The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer attended the festival titled “GastroFest Devrek: the Story of Anatolia”, organized at Devrek Baston Museum and Doğa Culture Bank as part of the Turkish Cuisine Week activities. Aiming to promote Zonguldak’s local cuisine, traditional handicrafts, and cultural heritage, the festival started with wide participation and great interest.
The opening program held at Devrek Baston Park on 21 May 2026 was attended by Zonguldak Governor Osman Hacıobektaşoğlu, Zonguldak Chief Public Prosecutor Gökhan Kapağan, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, Devrek Mayor Özcan Ulupınar, city and district dignitaries, and many students.
Zonguldak’s Local Flavors and Cultural Heritage Met in Devrek
The program began with a moment of silence and singing of the National Anthem. Following the singing of the National Anthem, ribbon cutting ceremony was held. Then Devrek Municipality Mahteran Band performed. The stands with local products and handicrafts were also visited. Citizens appreciated the local food served as part of the festival. During the festival, organized in collaboration with Devrek Municipality and Zonguldak Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, local flavors, cultural activities, handicrafts, concerts, workshops, and talks will meet with the attendees.
On the second day of the festival, workshops such as Devrek Cane Making, Bamboo Basket Making, Wood Printing, and Foil Art will be held. Various talks and musical performances will also be held as part of the festival.
BEUN Academics and Successful Alumni will Meet with Citizens
A malay and noodle making workshop will be held by Lecturer Mustafa Gökyar, a faculty member of BEUN DEvrek Vocational School Cookery Program on 22 May 2026 between 4pm-5pm.
On 23 May 2026 at 2pm, Zonguldak Teknopark Intellectual Rights Coordinator Prof. Dr. Şenay Saraç will hold a talk.
As part of the festival, a successful MasterChef contestant Hakan Altunbaş, who has graduated from BEUN Cookery Program, will come together with citizens.
On 24 May 2026, BEUN State Conservatory will have a musical performance.
Rector Özölçer: “We are Carrying the Cultural Memory and Local Values of Zonguldak into the Future”
In his remarks on the festival, Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer thanked all institutions and stakeholders who contributed to this meaningful organization and added:
“This valuable organization organized for the 21-27 May Turkish Cuisine Week contributes to promotion of cultural and gastronomical values of our city. I would like to thank particularly Governor Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu, and Devrek Mayor Özcan Ulupınar, Zonguldak Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism for their contributions to the organization of this event.
Zonguldak is a significant city with its natural beauty bringing blue and green together as well as its deep-rooted history, traditional handicrafts, local flavors, and living values. Promotion, preservation, branding and marketing of geographically indicated products are extremely significant. As preserving the local values means preserving cultural memory, production culture, and city identity.
In this respect, the initiatives of Ministry of Industry and Technology and Ministry of Culture and Tourism are of great importance. I extend my gratitude to Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, and Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, and ministry authorities for their support in transforming local products into economic values, preserving cultural heritage, and increasing the number of geopgraphically indicated products.”
Rector Özölçer: “BEUN Supports Zonguldak’s Local Values with its Scientific and Cultural Initiatives”
Stating that as university, we continue to contribute to the cultural heritage of the city, Rector Özölçer added:
“As Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, we are also carrying out significant efforts to preserve our city’s cultural values and pass them on to future generations. Through the Cookery Program of Devrek Vocational School, we contribute to the promotion of our local cuisine, while through the Devrek Cane Application and Research Center, we support the cultural heritage of the Devrek cane with scientific studies.
At the same time, we attach great importance to the protection of our living human treasures, who are the bearers of our traditional handicrafts. Because these masters carry not only a profession, but also the memory, labor, and cultural spirit of Anatolia into the future. As a university, we will continue with determination to carry out all kinds of academic and cultural studies for the preservation, promotion, and sustainable continuation of these values.”
