The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, attended the “2025-2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony” held in the Presidential Complex.
The “2025-2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony” was held at the Beştepe Public Congress and Culture Center in the Presidential Complex, with the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Vice Rector of BEUN, Prof. Dr. Servet Karasu, Director of Alaplı Vocational School, Prof. Dr. Burçin Şolt, Director of Çaycuma Vocational School of Food and Agriculture, Asst. Prof. Dr. Deniz Karaelmas, students from the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Medicine, accompanied the Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer.
The President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, wished all the students, academic and administrative staff luck for the 2025-2026 Academic Year at the beginning of the ceremony. He highlighted that all universities covered Gaza and Palestine in their first lessons in detail in order to support solidarity with the people of Palestine and stated that they will keep the doors of our universities open for the Palestinian students and academics.
YOK President Prof. Dr. Özvar emphasized that new graduate and associate programs based on artificial intelligence, big data, cyber security, and digital technology were opened and talked about the aims such as taking the courses and credits that do not contribute to the development of students off the curriculum, simplification of lesson plans, and tailoring the learning processes to be based on projects, application and research.
Noting that universities became a headline in the Turkish foreign policies in Africa, İslamic and Turkish world, Özvar said that one of the strongest international ties of the Turkish higher education is the relations with the Turkish world.
Following the opening speech of Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave his speech, honoring the platform. President Erdoğan congratulated the scientists and universities who were awarded the 2025 Outstanding Achievement Awards. Highlighting that they would support Gaza to rise again with the international community, President Erdoğan stated that they wished for the end of the genocide and peace in the area. After emphasizing that the people of Gaza are the ones who deserve peace and safety most, President Erdoğan added, “For the first time in two years, the faces of oppressed people, especially the faces of innocent children of Gaza, are smiling once again. We will continue to do whatever is needed, if God allows, in order to ensure those blooms of hope never fade. I would like to thank Mr. Trump, who showed strong will in encouraging the Israeli government to declare a ceasefire. I express my gratitude to Qatar and Egypt, which contributed to the peace process. I also congratulate the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, for their steadfast and prudent stance.”
Stating that education institutes that have increased in number and contribute greatly to the scientific world, affected a large area in a short time, and created a role model for the European countries, President Erdoğan noted that they continue the strong, old, and effective intellectual tradition of the Ottomans. He reminded that in Bursa, Edirne, İstanbul, and many other places, with institutions such as the Orhangazi and Süleymaniye madrasahs and numerous other educational centers, the spiritual geography- the Balkans- was cultivated step by step, like an intricate embroidery.
Emphasizing that thousands of professors and students came to these institutions to receive an education and contributed to the common knowledge, President Erdoğan stated that it was because knowledge and scholars were highly respected in this culture. He added: “We know that because we were not effective enough in writing the science history, we have a hard time telling the invaluable contributions of this land to the world. We shouldn't let the contributions we have made to science throughout history be ignored, and we should patiently continue to convey these achievements, especially to our youth, with confidence.” He said, “We are working resolutely to build a bright future inspired by our past and to raise Turkey’s level in higher education even higher. From technical and physical infrastructure to academic staff, from curricula to dormitory and accommodation facilities, we are moving forward with a completely new vision in every field.
Following the President’s speech, the President of the Council of Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, presented him with the model of PAUSAT-1, one of the most developed pocket satellites in the world. The 2025 YÖK Outstanding Achievements Awards were presented in four categories, namely, individual, institutional, special field, and special award. For the individual category, “Doctorate Thesis of the Year” award in the departments of science and engineering, fine arts and architecture, health and sports sciences, as well as humanities, was presented by President Erdoğan himself.
A faculty member at the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at the BEUN Faculty of Pharmacy, Assistant Professor Dr. Burcu Timur, received her award from President Erdoğan himself within the scope of Health and Sports Sciences Awards. The ceremony ended with a commemorative photo of President Erdoğan with the academics who received awards.
The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, stated that he is pleased to have attended the 2025-2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony and believes that the university will conduct more qualified studies. He wished for a successful year for the BEUN family and congratulated the Asst. Prof. Dr. Burcu Timur on her achievement.
