Orientation training for first-year students enrolled in the departments and programs of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) at the beginning of the 2022-2023 Academic Year has completed its fourth day.
Turkish Teaching Application and Research Center (OMU-Turkish) students participated in the training in Turkish and English.
Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Demir, Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Cengiz Batuk, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Başoğlu, Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, Prof. Dr. Sevim Alisir, OMU-Turkish Director Prof. Dr. Bekir Şişman, academics, and international students attended the program held at Atatürk Congress and Culture Center.
Speaking at the orientation program and stating that the international students came to one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey and the world to study, Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Demir said, "As the city administration, we love our international students, and we are delighted that you are here. As the Metropolitan Municipality, we are among the institutions with the closest relations with the university. As the Metropolitan Municipality, we recommend that you follow our activities. Be sure to contact us on any issue you think will contribute to us. As the Metropolitan Municipality, let us get together in the future. Welcome."
Rector Ünal began his speech with the following; "We use Turkish as the language of instruction at our university, but we also see Turkish as an academic language, that is, as a world language. Ensuring our communication in the international arena through a certain language will create an opportunity to work together by better understanding each other. Languages are the carrier instruments of cultures. If we use our language correctly and properly, it will also make it possible to understand and rebuild our culture. Here, we want you to use Turkish at an advanced level, that is, to learn Turkish at a level where you can write a text that can make comments."
Rector Ünal said that language proficiency will increase students' opportunities and said, "Due to the system implemented at OMU, students have to use one of four different languages (English, Arabic, German and French) at B1 level. However, this necessity creates other opportunities for you. If you can use one of these languages, it allows you to be exempt from your courses. This will provide the opportunity to finish school in a short time. Education is not just about language; we have to provide personal development, produce knowledge and develop the skills to build our future."
Rector Ünal concluded his speech as follows: "We want you to care about your own education and consider this education as the camp of your life. We care about you. We want you to care about your own future too. As one of the leading universities in Turkey, OMU will offer all its opportunities for you to have a strong education. Because we want to see you in good positions in the future."
OMU-Turkish Director Şişman said, "As OMU-Turkish, which has been operating within our university since 2013, we are ready for the new academic year with our 25 academic staff, 20 of which are academic staff and 5 of which are administrative staff. This year, we aim to teach Turkish to at least 500 international students and give them a C1 certificate at OMU-Turkish, where approximately 2,500 international students have learned Turkish and received the "Turkish C1 Certificate" so far. In addition, this year, the Turkish Language Teaching Certificate Program for Foreigners will be carried out, and we plan to organize various events. The Turkish course at OMU-Turkish is given in the form of A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1 levels in approximately one thousand hours. Our courses, which started on October 3 this year, are planned to be completed in June 2023."
With the orientation that took place on 17-21 October 2022, it was aimed that the students who start their higher education programs would have information about OMU and Samsun; and they would have a qualified and psycho-socially effective education-training period.