The ceremony was attended by our University Rector, Prof. Dr. Bülent Kent; Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Erkan Salan and Prof. Dr. Cengiz Özarslan; Advisors to the Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemal Ramazan Haykıran and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Fatih HacıyusufoÄŸlu; graduate school directors; faculty deans; Deputy Secretary-General Tanfer Bilge; Acting Deputy Secretary-General Naciye Çalışıcı Çelik; academic and administrative staff; and students.
The programme began with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem, followed by a musical performance by our University’s Polyphonic Choir. During the ceremony, Dr. Dilek Canlar Akar delivered a speech on behalf of the graduates, while Prof. Dr. Ahmet Toksoy, Director of the Graduate School of Social Sciences, spoke on behalf of the graduate schools.
In his address, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Bülent Kent, emphasised that graduate education not only enables individuals to specialise in their respective fields but also plays a significant role in cultivating patience, determination, scientific ethics, and professional discipline. He stated:
“Each student graduating today is no longer merely the holder of a diploma, but an individual who has explored the depths of knowledge, embraced analytical thinking, and undertaken the responsibility of upholding a culture of scientific research. Our University’s three distinguished graduate schools represent a well-established tradition of scientific knowledge and scholarship.”
Our Rector also shared statistical information concerning the academic capacity of the graduate schools. He stated that the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences has produced 2,764 graduates to date through 21 doctoral programmes, 25 master’s programmes with thesis, and three non-thesis master’s programmes offered across 23 departments. He noted that the Graduate School of Health Sciences has reached a total of 1,904 graduates through 104 programmes across 46 departments, comprising 38 doctoral programmes, 47 master’s programmes with thesis, and 19 non-thesis master’s programmes. He further highlighted that the Graduate School of Social Sciences has developed substantial academic expertise by producing 4,726 graduates to date through 19 doctoral programmes, 51 master’s programmes with thesis, and 18 non-thesis master’s programmes offered across 44 departments.
Addressing the graduates, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Bülent Kent, stated that, having completed demanding academic processes, they would now use their scientific knowledge and expertise to help shape the country’s future. He concluded his remarks by saying, “We are proud of you.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of graduate thesis awards by members of the protocol, followed by the awarding of graduation certificates and a group photograph.
