Spring Term Opening of the Teacher Academy program, organized by the Ministry of National Education was held at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), with the participation of Sümer Ezgü, a strong voice of Turkish Folk music, in a joyous atmosphere. Following the program, composer Sümer Ezgü paid a visit to the Department of Instrument Making and Repair, available at some of Türkiye's leading universities, and reviewed the work on site.
The program was attended by Zonguldak Governor Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu and his wife Güney Hacıbektaşoğlu, Zonguldak Public Chief Prosecutor Gökhan Kapağan and his wife Buket Kapağan, Zonguldak Deputy Governor Muammer Balcı, Zonguldak Provincial Director of National Education Uygar Keskin, the Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Executive Assistant Fatma Tuğral Sayılı, academic and administrative staff, teachers, students and many citizens.
An Education Vision of Culture and Arts
Program began with the opening speech of Provincial Director of National Education Uygar Keskin. Following Keskin’s speech, who emphasized that education is not limited to academic success but is valuable when supported with culture and arts, Zonguldak Folk Dance Group took the stage and performed local folk dances.
The guest of the program Sümer Ezgü, TRT artist, composer and singer, created memorable moments for the audience with his speech and musical performance. Highlighting the role of Turkish folk music in the education system, Ezgü emphasized the significance of transferring cultural heritage to younger generations. Bonding with the teachers and students through his interactive performance, Ezgü was appreciated for his performance of Zonguldak folk songs.
The program was concluded with a strong vision that aims to integrate musical heritage in the curriculum and contribute to the professional development of teachers.
Pioneer Unit That Adds Value to Art from BEUN: Instrument Making and Repair
Following the program Sümer Ezgü visited the Department of Instrument Making and Repair, which is available in only three universities. During the visit Ezgü was accompanied by the Director of State Conservatory Prof. Dr. İlker Kömürcü, the Coordinator of Corporate Communication Lecturer Ufuk Tok, and faculty member of Department of Music Lecturer Cem Dertsiz. As part of the visit, Lecturer Dertsiz shared detailed information on the studies carried out in the department, production process of instruments such as violin and nay, materials and production techniques. It was emphasized that qualified works produced at the workshop contribute to the academic strength of the university in the fields of art and culture.
Ezgü: “Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Is One of The Most Deep-Rooted Universities in Our Country”
In his remarks during the visit, Sümer Ezgü stated his pleasure to be in Zonguldak and added:
“I am glad to be in a city, which stands out with its natural beauty and deep-rooted history. Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University is a valuable higher education institution that stands out with its academic success, and value it attaches to arts and culture. It is extremely meaningful that a special unit, which is only available at some leading universities in Türkiye, is available at BEUN. Each instrument produced here has the voice, spirit, and cultural background. I believe young artists from State Conservatory will achieve significant success in the fields of music and performance arts. I am proud to see that university has undertaken a cultural mission as well as an academic one. I would like to thank our Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer and all academic and administrative staff and wish them success in their endeavors.”
Rector Özölçer: “We Believe All Initiatives That Bring Together Our National Culture and Education with the Artists’ Contributions Are Extremely Valuable”
The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated the following in his remarks on the visit:
“Qualified and Visionary Projects such as the Teacher’s Academy strengthens the cultural and artistic aspect of our educational system that is not limited to sharing academic knowledge. Such programs contribute to the multifaceted development of our teachers while inspiring students.
As a university, we see culture, art, and education as a whole and consider such initiatives that bring them together extremely valuable. Incorporating a deeply rooted heritage such as Turkish folk music into educational processes is an extremely important responsibility in terms of preserving our national identity and passing it on to future generations. In this respect, our Instrument Making and Repair Department, operating within our State Conservatory, stands as one of the most concrete examples of this understanding. Each instrument produced here is not merely a work of art; it is also a cultural bridge extending from the past to the future. In this sense, our department is one of the most valuable units of our university, both academically and culturally.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our esteemed artist, Sümer Ezgü, who joined us in this meaningful program, reminded us of our national values, our culture, and the richness of our folk music, and brought our university together with our folk songs by performing some of their finest examples, once again allowing us to feel the unifying power of art. I also wish for this strong interaction between our university and the world of art to continue and grow further. Furthermore, I would like to extend my gratitude to our Ministry, especially to our Minister, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin, for their great contributions to the realization of this program under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education, and I would also like to thank the Zonguldak Provincial Directorate of National Education as well as everyone who contributed.
