Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB University of Economy and Technology (TOBB ETU) conducted its 2011-2012 Graduation and 2012-2013 Opening Ceremony with the attendances of the TOBB ETU Board of Trustees and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, National Education Minister Ömer Dinçer and many guests.

Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Seeing the light in the eyes of our students and graduates; in the eyes of their parents, my belief that the most beneficent thing that I’ve done is opening this university gets stronger. Seeing this gives me hope for the future.

This spirit of unity and family has enabled us to come a long way in such a short time. Although it has only been open for 8 years, TOBB ETU is among the most preferred universities of Turkey, taking on more top 100 students than anywhere else. It became, shortly after being established, the most prolific university in terms of publishing academic articles. It has the highest ratio of employment for graduates. The TOBB ETU family has contributed greatly to his success.

Our students who garner admiration at the companies they work with as part of joint education contribute to it. Our graduates contribute to it with their career successes.

From the rector to the deans, from the academics to employees, everyone contributes.

- We’ve done everything possible to do the right thing

We are experiencing one of the most important days of your children’s lives. Be assured that we share the same happiness and excitement as you, the parents. I thank you for raising such children and entrusting us with them. I want you to know we take on the burden of this responsibility gladly. We have taken all of our steps responsibly, showing the maximum effort possible.

- We have brought many innovations to the education system

First of all we brought together theoretical and practical teachings. The three semester education system and joint education system models have been implemented. Thanks to this, our graduates start their business lives a year ahead of their competition.

We taught our students Turkish in the best possible when everyone said that we wouldn’t be a successful brand if we taught in Turkish, we also brought the condition to achieve TOEFL grade foreign language skills in English.

We have re-implemented the social decorum lessons back into the syllabus. Also, in order to nurture leadership properties in our students we have added leadership classes.

- TOBB ETU is an education workshop

TOBB ETU is not just a university it is an education workshop. This workshop is alive. It does not abandon its workers after they graduate. Above all, this workshop teaches its students how to learn. It teaches information which will never become irrelevant.

The profession of the age is taught within this workshop: entrepreneurship. This workshop trains dynamic diplomats. This workshop produces bureaucrats with a private sector mentality. This workshop produces leaders to lead their communities.

This is what kind of workshop you are graduating from. You have been brought up with this privilege to venture into life. After today, you will all take the first steps into your new lives. All of our efforts have been to prepare you to face the hardships of life and competition with the graduates of other universities.

- Truth and hard work

If you follow two principles throughout the rest of your life, you will succeed in everything you do.

The first is truth. Be truthful above all. Never bend, never kneel. Never compromise truth. Remember that the trick to everything is truth.

The second is hard work. Work hard. Allah promises to ‘give to those who work hard’. Don’t forget honesty and hard work are the keys to every success. Burn these into your mind and make them your principles.

Value your family and country always. Never say ‘me’, say ‘us, my country, my nation’. Never abandon your national and spiritual values but be open to the world. Every day there are less barriers in the world, there is less distance; more opportunities. You will undoubtedly succeed in the new world order. I heartily believe this. I trust you implicitly.

- Carry the TOBB ETU badge proudly

One other advantage you will have is being a part of the TOBB family which employs 12 million people and conducts 70% of Turkey’s production and 90% of its exports. The TOBB and TOBB ETU family will always be by your side from now on. Never sever your ties to it. Carry the TOBB ETU badge proudly. Become members of the alumni association and participate in its activities. That will be your channel of communication. Remember that we have a beautiful saying: Grace and prosperity in unity; anguish in dissent. If you perpetuate this unity, you will find grace and prosperity.

- We are raising leaders

We have an ideal. We are raising leaders for Turkey. We are raising businessmen and women, scientists. Work with the same sense of responsibility as we do. Do not forget the dream-goal-hard work principle.

Dream! If you don’t dream you’ll never achieve anything unique. The freest you will be is in your dreams. Nobody can touch that. Set yourself a goal! No wind will aid the aimless ship. Set your goals large. As Confucius said, ‘If you wish to climb a tree, ask to climb the stars so that you will succeed.’

The place where you will turn your dreams into goals is TOBB ETU. This is the end that we work for. And lastly, work hard! Do not be afraid to lose. Never give up. If you don’t succeed, work more. Never let your days be the same when you work.

I say with all my heart if you can dream, set your goal and work hard, be sure that there’s nothing you can’t achieve, nothing!
We support those who want to follow the path of the leader. We are bringing you together with the leaders you look up to. You only need demand it. You must train yourselves and your aspirations to this end. Don’t forget that by being a member of TOBB ETU, you have taken on a great responsibility. We will be behind you as long as our lives and power permit. We will support you.”

Following TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu’s speech, National Education Minister Ömer Dinçer and TOBB ETU Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Güven Sak also made speeches addressing the guests.
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