Guest Speakers | UNYT Graduation Ceremony 23′

UNYT had the honour of welcoming our esteemed guest speakers: Prof. Dr. Birol AKGÜN, the President of the Turkish Maarif Foundation; Assoc. Prof. Celile Eren ÖKTEN, Vice Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye; Dr. Albana TOLE, Deputy Minister of Education of Albania; and Mrs. Anuela Ristani, Deputy Mayor of Tirana for Foreign Relations.
These distinguished personalities brought their wisdom and expertise to the stage as they delivered inspiring speeches to our graduating class. Their insights and experiences in the field of education are truly invaluable, and we are immensely grateful for their presence and contribution to this momentous occasion.

The keynote speaker of the Ceremony, Prof. Dr. Birol AKGÜN, the President of the Turkish Maarif Foundation, congratulated the students for their achievements and shared his feelings of pride and emotion for the graduation and the big step that the students have taken in their lives. Among other things, Prof. Dr. Birol mentioned the importance of academics in this journey too, and he also motivated students by saying, “Believe in yourself, your ideas, be resilient in the face of challenges and surround yourself with a network of mentors and supporters who will inspire you in your life.” He also mentioned that it is our great aim to make our university stronger and more internationally recognized.

Assoc. Prof. Celile Eren ÖKTEN, Vice Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye, also delivered a speech that mentioned the solid and long friendship between Albania and Türkiye. She also said that “In the heart of our partnership lies invaluable exchange of knowledge and ideas through educational relations.” She mentioned the significant initiations that Türkiye has made in Albania to strengthen our educational tie. She said all the possibilities offered to students, such as Student Exchanges, language learning programs and a fostering of cultural understanding. She mentioned that the number of Albanian students in Türkiye has increased and that this nurtures cross-cultural understanding and represents a bridge that connects our nations.

Dr. Albana TOLE, Deputy Minister of Education of Albania, congratulated the students and the parents for all their sacrifices and hard work, which has enabled them to come to this day. She expressed that “Your Graduation is a very important moment which you will remember for a long time. It is a moment where you are appreciated for all the hard work that you have done in all these years, and it is also the moment where you start to take responsibility, and you become part of the job market.” In addition, she mentioned the progress and success shown by UNYT from its first day in 2002 until now. She also mentioned the values that our university holds, such as scientific research, educational methods and curriculums, international recognition, and great support to students. She expressed her wishes that the graduated students remain in Albania and contribute to their country in their upcoming years.

In her energetic and positive speech, Mrs. Anuela Ristani, Deputy Mayor of Tirana for Foreign Relations, expressed the pride and joy she felt together with the parents of the graduating students, and she thanked the parents in the name of the students for their kindness, support, love and their pride until this day. She also advises students that among all the serosity of life, they should also stop and enjoy life. She said, “I only have one suggestion for you today. Among all this seriousness, among all this toughness that is going to challenge you and put you down and make you fail and make you kneel, just try and have some fun!”

The presence and speeches of our distinguished guests, including Prof. Dr. Birol AKGÜN, Assoc. Prof. Celile Eren ÖKTEN, Dr. Albana TOLE, and Mrs. Anuela Ristani added immense value and inspiration to the UNYT Graduation Ceremony 2023, leaving a lasting impact on our graduates as they embark on their next chapter with pride and determination.