Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication Animation Laboratory has been opened for use. The ceremony held at the Faculty of Communication was attended by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, and a large number of students. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who gave the opening speech at the ceremony, stated: “We also need to produce something for the planet we live on. If we don't aim for this, if we don't do it, someone else will produce it. We will become its object.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “For you to be able to reveal your talents is something we aim for”
In his opening speech, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan spoke about the three concepts of the virtual universe; “There is no other university with such a digital game animation infrastructure with this much capacity, speed, and performance. This is also a good thing. A Start-up company is also about to be established. It is not yet clear how much the University will be involved, but this Start-up company, while Argepoları has ventured into many digital worlds, and a Metaverse is currently being discussed, the readiness of our laboratory has become a great opportunity for young people. I especially want to emphasize that we have felt the need for this digital game and animation for a long time. We had an initiative for the establishment of this infrastructure. The department was opened, and then we updated it. Right at that time, these virtual universe discussions seriously began. The virtual universe combines three concepts. This Metaverse, virtual universe, one is companies related to computer games, the other is a technical infrastructure related to augmented reality or virtual reality. The third is digital reality. Currently, a separate universe is being created by combining these three. This is also referred to as the new version of the internet, the new software version of the Web. In such a situation, the technology term itself is inherently neutral. If used for good and beautiful purposes, it serves good and beautiful things. That is, for you to master these programs, to use these programs skillfully, to be able to reveal your talents here is something we aim for. This happens by sitting down and working.” he said.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “What is important is that the benevolent ones are used in a more benevolent way”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that we need to produce something not only for ourselves but also for the planet we live on, said; “Generally, there is propaganda brought by the global system, global capital: 'You are important, others are not.' That's what the capitalist system says. But we need to produce something not only for ourselves, but also for our country, our homeland, and the planet we live on. If we don't aim for this, if we don't do it, someone else will produce it. We will become its object. That is, will we be the object or the subject of the digital world? The struggle between good and evil exists everywhere. Even in cartoons, if there is no struggle between good and evil, no one will watch the cartoons. For this reason, there will always be a balance. In psychology, this is called the dynamic balance of opposites. What is important is that the benevolent ones are used in a more benevolent way.”
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: “Looking from different perspectives is creating a difference”
Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, touching upon the importance of such laboratory openings for institutions providing communication education, said: “Always looking at things from different perspectives is creating a difference. I want to thank our esteemed Nevzat for providing us with such a laboratory. I thank our department head, it's good that he joined us, and it's good that he protects and guides you. In the future, you will all achieve very important things. The future direction of communication is towards these types of departments and areas. The future of communication. Of course, the scientific aspect, the theoretical aspect, the intellectual aspect, intellectual depth are very important, but with digitalization, with the digital age, adding this application to intellectual experience; this is definitely a process that goes through computers. That's why these kinds of openings are very important for us, for institutions that provide communication education. On this occasion, I both thank him and request our esteemed Nevzat to continue supporting us in our future requests.”
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk: “Ranked 4th among foundation universities”
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, speaking about Üsküdar Üniversitesi becoming a brand, said: “Prof. Nazife from the Faculty of Communication constantly sends emails about our students' successes. The Faculty of Communication has led us to so much success that we have started to worry if we don't receive such an email about success. Indeed, our university is now a brand; according to an index published a day before, it ranked 4th among foundation universities in Turkey's research index. We have been here since the first day we were established within a 10-year period. Thanks to our esteemed professor, although it is difficult to keep up with his vision and follow him. I, as the Vice Rector responsible for the university's research and development, want to thank Prof. Nevzat for the university's contributions to research, development, laboratories, innovations, and modern equipment. I also wish your laboratory to be auspicious. Prof. Nazife and Prof. İpek, I hope you will train many excellent animators and filmmakers, and you will be proud of them when they are released into the world.”
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir: “Children will now grow up with these animations”
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. İbrahim Özdemir, speaking about having such a laboratory as a great opportunity, said: “I have, by chance, traveled to nearly 70 countries. Believe me, in many countries around the world, let alone a classroom like this, children can barely use a few computers in turns. This is a great opportunity. In many countries I have visited, we now see the impact of Turkish films. In Washington, the receptionist speaks Turkish. When I asked 'Where did you learn?', she said, 'There was a series called 'Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne?', I learned from there.' Similarly, in Pakistan, they change their names to Ertuğrul and boast about it. Now it's the turn of these series. Children will now grow up with these animations.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. İpek Fatma Çevik: “We are getting very valuable educators from the sector”
Head of the Cartoon and Animation Department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İpek Fatma Çevik, provided information about the many opportunities provided to talented students: “Here we have the works of our 3rd-year students prepared using the Maya program. We have almost completed the autumn term in the Maya program. In this term, they have reached 3D models that are ready for animation by taking their renders. In the spring term, we are doing character design. We plan that in the 4th year, they will be able to prepare the models they want to an international level. Here, we can do 3D design for our students not through a single program, but through Maya, Cinema 4D, Photoshop, After Effects, as well as ZBrush programs. Next week, our 3rd and 4th-year students will take a proficiency exam. We are getting very valuable educators from the sector. For example, our instructor Mustafa Berk, Creative Director of TRT 2, prepares our students for the sector with Cinema 4D works. Lecturer Süleyman Özşahin has his own game company. He can pass on our talented students to game companies or provides them with free consultancy to establish their own companies.”
