Üsküdar University bids farewell to its 13th-term graduates!

Üsküdar University bid farewell to its 13th-term graduates with the 2025-2026 Academic Year graduation ceremony. Graduates, experiencing the joy of graduation upon receiving their diplomas, felt excitement and pride together. 

President of Üsküdar University and Chairman of the Executive Board Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that conscience and values are what will make humans different in the age of artificial intelligence, telling young people, "A diploma only gives you a key. The real issue is how you use that key. Having a conscience is as important as having a profession."

Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, announcing that the university received full institutional accreditation this year, stated that graduates will now receive a Social Transcript in addition to their diplomas, saying, "You will graduate not only with a diploma certifying your academic education but also with a transcript showcasing your social personality."
 

At the graduation ceremony held at the Haliç Congress Center, the 13th-year associate, undergraduate, and graduate students experienced excitement and enthusiasm together. This year, 7,448 Üsküdar University graduates transitioned into professional life. 

At the ceremony, which was also attended by Üsküdar University Board of Trustees Chairman Furkan Tarhan and Tarhan Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan, academics including Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, Vice Rectors Prof. Hikmet Koçak, Prof. Sevil Atasoy, Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, Rector's Advisors Prof. Mehmet Zelka, Prof. Muhsin Konuk, Prof. İsmail Barış, Prof. Tayfun Uzbay, and Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak were present.

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "Alongside artificial intelligence, we might remain at the level of a three or four-year-old child"

Speaking at the ceremony, which saw intense enthusiasm and participation, President of Üsküdar University and Chairman of the Executive Board Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized in his speech at the 2026 graduation ceremony that graduation is not an end but a new beginning, explaining to young people that the most important elements that will make humans strong in the age of artificial intelligence are values, conscience, and psychological resilience.

Prof. Tarhan stated that artificial intelligence technologies will radically change human life in the coming years, saying, "In this journey, intelligence alone is not enough. Within the next ten years, artificial intelligence will reach such a point that we will almost remain at the level of a three or four-year-old child next to it. In a world where artificial intelligence is so advanced, the most important factor that will help us make correct decisions, use our internal compass correctly, and steer towards the right goals is our value judgments. It is our value judgments that will determine success in the age of artificial intelligence."

A diploma is just a key; what matters is how and where you use it…

Addressing the youth, Prof. Tarhan emphasized that a university diploma is only a beginning, saying, "A diploma only gives you a key. This key has the potential to open a door; however, how, where, and in what manner you use the key is very important for the door to success to be wide open. The real issue is not just having a profession, but being an individual with a conscience on life's journey."

"Living for others opens the door to true happiness"

In his speech, Prof. Tarhan cited a study conducted at Harvard University as an example, stating, "This scientific work gives us a clear message. Having a conscience in life and not living only for ourselves opens the door to true happiness. You must find a way to do something in line with your purpose of creation for your environment, your family, your society, future generations, and all humanity. Living for others opens the door to true happiness." 

Prof. Tarhan stated that they included the Positive Psychology course in the curriculum in 2013, saying, "In this course, we teach human values. The Positive Psychology course is the systematization of the values of ancient Anatolian wisdom with a scientific methodology, turning it into a field of science. We added this course to our curriculum in 2013. Harvard began implementing similar courses within the scope of happiness science in 2015, Yale in 2018, and Bristol University in 2019."

"Act based on evidence, not opinion"

Emphasizing the importance of a quality mindset in all areas of life, Prof. Tarhan recalled the words of the late Prof. Nazif Gürdoğan, saying, "Our esteemed Nazif had a very beautiful saying; he used to say, 'Quality has no passport.' Indeed, if you do quality work, that quality is accepted worldwide without customs or visas. Do your work in the best way possible. Even if someone doesn't like you, if your work is of high quality, they will take it and appreciate it. Therefore, strive to do even the smallest task in life with the highest quality." Tarhan added, "Act based on evidence, not opinion."

"Take the philosophy of water as an example"

Giving a life lesson to young people through "the philosophy of water," Prof. Tarhan said, "Water always has one single goal: to reach the ocean. It flows around stones, goes over them, seeps under them, but it always finds its way. Sometimes it evaporates, sometimes it crawls on the ground, but in the end, it reaches its destination."

Emphasizing that the main goal in life is to reach the truth, Prof. Tarhan stated, "Success is not never falling; it is the ability to show the will to stand up again every time you fall. I advise my young friends to live according to this determined philosophy of water. The wind also helps people with goals and plans for the future, and life guides them."

At the end of his speech, Prof. Tarhan thanked the families for their efforts and invited the graduates to become members of the Üsküdar University Alumni Association, saying, "This is not a farewell. We will come together again in our traditional alumni gatherings in the coming years."

Prof. Nazife Güngör: "You are now graduates of a fully accredited university"

In her speech at the ceremony, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that she wanted to give two important pieces of good news to the graduates, saying, "My first good news is; as you graduate today, you are now graduating from a fully accredited university. As of this year, our university has received the Institutional Accreditation Quality Certificate from YÖKAK. We already had a registered quality, but we officially reinforced it on this occasion. My second good news is; starting this year, in addition to your diplomas, you will also have a Social Transcript. Some universities call this a 'blue diploma,' some a 'social diploma'; we will add this to your diplomas as a 'Social Transcript.' This document will provide you with significant advantages in your career mobility both domestically and internationally. You will graduate not only with a diploma certifying your academic education but also with a transcript certifying your social personality."

"Being a good person is as important as being a good professional"

Emphasizing that students at Üsküdar University are equipped not only with professional knowledge but also with ethical values, Prof. Güngör called on young people to act with a human-centered approach to life and stated, "Here you have been raised as good professionals and received a qualified education. However, from now on, while practicing your profession, you will also serve humanity by touching lives. Because being a good person and raising good people is as vitally important to making the world a better place as being a good professional."

In her speech, Prof. Güngör also touched upon the modernization goals set by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, saying, "The progress of Turkey will be your duty, walking on the path Atatürk opened and further brightening the light he shed. To grow our country also means to make the world a more beautiful place."

At the end of her speech, Prof. Güngör emphasized that the graduates will continue to be a part of the Üsküdar University family, saying, "After receiving your diplomas, I kindly ask you to also become members of our Alumni Association. Because you are now Üsküdar alumni. The Üsküdar University identity will be with you throughout your life."

Top-ranked students received their awards, and plaques were affixed to the graduation log

Following the speeches, the ceremony continued with the awarding of top-ranked students among the 13th-term graduates of the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
Third-place awards were presented by Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör. The term's third place was shared by Tuğba Tuna, a graduate of the Health Management Department, and Amine Feyza Kasap, a graduate of the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department. In addition to their awards, the successful graduates were also gifted 'Bilinçli Genç Olmak' (Being a Conscious Young Person), a work penned by Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. Second-place awards were given to four names. The term's second-place awards were presented by Board of Trustees Chairman Furkan Tarhan and Tarhan Foundation Board Member Fırat Tarhan. This year, the term's second place was shared by Nida Nefise Öztunç, a graduate of the Cartoon and Animation Department, and Buse Nur Öykü Demirci, a graduate of the Sociology Department.

Three students became term valedictorians

At the ceremony, the awards for the three successful graduates who shared the term's valedictorian title were presented by President of Üsküdar University and Chairman of the Executive Board Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. The 13th-term valedictorians of the 2025-2026 Academic Year were Salman Anwar Ghasan Al-Quhali, a graduate of the Software Engineering Department; İlayda Usta, a graduate of the Forensic Sciences Department; and Esra Nur Kutlar, a graduate of the Psychology Department.

Following the award ceremony, Salman Anwar Ghasan Al-Quhali, a graduate of the Software Engineering Department and one of the valedictorians, spoke in Arabic on behalf of all graduates, stating that graduation symbolizes not only the completion of academic education but also the culmination of shared dreams, long nights of study, and arduous struggle. İlayda Usta, a graduate of the Forensic Sciences Department and the 2025-2026 Academic Year university valedictorian, recalled Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's words, "The truest guide in life is science," and expressed that as youth of the Republic, they would continue to walk in the light of science. Esra Nur Kutlar, one of the Psychology Department valedictorians, expressed their responsibility for people suffering from wars and injustices, delivering the message, "We will not forget that even the smallest effort is valuable."

A message of hope, solidarity, and humanity in 4 different languages…

During their speeches in Turkish, English, Arabic, and Farsi, international graduates emphasized hope, solidarity, the right to education, and service to humanity. Sakari Ali from Somalia stated that graduation is a symbol of new beginnings and expressed it as "the common language of hope, effort, and humanity." Tasnim Sakka from Syria said that success is measured not only by diplomas but by overcoming challenges, while Mahjuba Siddiqi from Afghanistan drew attention to girls deprived of the right to education and dedicated her success to all women. 

Turkey's champion sports teams were also awarded

Following the international student speeches, the Üsküdar University Futsal and Men's Basketball teams, which achieved Turkey championships in the Turkish University Sports Federation organizations, were also honored at the ceremony. Athletes were presented with certificates of commendation and 'Bilinçli Genç Olmak' (Being a Conscious Young Person), a book penned by Prof. Nevzat Tarhan. The athletes, raising their trophies on stage, were applauded for a long time by the guests in the hall.
Graduates threw their caps in the air

After the students received their diplomas, a flag and pennant handover ceremony took place. The ceremony concluded with students throwing their caps in the air and embracing their families.

Thus, diplomas were presented to the graduates of the Institutes, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Communication, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and the Vocational School of Health Services with a magnificent ceremony.