogical university.”

Assoc. Prof. Koytun: "We try to convey basic ideas such as kindness and moral values to our students"

"This cooperation could then include other partners, perhaps a consortium focusing on morality, spirituality and universal human rights. As you know, we named our university after Grigoriy Skovoroda. Their thoughts were very similar, and there were important elements of them. These are concepts such as goodness, compassion, moral values, universal human values. In today's world, these concepts are almost non-existent. As an educational institution, we strive to spread these ideas, teach the younger generations, and make the world a better place. As a first step, we propose to organize an online roundtable discussion on Skovoroda and Nursi. Then we must prepare the first Erasmus Youth Project for our students. After that, we can continue to develop our cooperation even more. We also have a class named after Said Nursi. We try to convey his experiences and basic thoughts such as goodness and moral values to our students."

Then, Department of International Relations Assistant Promotion and Marketing Specialist Yiğit Koş talked about the opportunities of Üsküdar University and informed the participants.

Prof. Vitalii Kotsur presented gifts to Tarhan and Güngör

After the presentations, Rector of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University of Ukraine Prof. Vitalii Kotsur presented the gifts he brought with him to President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan and Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör.

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan also presented his books in English...

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan also presented his books translated into English to the participants.

The ceremony ended with a group photo shoot after the signing ceremony and the presentation of the plaque.

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)