The Yalova University 2025–2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony was held at the Mehmet Okul Congress and Culture Centre. The ceremony was attended by Yalova Governor Dr Hülya Kaya, Rector of the National Defence University Prof. Erhan Afyoncu, protocol members, academic and administrative staff, families, students and members of the press.
The ceremony commenced with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem, followed by the opening speech by our Rector, Prof. Mehmet Bahçekapılı.
‘We are building not only today's university, but tomorrow's university.’
Addressing young people, Rector Bahçekapılı emphasised that universities are not only academic institutions, but also institutions that instil ethics, character and a sense of responsibility, stating, ‘We have a responsibility to grow knowledge not for power, but for justice and humanity.’ Our Rector also expressed his belief that our university will achieve a much stronger future through the leadership of our faculty members and the curiosity and enthusiasm of our students.
‘We Have Achieved Remarkable Momentum with Our Institutional Collaborations and Student-Focused Projects!’
In his speech, our Rector emphasised that the new academic year marks the ‘beginning of new goals and new achievements,’ drawing attention to the academic momentum our university has gained in recent years. He stated that our university is rapidly rising nationally thanks to increases in WOS and Scopus data and significant successes in EU and TÜBİTAK projects.
‘We Successfully Completed the Institutional Accreditation Process’
Our Rector, Prof. Mehmet Bahçekapılı, stated that our university successfully completed the YÖKAK Institutional Accreditation Programme Evaluation Process between 17–20 November and thanked all the staff involved in the preparation process.
‘New Investments Announced’
In his speech, our Rector shared that the Faculty of Medicine Morphology Building, Congress Centre, and Faculty of Art and Design Buildings have begun operating at our university, and that the construction of the Library and Dining Hall Building is also progressing rapidly.
He also stated that the Coastal Development Project, which will integrate our campus with the sea, will be completed in the near future and that this area will be made available for use by both students and the people of Yalova.
A Call of Conscience for Gaza and East Turkestan
In his speech, our Rector expressed his deep sorrow regarding the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza. Emphasising the importance of academic freedom, our Rector conveyed his gratitude to our President, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his support of the peace process. Stating his belief that Palestine will emerge from this struggle as a fully independent state, our Rector said that this struggle will lead to the liberation of all oppressed people around the world, starting with our ancestral homeland, East Turkistan. He also underlined that the East Turkistan issue is an important matter in terms of human rights and universal conscience:
"Our brothers and sisters in East Turkestan should know that
their land is in our memory,
their struggle is our responsibility.
The honour of this nation is too great to be trampled underfoot,
its freedom too sacred to be relinquished.
And we believe that;
with patience, perseverance and justice,
this honour will be preserved,
this freedom will surely be attained.
Today,
it is not just a year that is opening,
today,
the hope of a nation is rising!
Today,
the future of a youth is marching forward,
from Yalova towards Turkey!
A university is not
just stone, it is not concrete.
A university is
the conscience of a nation,
a breath of honour left for tomorrow!
Science is not
mere knowledge,
It is
morality,
justice,
homeland!
From these desks
not only diplomas will emerge;
from these desks
love for the homeland will be born!
From these platforms
not only voices will rise;
from these platforms
the nation will rise!
And every young person who leaves Yalova will say:
"I am the child of this country!
My knowledge and my labour
are entrusted to this homeland!"
Because these lands
are built with reason,
but rise with faith;
they nurture reason,
but character sustains them;
they pave the way for knowledge,
but morality charts the course!
Young people!
You will stand with your knowledge
so that this flag does not fall to the ground!
You will stand with your hearts
so that this call to prayer does not fall silent!
You will stand with your morality and courage
so that this state may be eternal!
And today,
from Yalova,
we solemnly pledge to this sacred homeland:
This knowledge rising from Yalova;
is loyalty to the flag,
a trust to the homeland,
and an honourable promise to the future!
This promise
is our covenant!
This promise
is a pledge of honour to this nation!
And with this faith,
with this enthusiasm,
with this spirit of brotherhood;
I sincerely wish that the 2025–2026 Academic Year
brings success, peace and health
to our Yalova University,
to our beloved nation,
and to our entire university family!"
‘First Lecture by Prof. Erhan Afyoncu, Rector of the National Defence University’
As part of the opening programme, Prof. Erhan Afyoncu, Rector of the National Defence University, delivered the first lecture entitled ‘Palestine's Turkish Centuries: 800 Years in Palestine’. Afyoncu provided guests with a comprehensive perspective by examining the Turkish presence in Palestine through its historical processes.
In his speech, Afyoncu also stated that some news reports about Palestine in the media were unfounded, enlightening the guests by providing important information about the history of the Palestinian cause.
The programme continued with a gowning-up and certificate presentation ceremony for professors, associate professors and doctoral faculty members who had received academic promotions.
