UNYT Graduation Ceremony 2019

On the 5th of July, the University of New York Tirana part of the Turkish Maarif Foundation held its 14th annual graduation ceremony, at Art-Turbina, celebrating the accomplishments of 110 graduating students. Albanian and Turkish institutions, representatives, ambassadors, academics, students and their families attended the ceremony.

During the graduation ceremony was shown the message of the President of Turkey, H.E.Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan where among other things in his message he stated that:”I Support all the work of our foundation to meet the needs and requirements of our brothers and Albanian friends in the field of education at all levels”.

The Ceremony started with the address speech of Prof. Dr. İsmail KOCAYUSUFOĞLU, Rector of the University of New York Tirana.

“As the Rector of UNYT, I am not calling you as alumni, I am calling you as the ambassadors of UNYT. You will carry UNYT’s flag everywhere as an Ambassador. I know that you will make us proud by being hardworking, innovative, but most important by being an ethical and trusty person in your future life. UNYT and Maarif family cannot wait to see that You will make a positive difference in your countries, your regions as well as in the World. There is no doubt that we must change the World in a good sense.

There is no doubt that we must find a way for a peaceful life, to respect, to understand each other, and surely, there is no doubt that EDUCATION is the real and is the ONLY POWER- the ONLY TOOL that we may use to do it”

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Turkey, Prof. Halis Yunus Ersöz, who in his greeting speech said that this university will play a very important role in strengthening the friendship between Turkey and Albania.

“Recently, it is evident that it is education that will connect people together.” A university with such visions will have the support of our Maarif Center. “We will also increase our support for all graduates of this university. I emphasize that all graduates who are part of the very large family of the Maarif Foundation will be part of not only this large family but also part of the 80 million population of the Turkish state, “Ersöz said.

While the Turkish Ambassador in Tirana, H.I.E Murat Ahmet Yörük, said that the Maarif Foundation is looking forward to making this university not only the most prestigious in Albania, but also the most prestigious of the whole region.

The representative of Maarif Foundation, Prof.Dr. Aşkın Asan, during the ceremony, said that the Foundation determines education as a dynamic and permanent process of learning, which according to her will flourish cultural and social existence.

Emphasizing that the Turk Maarif Foundation has educational activities in dozens of different countries, Asan said, “There are 272 schools and 30,000 students around the world, which means we have a total of 30,000 brothers and sisters all over the world, made very successful and a distinguished educational brand in the international arena “.

UNYT was particularly honored to have as a keynote speaker of this year’s graduation ceremony Mr. Seyhan Pencablıgil, “CEO of the Year in Europe” and CEO of BKT, considered as the “Best Local Bank in Albania”.

Representing the State University of New York, Empire State College (SUNY-ESC) was Dr. Meg Benke ESC Provost and Dr. Sheila Aird, European Programs Director. Dr. Meg Benke emphasized that SUNY-ESC graduates from UNYT have a unique professional identity and a set of values and beliefs that will allow them to continue their quest for lifelong learning and distinguish themselves in their chosen paths.

Since 2002, when the University of New York Tirana was established, it has become a leading provider of higher education in the country, graduating every year young professionals with the knowledge and skills that are highly required by the regional and global job market. UNYT graduates’ positions in major public and private sector positions, as well as their continuation of studies in well-known universities abroad, is the best evidence of their academic and professional preparedness.

UNYT offers dual diplomas to students who wish to obtain the local degree in addition to US and UK accredited degrees from the State University of New York, Empire State College and the University of Greenwich, respectively.