Üsküdar University bid farewell to its 11th graduates...
Üsküdar University bid farewell to its 11th graduates with the graduation ceremony of the 2023-2024 Academic Year. The graduates, who experienced the joy of graduation by receiving their diplomas, experienced excitement and pride together.
This year's ceremony was marked by the events in Palestine and Gaza. Banners such as "We Will Not Be Silent, Up with Hell for the Oppressors", "Palestine did not graduate this year", as well as Palestinian flags and Palestinian keffiyehs drew attention.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan addressed the graduates with a scarf with the Palestinian flag and expressed that "As a university, we have aimed at quality since our establishment. We see criticism as a gift. We see all the feedback we receive as an opportunity to improve ourselves."
In her speech, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör expressed that "Dear students. The struggle begins now. Now is the time to turn the knowledge you have learned and the experience you have made at our university into life."
Palestine did not graduate this year, humanity failed!
At the graduation ceremony held at Ataşehir Ülker Sports and Event Hall, 11th year associate, undergraduate and master graduates experienced excitement and enthusiasm together. This year, 8,269 Üsküdar University graduates stepped towards professional life.
At the ceremony, which was also attended by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan and Tarhan - IDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, Vice Rectors and Academicians including Prof. Muhsin Konuk, Prof. Sevil Atasoy, Advisors to the Rector Prof. Mehmet Zelka, Prof. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, Prof. İsmail Barış and Assoc. Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel also attended the graduation ceremony.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "What we care about is to be in a good place among global universities"
President Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, who had the floor with a scarf with the Palestinian flag around his neck to speak at the ceremony, stated in his opening speech that Üsküdar University, which has given approximately 35 thousand graduates so far, has brought 8 thousand 269 graduates to life today.
Prof. Tarhan stated that "The most important thing we are trying to focus on as Üsküdar University is to be in a good place among global universities in global competition. The most important measure of this is quality. Therefore, as a university, we have aimed at quality since our establishment. One of the most important methods of quality is that it is measurable. We cannot produce what we cannot measure. We see criticism as a gift. We see all the feedback we receive as an opportunity to improve ourselves."
A journey of quality...
Stating that quality is a journey, Prof. Tarhan said that "When we embark on that journey, it is necessary to constantly learn new things. It is necessary to take new steps. Since this is a dynamic process, feedback is very valuable in this process."
Stating that the graduating students encountered 3 events in their lives that they will never forget, these were the Covid pandemic, the February 6 earthquakes and the Gaza events, Prof. Tarhan said that "Every life event has an opportunity dimension as well as a threat dimension. It also teaches something. As young people move into a new dimension of life and encounter reality, we care not only about their academic experiences but also about their life success. We tried to make it easier for them to adapt to these periods."
We are one of the 2 foundation universities in Türkiye that can receive 17 labels...
Prof. Tarhan noted that according to the Impact Ranking 2024 results of the world university ranking agency Times Higher Education (THE), all 17 labels applied for were received, and said that they are one of the 2 foundation universities in Türkiye that can receive 17 labels. Stating that there are around 1500 universities in the world that have received 17 labels and that Üsküdar University is the 425th among them, Prof. Tarhan said that "This is an indicator of quality. There is a goal of sustainable growth from the field of social activity to research, from the field of wellbeing to health. It is important not to take them, but to continue them. We want to continue it in the next years."
Men's Basketball team became the Super League Champion
Prof. Tarhan pointed out the achievements of young people in sports and said that in the 19th century. Tarhan expressed that the Men's Basketball team became the Super League Champion and the Women's Volleyball team ranked third in Türkiye in the Turkish Universities Summer Sports Games Super League.
Stating that it is important for students to appear in the field of sports along with the achievements in science and social fields, Prof. Tarhan reminded that the university was declared as a Center of Excellence by UNESCO due to its studies in the field of neuroscience.
"We took part in Türkiye's first manned space mission."
Stating that agreements have been made with more than 300 universities regarding Erasmus admission, Prof. Tarhan said that "Some of our graduate students went abroad and were accepted to a master's degree in their fields there."
Reminding that the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) experiment, which is one of the 13 scientific studies in Türkiye's first manned space mission, is from Üsküdar University, Prof. Tarhan stated that "The research on DNA analysis was carried out with the work of our professors." The University Senate published a manifesto against the oppression in Gaza.
Addressing the parents, Prof. Tarhan said that "You have entrusted your children to us. We tried to raise them in the best way possible. There is an event that adds sadness to our graduation. You know the Palestinian events. Gaza events... There is the Nakba, which began 75 years ago. There is systematic genocide and persecution.”
Stating that the University Senate has published a manifesto against this persecution and that nearly 400 thousand signatures have been collected so far, Prof. Tarhan explained that the manifesto was signed with a university in Kazakhstan and that they wanted to take these signatures to the UN.
Prof. Tarhan stated that "We feel heartbroken for the believers who are persecuted there, but we cannot do anything. There is a great cruelty and injustice in Gaza. Yes, there were no graduates in Palestine this year. Humanity has failed. That is why we say ‘Up with hell for the oppressors.'" received applause from the hall. Advice to young people to "Have goals that transcend yourself."
Addressing the young people, Prof. Tarhan concluded his remarks as follows:
"If you do not have a goal to strive for, to be tired of, to suffer for, if you do not have an ideal, do not expect to be successful in life. If you cannot manage to be happy with the little things, don't expect to be happy. Appreciate what you have to be successful and happy. Do not forget about the feeling of gratitude towards them. Have goals that transcend yourself. Have goals that can contribute something to the society you live in, to your country, to your family, to humanity. I wish you a more beautiful, more productive and more productive life in your next life."
Prof. Nazife Güngör: "We will continue to support our children's struggle for life"
Speaking at the ceremony, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör addressed the families and said that "You have made great efforts, and you have raised them. You have always supported their development. You have made great efforts. Now we are all here together. We are all together to share this enthusiasm with them on this beautiful occasions. First of all, I would like to thank you very much for your efforts and dedication."
Stating that university graduation is a stage in life, Prof. Güngör said that "From now on, we will continue to support our children's struggle for life. Because life begins now. In this struggle for life, let's continue to build our expectations, hopes and dreams together with them. Let's always be there for them. You have done a good job. Over the years, you have raised brilliant young people for us. Now we are sending them to humanity.”
"From now on, you will start to add value to life"
Addressing the students, Prof. Güngör expressed that "Dear students. The struggle begins now. Now is the time to turn the knowledge you have learned at our university and the knowledge you have made into life. From now on, you will start to add value to life. We expect value from you from now on.”
Stating that “You will always be successful, as long as you are aware of your own potential and your own talents," Prof. Güngör emphasized that graduation diplomas should represent not only individual achievements, but also values such as love of people and patriotism that will contribute to society.
"We are not saying goodbye to you, we will build your life together"
Expressing that "We expect great things from you. We expect important duties and responsibilities from you," Prof. Güngör said that the university will not cut its ties with its graduates and will continue to support them in their academic or career plans. We are not saying goodbye here. We will build your next life together."
Plaques and gifts were presented to the students
At the ceremony, plaques and gifts were presented to the students who ranked at top three. The top three graduates from undergraduate departments, Büşra Nur Özdemir, Merve Karaduman, Şevval Güzel, Neven, Bou Hassan, Beyza Nur Çalış and Merve Dursungül received plaques and gifts from President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Furkan Tarhan, Tarhan - IDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan. The valedictorians of the 11th semester then nailed a plaque to the log.
Associate Degree students Esma Aydaşlı, Şeyma İnan, Şeyma Örnekçi, Zeynep Ela Aksoy and Mehtap Aydın received their plaques from Vice Rector Prof. Sevil Atasoy, IDER Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan, Advisor to the Rector Halide İncekara, Founding Board of Trustees Member Mustafa Ataş, Vice Rector Prof. Muhsin Konuk. The 11th semester associate degree valedictorians nailed a plaque to the log.
The ceremony was marked by Palestine
At the ceremony, Palestinian students took the podium and talked about the events in their country. Meanwhile, a banner with the flags of Türkiye and Palestine and the slogans such as "We will not be silent, Up with Hell for the Oppressors" was unfurled on the podium.
Slogans such as "Long live Gaza, long live Palestine, long live Türkiye, up with hell for the oppressors" were also shouted.
This year's ceremony was marked by the events in Palestine and Gaza, with banners such as "Palestine did not graduate this year", "Free Palestine from the river to the sea", "Palestine, you are our soul", "You cannot be silent when children are dying", Palestinian flags and Palestinian keffiyehs drew attention.
At the ceremony, "... And he became a Turk. This is what the Turk is. It is lightning, it is a hurricane, it is the sun that illuminates the world. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk." banner was also unfurled.
Successful athletes were rewarded
At the ceremony, the sports teams of Üsküdar University, which achieved significant success in their branches, were not forgotten. Certificates of appreciation were presented to the basketball, football and volleyball teams of the university and the athletes of the Kick boxing/boxing branches by the President Prof. Nevzat Tarhan and Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör.
The tradition of marriage proposals has not been broken
At the 11th semester graduation ceremony, there was also a marriage proposal. Yeliz Aksoy, a graduate of the Department of Occupational Therapy, received marriage proposal on stage by her boyfriend Mahmut Yalçın, who is also a graduate of the same department. While it was seen that the couple was very excited, audience supported the young couple with their applauses.
Caps were thrown
Later in the ceremony, graduation certificates were presented to the graduate students. The new graduates, who took turns on the stage, received their graduation certificates After the "Flag Pennant Delivery" ceremony under the coordination of Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of History, Strategist Asst. Prof. Kazım Dalkıran, the graduates recited the graduation oath together under the leadership of Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Haydar Sur. Later, the graduates who came down to the stage threw their caps. The graduation ceremony, where exciting and enthusiastic moments were experienced, ended with a DJ performance.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)