– Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel: “Universities are higher-education institutions which possess academic freedom and intuitional autonomy”

University of Kyrenia, which has begun to facilitate education and training in 2013, has given its 6th batch students for the fall term of the academic year 2015-2016 in its new campus.

According to the press info release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of University of Kyrenia, The Founding Rector of Near East University, Dr. Suat İ. Günsel; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S.Günsel; Acting Rector of University of Kyrenia, Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu; Vice Rectors, Deans; Academic Members of Near East University and University of Kyrenia; bureaucrats, guests and students attended the graduation ceremony of the University.

It was stated that the ceremony began with a minute of silence, followed by the national anthem, then further followed by speeches made by: Acting Rector Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NEU, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel and a student (on behalf of the graduating students), finally ending with the presentation of the diplomas to the graduating students.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel: “We have named our university after the city of Kyrenia and have established the University of Kyrenia with the accreditation of the Ministry of National Education and TRNC Council of Higher-Education; YODAK, on 19.3.2013. Since then, the university is continuously progressing towards its aims and goals as a public entity. ”

In his speech, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel has expressed that with the aim to produce knowledge and therefore serve the community; universities acted as a centre where research is actualised; theories and methods are discovered, developed and taught; where international cultures and universal values of humanity go hand in hand; and where universities nurtured freedom of thought and creativity. He added that, considering all of the above, universities were higher-education institutions which possessed institutional autonomy and academic freedom.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel further expressed that the University of Kyrenia was founded with the above mentioned principles at hand, and was established with the accreditation of the Ministry of National Education and Council of Higher-Education of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (YODAK) three years ago on 9.3.2013. He added that with the rights given by the Law of Higher-Education, the University of Kyrenia was continuously progressing towards its aims and goals.

Moreover, he pointed out that the University of Kyrenia was established with the consent of YOK, YODAK and the Board of Trustees of Near East university; passing on the 17 years of experience of its sister university (NEU) to initiate the university with a total of 450 students studying in 3 faculties and a graduate school.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel: “The construction of the new faculties and the University of Kyrenia Hospital is continuing as quickly as possible!”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel drew attention to the fast growing body of the University of Kyrenia, stating that in 1996, the Faculty of Maritime Studies of Near East University was the only of its kind and that in 2013, the gained experiences of the NEU, as a sister university, was passed on to the University of Kyrenia, initiating its existence through three faculties. It has later opened another faculty, Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences. In this regard, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel stated that two departments gave a four year of study with Turkish as the language of instruction; and that three other programs were provided with English as the language of instruction. Furthermore, he expressed that the university had a total of 1050 students from 37 different countries and that the university was currently providing its education and training services on its new campus since 15th November, 2015. Later on, the buildings of the Faculty of Medicine and University of Kyrenia Hospital were initiated, to further improve the infrastructure, capacity and studies to be facilitated in other fields.

He emphasised that all programs regarding maritime studies were supervised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Turkish Republic (TR) Ministry of Transport, Communication and Marine, and also the Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences provided education and training according to the rules and regulations administered again by the TR Department of Aviation, Ministry of Transport, Communication and Marine and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Günsel expressed that the University of Kyrenia had so far completed two European Union Projects, and that it was currently working on 1 TUBITAK and 1 European Union Project. Furthermore, he has expressed that the University of Kyrenia had signed cooperation protocols involving education and research, with more than ten state and private universities in Turkey; Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Moldavia Republic.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan Günsel stressed that while establishing the University of Kyrenia in 2013, they targeted and were very decisive about many aims and goals. He proudly stated that, step by step, they were achieving these goals and aims. Moreover, he pointed out that they had promised to complete University of Kyrenia Hospital within a year and that that was the reason why the construction was continuing as quickly as possible. He ended his words by stating that investments alike were surely to have a positive impact on the future of the country, serving as a source of pride and joy to everyone involved.

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu: “We, as the University of Kyrenia, are very excited and honoured for realising our aims and goals…”

Making a speech subsequent to the speech of Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel, the Acting Rector of University of Kyrenia; Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu stated that they were very excited and honoured to be graduating their 6th batch students at their new campus. He further added that they, as the University of Kyrenia, were reaching their goals step by step. He said that currently, there were a total of 1050 students from 37 different countries pursing their studies in faculties of Maritime Studies, Aviation and Space Sciences. Furthermore, he expressed that they highly valued both education and training, alongside scientific research. In this regard, he emphasised that the University of Kyrenia is playing its part in both national and international research projects.

Prof. Dr. Salihoğlu: “University of Kyrenia not only provides educational services but also provides services to meet all kinds of needs of the city of Kyrenia and Cyprus as a whole!”

“University of Kyrenia not only provides educational services but also provides services to meet all sorts of needs of the city of Kyrenia and Cyprus as a whole; such that it provides services regarding social-responsibility projects involving art, culture and sports, enabling the University to integrate with the city it is located in within a short period of time. Having settled in our new campus, we have realised many social-responsibility projects and are currently working on establishing an Art-History museum to the city. We believe that, altogether we will build the future of Kyrenia…”

Prof. Dr. Salihoğlu ended his words by addressing the graduates and expressed that graduates were highly valuable, and on the students’ behalf, graduation meant a time of hope and future, whereas on behalf of the university, this was a time to pride oneself.

Following Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu’s speech, Murat Dendeşer and Akirp Akotohm made a speech on behalf of the graduating students. Then, the students graduating from Maritime Transportation Management Engineering, Maritime Management were presented their diplomas.