Üsküdar University is expanding its international cooperation protocols. Üsküdar University, which has signed many important works with the Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University since 2019, held a cooperation protocol for a new and more comprehensive collaboration. Within the scope of the studies carried out in cooperation with the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), attention was also drawn to the 'Universal Humanitarian Values and Rights Manifesto', jointly prepared with Kazakhstan L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University and signed by nearly 400 thousand people. Emphasizing that merely signing the manifesto would not be enough, Ukrainian Rector Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur proposed, "We can establish an institute for humanitarian values and human rights together with Üsküdar University."
The ceremony, organized under the leadership of RİNAP at the Üsküdar University Central Campus Senate meeting hall, was attended by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Rector of Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur, Vice-Rector of Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oksana Kovtun, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, Program Coordinator, RİNAP Board Member Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç, along with other members and academics.
During the meeting moderated by Prof. Dr. İlham Miraç, important topics were discussed, and the importance of the cooperation maintained between RİNAP and Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University since 2019 was highlighted.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Even if countries are at war, scientific exchanges must continue”
Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that even if countries are at war, scientific exchanges must continue. Tarhan stated; “We had planned common things, beautiful things. We were able to do some, and some we couldn't. There is a common ground in our history, many common features. Moving forward from these common areas, we need to focus on what we can do next. For instance, even if countries are at war, scientific exchanges must continue. This has always been the case throughout the world, or rather, this is what should be. In such a situation, our priorities are to produce science and facilitate cultural exchange. Therefore, it is beneficial to make a plan after this protocol, determine a roadmap, and proceed in this manner. There are monthly meetings from time to time. There are mutual visits. We can continue this in the form of student mobility and academic mobility. We had tried to help war victims in some areas in Ukraine. Some joint studies can also be conducted regarding students from there coming here. Our students will get to know the university, and they will get to know us.”
“Awareness will contribute to the world moving towards good”
Referring to the support given by Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University to the 'Universal Humanitarian Values and Rights Manifesto', Tarhan said; “I especially thank them for embracing this manifesto and realizing its every depth. This manifesto aims to be presented to the United Nations Security Council by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. If such an approval process emerges in the Security Council, it will create global awareness. That is, the first step to solving an event or a problem is the creation of awareness. The second step is to make a plan related to it. The third step is to take action. So, for this reason, I believe this awareness will contribute to the world moving towards good. Their emphasis on this and their sensitivity to it made us happy, and I especially want to thank them.”
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: “This is a global issue”
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, underlining the importance of coming together and standing shoulder to shoulder for the common values of humanity, said; “We were very pleased when we received that message of support for the manifesto from our esteemed Rector. Because this is a global issue. It is a text penned by our Professor Nevzat. In this text, we are actually making an appeal to the entire world from Üsküdar University. Let wars cease. We want humanitarian values to truly find their deserved worth and for people to live peacefully and comfortably in this world. The arrival of such a message of support from a university in a country experiencing war is also very significant and valuable. We are very grateful. Of course, after this, our cooperation becomes even more important in this regard. For humanity, for the common values of humanity, coming together, standing shoulder to shoulder, and presenting a united front is very important to us.”
Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur: “The cooperation manifesto is a very important document for us these days”
Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Rector Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur, speaking about their heartfelt acceptance of the Universal Humanitarian Values and Rights Manifesto, said; “We have been following your services and activities online for 5 years. We also participated in your conferences online. After the agreement, COVID began, and then war broke out. This war continues very violently. There are many casualties on both the Russian side and our side. More than 500 thousand people have lost their lives. Therefore, the cooperation manifesto you jointly prepared in Kazakhstan is a very important document for us these days. We wholeheartedly accept this document.”
Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur: “We can establish an institute for humanitarian values and human rights”
Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur, pointing out that the continuation of genocides indicates major flaws in education systems, said; “The Universal Humanitarian Values and Human Rights Manifesto is a very important manifesto. Merely signing it is not enough; this manifesto must be taught as lessons in humanitarian values. Today, many students and teachers are far removed from humanitarian values. Compassion is one of the greatest humanitarian values. In the modern world, technologies are rapidly advancing, and we support this. However, wars and the continued genocide by people without compassion in Ukraine and elsewhere show that there are major flaws in our education system. Therefore, merely signing the manifesto is not enough; we propose opening centers to learn and teach it. We can establish an institute for humanitarian values and human rights with you.”
Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan: “Ukraine is not just any country for us”
Üsküdar University Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, mentioning that Ukraine is now a country with which they stand in solidarity shoulder to shoulder in today's conditions, said; “Ukraine is not just any country for us. In today's conditions, it is a country with which we are in solidarity, shoulder to shoulder. Therefore, we view today's meeting not as a university from any country, but as a platform of brotherhood and solidarity. For this reason, we are ready for all kinds of cooperation.”
Presentations were made
At the signing ceremony, Vice-Rector of Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oksana Kovtun gave a presentation. Kovtun stated that being there during wartime was very important for them, and that as a university, they were among Ukraine's top 100 universities in 2023. Kovtun noted that they also cooperate with universities from many countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Moldova, Germany, England, and the USA. Providing information about Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University, Kovtun added that they are one of Ukraine's oldest and most respected pedagogical universities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oksana Kovtun: “We supported the Universal Humanitarian Values and Rights Manifesto…”
Kovtun, stating that as a university they signed the 'Universal Humanitarian Values and Rights Manifesto' jointly prepared by Üsküdar University and Kazakhstan L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University, noted that a partnership could be established with the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), and that they could share Said Nursi's ideas at their university. Emphasizing the importance of teaching religious and natural sciences together as a pedagogical university, Kovtun stated the following:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kovtun: “We try to convey fundamental ideas such as goodness and moral values to our students”
“This cooperation may later include other partners; perhaps a consortium focusing on ethics, spirituality, and universal human rights could be established. As you know, we named our university after Hryhorii Skovoroda. Their ideas were very similar and had important elements. These are concepts such as goodness, compassion, moral values, and universal human values. In today's world, these concepts are almost non-existent. As an educational institution, we strive to spread these ideas, teach them to the younger generations, and make the world a better place. For this, as a first step, we propose organizing an online round table discussion about Skovoroda and Nursi. Then, we should prepare the first Erasmus Youth Project for our students. After that, we can continue to further develop our cooperation. We also have a classroom named after Said Nursi. We try to convey his experiences and fundamental ideas such as goodness and moral values to our students.”
Then, Yiğit Koş, Assistant Promotion and Marketing Specialist at the Department of International Relations, spoke about Üsküdar University's facilities and provided information.
Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur presented gifts to Tarhan and Güngör
Following the presentations, Rector of Ukrainian Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University Prof. Dr. Vitalii Kotsur presented the gifts he brought with him to Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also presented his English books…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also presented his books translated into English to the participants.
The ceremony concluded with the signing ceremony, plaque presentation, and a group photo session.