The Opening Ceremony of our University's 2024-2025 Academic Year took place with the honorary attendance of the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), Prof. Numan Kurtulmuş. The ceremony, held in our university’s Mimar Kemaleddin Hall, was attended by the Secretary General of TBMM, Talip Uzun, our Rector Prof. Uğur Ünal, President of the Atatürk High Institution of Culture, Language, and History Prof. Derya Örs, as well as Vice Rectors Prof. Hasan Tezer, Prof. Necdet Hayta, Prof. Serhat Karyeyen, Rector's Advisors Prof. Selami Candan, Prof. Serdar Polat, and Prof. Togay Seçkin Birbudak, Secretary General Mustafa Afşar, deans, directors, heads of departments, academics, and students.
The program, which began with a moment of silence and the national anthem, continued with a music performance by faculty members of the Department of Fine Arts Education, Music Education Division at Gazi Faculty of Education. Following the performance, the opening speeches commenced.
Our Rector, Prof. Uğur Ünal, began his speech by saying, “As members of Gazi University, whose foundations were laid nearly a century ago under the challenging conditions of the time, right after the proclamation of the Republic, we are honored and excited to begin the 2024-2025 Academic Year with your esteemed presence. On this special and meaningful day, we once again extend our gratitude on behalf of all our members for honoring us with your attendance."
Reminding that Gazi University is one of the first institutions of the Republic, Prof. Uğur Ünal stated that they act with the responsibility and awareness of being a research university accredited by YÖKAK for five years.
Prof. Ünal continued, "We are committed to presenting a pioneering, quality-focused, participatory, questioning, and innovative vision in education and research, and to maintaining this mission with determination. As a university responsible to humanity and society, loyal to its history, culture, merit, and ethical values, and aware of its regional and global responsibilities, we are confidently progressing toward our goals."
Rector Prof. Uğur Ünal stated that the main goal of Gazi University is to train leading individuals, experts, and academics in their fields—individuals who uphold the values of the Republic, are devoted to their country, state, and nation, adhere to national and spiritual values, and are capable of critical thinking, renewing and developing themselves, and guiding society.
Emphasizing their efforts to continue and improve educational programs that prioritize intellect, knowledge, science, and humanity, within the framework of the "Century of Türkiye" vision, Prof. Ünal highlighted that universities must produce global solutions promoting peace and development by eliminating conflicts between societies.
Prof. Uğur Ünal concluded his speech by thanking the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, for honoring the opening of the 2024-2025 academic year with his presence despite his busy schedule.
In his speech, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Prof. Numan Kurtulmuş, wished for a successful and auspicious 2024-2025 academic year for our university. He also congratulated Rector Prof. Uğur Ünal and wished him success in his tenure.
Expressing that he spent a significant part of his life in academia and that he feels great joy when attending programs at universities, Prof. Kurtulmuş shared his pleasure in witnessing the development of universities over the years.
“Gazi University, one of Türkiye’s most established universities, has greatly contributed to Türkiye's scientific development through the many students and scholars it has trained.”
The Speaker of the TBMM, Prof. Numan Kurtulmuş, emphasized the significance of our university in Turkish educational history and stated that Gazi University is one of the most important institutions of the Republic's history. Recalling that this great institution was founded in 1926 as the Middle Teachers' School and Training Institute, and later became one of Türkiye's most established universities following the 1933 education reform, Prof. Kurtulmuş stressed the university's major contributions to Türkiye's scientific advancement through its many students and scholars. He mentioned that numerous individuals from Turkish bureaucracy and business world have walked the halls of this university and contributed to the comprehensive development of Türkiye as successful individuals.
The Speaker of the TBMM, Prof. Numan Kurtulmuş, highlighted that one of the most important duties of universities is not only to explain the past but also to foresee the future in light of scientific data and to present ideas that will shed light on the future of Turkish society and the world. Speaking of the need for universities to take the lead in the face of technological changes and developments, Prof. Kurtulmuş emphasized that universities are the places where ideas for solutions to global issues such as global warming, environmental degradation, international migration, and the Gaza Genocide will emerge and be debated. He underlined the great responsibility of universities in shaping the paradigms that will lead to a world at peace and in addressing these pressing issues.
Following the speeches, the award ceremony for our students who entered the university with the highest rankings was held. The certificates and medals were presented to the students by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Prof. Numan Kurtulmuş.
