Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) 2021-2022 Academic Year Spring Semester Graduation Ceremony for Associate and Undergraduate programs was held on Wednesday, 6 July, 2022 at 19:00 at EMU Yasin Düşüner Stadium. Present at the ceremony were Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar, TRNC Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, TRNC Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Members of the Parliament, Higher Education Planning, Supervision, Accreditation and Coordination Board (YODAK) President Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı, EMU Board of Trustees President Dr. Erdal Özcenk, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın, Vice Rectors, Senate Members, Faculty Members, alumni and their families. The ceremony was broadcast live worldwide via EMU TV, national channels BRT 2, Kanal T, TV 2020, Kanal Sim and EMU’s institutional social media accounts.
After a Moment of Silence and the National Anthem, the graduation ceremony started with the speeches of Hüseyin Aran, the highest ranking graduate of the Faculty of Law, and Cemre Orhan, the highest ranking graduate of the Faculty of Communication, Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design Department, on behalf of the graduates. After the speeches, the graduates planted a symbolic tree.
“EMU’s Number of Graduates has Exceeded 69,000”
Speaking at the ceremony, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın stated that 1,846 graduates are about to receive associate and undergraduate diplomas from EMU and added that 308 associate degree graduates from 7 different nationalities and 1,538 undergraduate graduates from 67 different nationalities gained the right to receive diplomas. Expressing that EMU has graduated around 2,200 students in the Spring Semester, Prof. Dr. Hocanın noted that thus the total number of graduates of the university so far has exceeded 69,000. At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Hocanın congratulated the graduates and their families.
“The Path to Success is through Love”
EMU Board of Trustees President Dr. Erdal Özcenk stated that he shares the graduates’ and their families’ pride and emphasized that they will immediately see the privileges of having an EMU diploma wherever they are in the world. Always advising graduates to continue learning and improving themselves, Dr. Özcenk wished them to keep the love in their hearts in their journey of life. Stating that life is built on love, Dr. Özcenk stated that the graduates will witness that the way to achieve all their ambitions is only through love.
“You Have Received the Education Taking You to the Futre With Confident Steps”
YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı stated that he also graduated from the EMU Faculty of Business and Economics 30 years ago and shares the happiness of the graduates and their families. Emphasizing that the graduates receive the education at EMU that support their firm steps forward to the future, Prof. Dr. Avcı stated that they now have a diploma from EMU, which is among the best universities in the world. Thanking the academics for their efforts as colleagues, Prof. Dr. Avcı congratulated all graduates.
The Embargoes Enforced on the TRNC cannot be Applied in Education”
Nazım Çavuşoğlu, TRNC Minister of National Education, emphasized that the TRNC, with its student island and student-friendly identity, is making a great effort to carry its graduates to the future. Stating that the embargoes enforced on the TRNC could not be applied in education because the information is spread everywhere, Minister Çavuşoğlu noted that the big world would benefit from the information produced in this small society. Stating that nearly 100 thousand students from over 100 countries are studying at 21 universities in the TRNC and that there are academics from nearly 80 countries, Minister Çavuşoğlu asked everyone to benefit from the pool created by this diversity. Minister Çavuşoğlu wished health and happiness to all graduates and their families.
“My Hearfelt Congratulations to All Graduates and Their Families”
President Ersin Tatar started his speech by extending his heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates and stated that the graduates of EMU, one of the most important institutions of the TRNC they are proud of its past and achievements, have opened a new page in their lives. Providing lifelong education and development advice to graduates, President Tatar pointed out the importance of being brave to overcome all obstacles. Noting that the graduates received education in the TRNC ready to contribute to their country and humanity, President Tatar also congratulated the families of the graduates.
After the speeches, the diplomas and awards were presented to the highest ranking students of the faculties and departments by the protocol. Afterwards, the graduates of the 2021-2022 Academic Year Spring Semester were awarded their diplomas. The ceremony continued with the concert of the Öldüren Şampanya. In the end, after Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın’s countdown accompanied by the Vice Rectors, the caps were thrown into the air.
