The opening ceremony of the General Assembly of the Union of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED) was hosted by our university this year.
During the opening ceremony, the importance of access to education and the cooperation of UNIMED members in the field of education were emphasized.
The opening ceremony of the General Assembly of the Union of Mediterranean Universities (UNIMED) was hosted by our university this year. UNIMED President Prof. Khereih Rassas, Prof. Hmaid Ben Aziz and Istanbul Aydın University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın delivered the opening speeches at the ceremony, which was also attended by UNIMED management, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı, YÖK Vice President Prof. Dr. H. Haldun Göktaş and university representatives. During the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi Restelli, Head of the Arslantepe Mound Excavations, was presented with a plaque by Gökhan Yazgı, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism.
“The stronger the light educators shine, the more they illuminate their communities.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the UNIMED General Assembly, which has 174 members from 25 countries and aims to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation between universities in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Balkans, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın drew attention to the events in Gaza and used the following statements:
“Unfortunately, we are holding this year’s meeting in a disgraceful environment where a human tragedy is taking place, where thousands of women, children and old people are being subjected to the cruelty of the oppressor, where thousands of women, children and old people are being slaughtered innocently. I wish we could have held this meeting not in such an environment, but with the feeling and joy of what we can do and share good things in education. But unfortunately, we cannot find that joy and peace. I have always said this: The stronger the light educators give, the more they enlighten the land and society, the more the leaders in that society find their paths right by being enlightened by that light. In the face of these events, we need to ask the following question to our hundreds of university representatives and professors here: If we question ourselves here, if we give the right and true light, the leaders who rule the world will find the right path from that light.”
“International cooperation with UNIMED in the field of education comes to the forefront”
“UNIMED, with its projects and innovative ideas about the world, carries out many activities such as joint mind meetings for the restructuring of higher education in Libya, Syria, and for people deprived of education in Gaza and Palestine. Istanbul Aydın University, as a partner in UNIMED for 17 years, has been providing serious support to these studies.” Aydın said, “It is not possible to get anywhere as long as we stay local. This is where international collaborations come to the fore. This is basically the founding purpose of UNIMED. To transform the Mediterranean basin into a sea of peace with its north and south, west and east.”
Plaque from Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı to Restelli
Gökhan Yazgı, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, reminded that the Arslantepe Mound in Malatya was included in the UNESCO List in 2021 and said, “It is a very important place that will shed light on today’s conditions. We are talking about an area in Mesopotomia where there was a real state bureaucracy and most importantly justice. There is no writing yet, but it is a site or a state administration where people’s security of life and property is secured by an authority. This place has been excavated and protected for 63 years.”
Yazgı shared a memory with Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi Restelli, Head of Arslantepe Mound Excavation and said, “We were in Malatya with our Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy at 8:30 on February 6. We were caught in the second earthquake. 1 day later our phone rang, it was Francesca. She said, ‘Are you okay, do you need anything? Immediately, her third question was ‘How is Arslantepe, is it okay, let me know about it’. She is really dedicated to this excavation and an exemplary name in terms of archaeology. I would like to thank Ms. Francesca for her efforts.”
The ceremony ended with a speech of appreciation by Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi Restelli, who received her plaque from Yazgı.
