Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was the live broadcast guest of the 'Academic Agenda' program aired on Üniversite TV. In the program moderated by Zana Demir, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated: “I wish for our youth to be young people who surpass themselves, who do not live only for themselves but can do things for the society they live in, and for humanity, and I wish for them to set these as their goals.”
"Our youth now want universities within the city, within life"
Emphasizing that students should visit universities to see their conditions during the preference period, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; “If possible, they should go and see the campus. They should see the place where they will spend four years, or even five years if they attend a preparatory school. Is it a place they would enjoy going to? In our culture, campus universities outside the city are not very popular. Our youth now want universities within the city, within life. City universities have seen more demand. In fact, we have a 135-decare, 135-thousand-square-meter plot of land in Akfırat, Pendik. We asked the students, 'Should we build a campus there?' None of them wanted to go there. If you think about it, there's no transportation problem, it's right at the foot of the third bridge, but they didn't want it. So, we decided to expand our Ümraniye Health Campus in Üsküdar, where the hospital is located. We are progressing in that way there.”
"One of our core principles is to raise good students"
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, mentioning that they prioritize students' life success alongside their academic success, said; "We added the 'university culture' course to every department. In the university culture course, not only academic success but also life success is important. There are project culture and entrepreneurship courses that are mandatory for all classes. We also have positive psychology and communication skills courses. We introduced this course as a Rectorate course in 2013. In 2015, Harvard University opened this course. In 2018, Yale University opened it. Yale University even made it available to the public. This year, it became news in the New York Times that 3.5 million people applied and registered to take a course from Yale. What is taught in positive psychology? They teach Anatolian wisdom. It is a field of science that has systematized Eastern wisdom, developed methodologies, and is taught. In other words, the theoretical foundations of psychology have also been established. We teach this to students, and we teach students not only academic success but also life success. One of our core principles is to raise good students."
"The Forensic Sciences Program, the first and currently only one in Turkey, is at Üsküdar Üniversitesi"
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, providing information about the Forensic Sciences Program, said; "The forensic sciences program, which is the first and currently the only one in Turkey, and provides education under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy, is available at Üsküdar Üniversitesi. This year, they are graduating their first students. Our graduates from the undergraduate Forensic Sciences program will be able to work in forensic medicine institutions, various law enforcement agencies, and relevant government institutions. Individuals who conducted forensic investigations previously learned through a master-apprentice relationship. A biology graduate would go there, learn DNA analysis, and perform analyses from there. We started this at the undergraduate level. This is very common in America. We initiated it by collaborating with some models there. In fact, we collaborated with universities such as San Francisco State University. Graduates from there will be able to work in many fields, especially in forensic medicine, DNA analysis, evidence collection, and forensic psychology. To facilitate the work of the courts, all evidence and files used to come to Istanbul and Ankara. Currently, Forensic Medicine Units have been opened in all our provinces. They will be able to find jobs very easily there. This is also a special area for us."
"What motivates people are their goals"
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking about humanity's search for meaning and the importance of goals, said; "When you randomly do good for someone you don't know, the world moves towards a better place. That's why we try to teach this feeling at the university. We try to discuss and explain these with scientific evidence, and incorporate them into our lessons. On this occasion, I wish all young people success. That is, I wish for them to be not only successful but also happy and self-transcending young people. I wish for them to be young people who surpass themselves, who do not live only for themselves, but can do things for the society they live in, and for humanity, and I wish for them to set these as their goals. Because goals are very important. What motivates people are their goals. If a person's goal is right, they automatically create that need, awaken desire, and naturally, production emerges. Because people seek meaning. They seek innovation. If our goal is merely to eat, drink, and reproduce, this situation will not satisfy our soul and self."
"Uncontrolled stress causes more panic"
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan offered suggestions for parents' attitude towards their children during the preference period; "Parents are usually more excited than the students themselves. The excitement of the parents reflects on the child. Because of this reflection, a fear of making mistakes arises. The child even gets stressed and raises their anxiety level by saying 'my family gives so much importance, invests so much, puts in so much effort.' However, we have a method we recommend for exams. We say, 'there is stress in the exam, but no panic.' A little control and stress are beneficial. It opens one's mind and attention. It increases the speed of learning. Controlled stress opens perceptions. Uncontrolled stress, on the other hand, causes more panic, and the person starts making mistakes, unable to do even what they know. Therefore, a controlled stress is healthy; being carefree before an exam is not. If there is indifference but also controllable stress, the family should give the feeling 'we are with you' in such situations. It's the same when making choices, but the student must make the final decision themselves, or at least be able to internalize it."
"One should be generous in doing good"
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, speaking about the importance of being a good person in professional competencies, said; "They ask, 'How does one become a good psychologist, a good physician?' There's something I insistently say: if we want to be a good physician, a good psychologist, we must first be a good human being. The characteristics and values of a good person are universal. They ask Mother Teresa, 'Where is humanity's peace and tranquility?' Mother Teresa replies, 'Humanity's peace and tranquility lies in doing good one-on-one.' In other words, one should be generous in doing good. One should be able to go and help even someone they don't know or have never met. As these things happen, the world will become a more livable place."