Berk Can Dereci (OMÜ Kurumsal İletişim Koordinatörlüğü Haber Merkezi)
International students learning Turkish at the Ondokuz Mayıs University Turkish Teaching Application and Research Center (OMÜ-TÜRKÇE) celebrated their graduation.
In an event organized under the name "Turkish Festival and Graduation Ceremony" at the OMU Atatürk Congress and Culture Center (AKM), around 450 international students from different countries enjoyed the happiness of graduating through colorful and entertaining performances accompanied by Turkish students.
The program was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Vedat Keleş, Director of OMÜ-TÜRKÇE Prof. Dr. Bekir Şişman, Head of the International Relations Office Prof. Dr. Mustafa Said Kurşunoğlu, Head of Student Affairs Department Ahmet Çakır, academics, and many local and international students.
In the opening speeches of the program, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Terzi was the first to speak. He mentioned the joy of being able to express oneself in Turkish in any country, stating, "As OMU, we have been teaching Turkish in the best way possible and graduating our international students for over 11 years. The spread of our language and the presence of our representatives worldwide is a source of great happiness. All students who come to Türkiye and those living here learn our customs, traditions, and cultural heritage over the years, and they represent us. The mission brought by our history has been greatly reinforced by a more advanced academic platform over the last 11 years. I believe that in the coming years, we will graduate even more students and contribute to developing the Turkish language and culture as a university. Moreover, I believe that thanks to our local and international students, OMU will achieve a position to compete successfully on the world stage in the coming years."
Then, speaking about the development and mission of OMÜ-TÜRKÇE over the past 13 years, Director Prof. Dr. Bekir Şişman said, "OMÜ-TÜRKÇE, established in 2013 as a necessity of the internationalization vision and mission of our university, has grown and developed over the years, teaching Turkish to approximately 4,000 international students to date. Our institution continues language education interactively and in accordance with the European Language Portfolio based on the four skills principle. Our institution, aware that language education is only possible by simultaneously learning the culture of the region where the language is spoken, introduces and endears many values of Turkish culture to our students throughout the teaching process, striving to raise its international students as cultural ambassadors and friends of Türkiye."
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Said Kurşunoğlu emphasized that OMU has an ecosystem designed and continuously improved for international students, saying, "Firstly, an international student who comes to our university is introduced to Turkish and benefits from the opportunity to become part of Turkish culture. The largest proportion of our country's global outreach consists of international students. Wherever you go in the world, you often encounter Turks who are working in vital jobs and have become professionals. We see that our graduated international students are employed in significant positions, such as deputy minister, general manager, and school principal, and this, of course, makes us proud."
Following the opening speeches, the program began with the students in the festival team reciting Turkish poems, followed by a theater performance and a live rendition of the Karagöz and Hacivat play.
The program also featured enjoyable moments with students performing Turkish songs and tongue twisters, and a sketch focused on the use of Turkish was met with laughter.
The program, which included performances of traditional folk dances from the Black Sea region, especially the horon, ended with a group photo session.
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