Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar attended the 2021-2022 Academic Year Opening Ceremony of our University
Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar attended the 2021-2022 Academic Year Opening Ceremony of our University. At the ceremony, Minister Hulusi Akar was presented with an Honorary Doctorate Certificate by Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çalış.
Minister Hulusi Akar, Chief of General Staff General Yaşar Güler, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces General Musa Avsever, Turkish Airforce Commander General Hasan Küçükakyüz, Governor Şehmus Günaydın, Deputy Chairman of AK Party and Deputy of Kayseri Mehmet Özhaseki, Mayor of Metropolitan Municipality Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç, The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, protocol members, academicians and students attended the ceremony held at Erciyes Culture Center.
Making the opening speech of the ceremony after the moment of silence and the National Anthem, our Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çalış gave information about our University.
Our Rector said: “Our aim will be to take place among 500 universities in the world ranking in line with the target set by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Our university is one of the 3 state universities entitled to receive a “full accreditation” certificate for a period of 5 years at the Higher Education Quality Council Meeting on July 14th, 2021 within the scope of University Institutional Accreditation Program, which has been implemented in Turkey for the first time. Erciyes University, which has made a name for itself in the world, especially in our country, and has always been at the forefront in the rankings with its achievements, ranks 12th among universities in Turkey and 7th among State Universities in the World University Rankings. Erciyes University, which is environmentally friendly university ranking 3rd in Turkey and 142nd in the world in Greenmetric 2020 Rankings, has a livable and clean campus for our students. In addition, as of today, 14 companies continue to work in the field of Defense Industry at Erciyes Technopark, which is among the leading Technoparks in our country that continues its activities within our university, and these companies produce products, especially the fuel systems of our national aircraft, and services in many fields. According to the results of the Technology Development Zones Performance Index of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Erciyes Technopark ranked 7th among the 89 Technology Development Zones in the 2020 overall ranking. Our university operates in almost every field needed, from nanotechnology to genetics and stem cell, from drug research to vaccine, from agricultural researches to energy conversion, and 30 faculty members of our university were included in the list of “2020 Most Influential Scientists” and the researches of our faculty members were considered worthy of the awards in many fields at TUBITAK and TUBA science awards.”
Drawing attention to TURCOVAC, domestic vaccine, developed against Covid-19 by Erciyes University, Rector Çalış said: “Developed against Covid-19 by Erciyes University, which continues to conduct qualified researches as well as quality education and training activities, TURCOVAC has been a source of pride for us. Vaccine Research, Development and Application Center has been the first example in the history of the Republic of Turkey to complete the vaccine studies successfully till the end of the Phase-2 at the same university starting from the preclinical study. TURCOVAC, the Phase-3 studies of which are ongoing, has been considered worthy of the Community Service Award by the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) within the scope of Excellence Awards, and the award was presented to our university by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Opening Ceremony of the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) Academic Year.
Underscoring that they conduct studies with the understanding of “University not only on Campus, but also on Site”, Rector Çalış continued his words as follows: “We always carry out important works with the organizations in our city by doing projects in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, industry, commerce and professional chambers. The best example of this is our program, “100 Demands, 100 Projects”, which we started to bring together our industrialists and academicians. Furthermore, we are in cooperation with the 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Directorate as a result of the protocol regarding personnel training for the maintenance of A400M aircraft. Erciyes Culture Center, which we have opened today and which is the biggest culture center not only of our city but also of the region, will serve both our city and our region. The center, which will offer services with 5 Conference Halls, Multi-purpose Hall, Exhibition Hall and Foyer Area together with the conference hall with a capacity of 1616 people, will contribute significantly to our students, academicians and to the social life of our city.”
Addressing the academicians and the students in his speech, Rector Çalış said: “Dear students, you study at Erciyes University, one of the most prestigious universities in Turkey. As the university administration, we try to maximize your education and research opportunities and to be with you in all your social, cultural and scientific activities. Do not forget that we need the studies of the esteemed young people more than ever for the development of our country in every field and for us to achieve our goal of Great Turkey. Dear esteemed academicians, on the one hand, you share with our students your knowledge and experience that you have gained making great efforts for many years; on the other hand, you carry out R&D studies with the same self-sacrificing and idealist spirit. While you are continuing to serve our country and nation without losing this enthusiasm, we will always support your efforts in this direction. Our university administrators, academic staff, students and benefactors from Kayseri have made great contributions to our university in reaching an important point in Turkey with its educational quality, R&D activities and its contribution to science and in encouraging hope for the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed.”
Following his speech, Rector Çalış read the senate decision regarding the honorary doctorate degree in the field of “Aviation Management”, which was conferred by Erciyes University Senate on Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar for his astute, successful and visionary management approach in the fields of national defense and aviation of our country as well as for his contribution to the development of the aviation industry.
Then, our Rector presented Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar with the “Honorary Doctorate” certificate.
After the presentation of the “Honorary Doctorate” certificate, Minister Hulusi Akar addressed the guests and thanked Rector Çalış and the University Senate for the presentation of the “Honorary Doctorate” certificate.
Minister Akar said: “Erciyes University, which is one of the well-established universities of our country, has contributed considerably to the scientific world since its establishment. I am also pleased to receive the “Honorary Doctorate” certificate from such a well-established and prestigious university. That’s very kind of you. I would like to express my gratitude. I also accept this honorary doctorate degree on behalf of my comrades-in-arms and colleagues. I would like to thank Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çalış and the university senate.
Congratulating TURCOVAC Vaccine Development Project Team Leader Prof. Dr. Aykut Özdarendeli and his team, Minister Akar said: “As I am from Kayseri, I am proud that our distinguished city has achieved great success in the field of industry, trade, tourism as well as in the field of education. Likewise, I gladly follow our university’s success in raising its level to a higher level day by day. Taking firm steps forward towards becoming a center of excellence with its studies, Erciyes University, like Mount Erciyes, which is named after it, has become one of the top brands of the academic world. I especially would like to point out that the production of the domestic vaccine TURCOVAC, developed against Covid-19 and the Phase-3 studies of which are ongoing, is a historic success of our university. TURCOVAC means much more than just a vaccine for us. This study is a symbol of pride which has been added to the success report of our academic community and our country. It is also a source of pride for our university and our country that the vaccine will be offered to all humanity with the directives of our President after the immediate use approval. With this decision, our country has once again demonstrated its attitude that pays regard to the universal moral values by being on the side of the oppressed and the wronged. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çalış and TURCOVAC Vaccine Development Project Team Leader Prof. Dr. Aykut Özdarendeli and his team, who are working determinedly to produce the vaccine, and wish them continued success”.
Emphasizing that Erciyes University successfully represents our country in the international arena, Minister Akar said: “Erciyes University, which is one of the few research universities in Turkey, successfully represents our country in the international arena as a university with these qualifications. I also need to mention about the great advantage that our university has. As you know, Kayseri is known for its enterprising, hardworking, determined and intelligent people whether they are educated or not. Our university also reflects these characteristics of Kayseri and my fellow citizens to its studies, contributes significantly to our scientific world and serves our country with the dynamism and energy it gets from the spirit of the city. Our city which displays the best examples of university-industry cooperation keeps its leading position in many fields, especially in the defense and aerospace industry. Within this framework, the defense industry journey of Kayseri started with the Turkish Aircraft and Motor Inc. (TOMTAŞ), established in 1926 and one of the best aviation factories of its time, and today continues with the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate. A400M project, which has enabled our defense industry to move to a new stage, especially in terms of design and will take the maintenance capability we have in transport aircraft to a higher level, has also been put into practice successfully in this factory. By the way, I would like to thank our Rector in particular, Asst. Prof. Dr. Neslihan Altuncuoğlu, the editor of the book, and all those who contributed to the work, titled “Kayseri Aircraft Factory”, prepared about TOMTAŞ. The fact that ASPILSAN, which produces the new generation energy storage systems, which are the basic needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, also operates in Kayseri, provides an important added value to our city. Our university also helps our defense and aircraft industries to become stronger with joint projects that it conducts with the public and private companies at Erciyes Technopark, with modern laboratories in the Aviation Application and Research Center, and with R&D studies. Thus, the fact that our university is the only university with the Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics authorized by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation is an indication that it will carry the legacy it has acquired from history to the future in compliance with the spirit of the time.”
Following the speech of Minister Akar, TURCOVAC Project Team Leader Prof. Dr. Aykut Özdarendeli was presented with a medal and a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the TURCOVAC team. The ceremony ended after our Rector presented Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar with the PZL P24 fighter aircraft model, which was produced by Kayseri Aircraft Factory, TOMTAŞ between 1936 and 1939, prepared by the students of the Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and in the world the only original of which is exhibited with the code 2145 in the Air Forces Museum in Yeşilköy.