Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that one of the happiest moments of people’s lives was seeing their children graduate successfully and went on the say, “You are experiencing a more profound moment than the birth, first words, first steps, first day of school of your children. The children who you’ve nurtured since their birth are setting sail on new horizons. An era is ending; a new one is beginning. This is the day our children meet with real life, today they are able to stand on their own.”

Emphasizing the importance of family in our culture, Hisarcıklıoğlu addressed the parents; “We will sell our beds if that is what is needed to nurture our children. You are selfless, altruistic people! May Allah bless you for your labor and patience in raising such exemplary children!”

Addressing the teachers, Hisarcıklıoğlu said; “Today is the day you are repaid for your efforts and labor. We will live on through our works. By educating these youths who will steer our country in the times ahead you have completed an auspicious work. You have marked the future of our homeland. May Allah bless you!”

- “I heartily applaud every one of you”

Stating that TOBB ETU graduations were the most joyous of times for him, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Because you are all our children and the people who will carry this country into tomorrow. I trust you and  believe in you implicitly.

I listened to Bilal’s speech, this year’s valedictorian student. He won national first place in the university exams and chose TOBB ETU, now he is the school valedictorian and I believe he will be successful wherever he works. You are all very successful and intelligent. You will be the great leaders, the great entrepreneurs and the great inventors of the future! You have worked hard and expended an extraordinary amount of effort. Now you reap the benefits! I congratulate you all. I heartily applaud every one of you!”

- “We are faced with a completely new world”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the world was fast changing, “We are faced with a completely new world. Where quantitative properties were enough to advance before, now qualitative properties have risen to the fore. Previously industrialists were asked how much they could produce, now they are asked how much added value they can produce. They are asked how cheaply they can produce the best quality. They are asked if they are innovative and how many patents they have. This is true for you. Thirty years ago graduating from university was enough to get ahead in business life.

Today you have to be among the best. You must have the best education. You must have the best contacts. We have given you these chances in TOBB ETU. You enjoy many advantages in one place. You may not be aware of these advantages today but they will be evident in the future. You will learn as you live.

You will see the benefits of the community of which you are now a part of. You are members of one of the most important communities in Turkey since the first day you stepped into this school. It is a world of contacts. It is in your power to develop the contacts we have provided you and turn them into working alliances. These are not limited to the domestic business. In the last 5 years 234 of our students have gone abroad to study and for internships. Make good use of the things you learn abroad. Do not forget that every person you meet and every word you learn is a contribution to your personal development. Feel your difference.”

- “There are four fundamental differences between our graduates and others”

Stating that today’s graduates have strong competitors, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“Do you know why there is a difference? Because they graduate from a pioneering university which boasts of advantages not present in others. There are four fundamental differences between our graduates and others!
First; The founders of this university are the entrepreneurs who have allowed Turkey to soar. The founders of this university are the employers of 11 million people, who produce 550 billion dollars worth of goods and services, who export a total sum of 110 billion dollars, the most dynamic entrepreneurs of the Balkans, of Caucasia, Africa and the Middle East. Therefore the university with the strongest roots is TOBB ETU.

Second; A trimester school year, a first in Turkey. Our students spend an extra trimester gaining practical experience in the business world. This grants our graduates the ability to start work after they graduate with experience instead of being unprepared.

Third; For the first time in Turkey, our university has courses in leadership and social behavior. We want to be one of the top 10 economies in the world by 2023. We have carried this country from 25th place to the 17th. Now my well-educated friends will carry on the flag. We need well educated leaders with leadership spirit who can take the initiative and weigh risks in all fields. The most important capital of the 21st century is leaders. TOBB ETU students are educated to be leaders.

Fourth; This is a university of innovators. Many young people have established their own businesses and are earning money thanks to the projects they have realized here. There have been many inventions this year as well.”

- “This is the age of innovative and revolutionary entrepreneurs”

Emphasizing that this is the age of innovative and revolutionary entrepreneurs, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “TOBB ETU graduates will pull ahead in the most profitable race of the era. I believe that they will put their mark on the next era, they will contribute greatly to this country with their inventions.”

- “TOBB ETU is the choice of successful students”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, “There are two difficult things in life. Earning a good name for yourself and maintaining that good name. We have set a goal in our institution. We said we would be a leading university in short order. Now I observe with pride that we move with confidence towards that goal every year. TOBB ETU, following its establishment has become the choice for many successful students. Half of our students have scholarships. We have the highest ratio of scholarships among private schools.

Of course, there is a reason for this! Turkey’s most significant problem is unemployment; but TOBB ETU graduates are not unemployed. Up to now, 86% of our graduates have progressed in their careers. This is the highest ratio in Turkey.

As the TOBB ETU family, our academia and administration, our parents and students we will continue to develop and stay in first place. The efforts of the graduates of the leading schools in the world to contribute to and advance the schools from which they graduated is an important factor in the advancement of said schools. I believe that TOBB ETU graduates will pioneer the way for their school to develop and be among the top schools in the world.”

- “New lives await you”

Addressing the graduates, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on; “Your responsibility is great. I have advice for you. Always dream in your lives! Nothing is as free as the human imagination! Set goals for yourselves! No winds help a directionless ship! Labor, work patiently and do not be afraid to lose! Those who are not put off by defeat are on the cusp of victory!

Love, respect and value each other! No matter what view you ascribe to, always have a conscience. Everything Turkey has suffered has been from being a prisoner of its fears and alienating those next to you. Bring innovation but remember to work together.

Introversion, ascribing to conspiracy theories, blindly shouting slogans, being afraid of change should have no place in your vocabularies. You will be the guarantors of our Republic, Democracy and Development with your hard work in this land. We pass on to you a Turkey which has become the 17th largest economy in the world. Your goal will be to enter the top 10. I heartily believe that the knowledge, education and powerful contacts that TOBB ETU has gifted you with will allow you to do this. I am proud of you! I believe in you! Godspeed, good luck and may Allah aid you!”

- Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin and YÖK President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Özcan

The Minister of Family and Social Affairs Fatma Şahin and the Higher Education Board (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Özcan also made speeches addressing the graduates emphasizing the importance of education, development , innovation, technology and patents. After the speeches, Minister Şahin, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Özcan and TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu presented awards to the most successful graduates.

The protocol guests attended the ceremony wherein Bilal Ertoğrul’s name was added to the universities graduation index as the year’s first graduate. The second and third were İbrahim Akcalı and Nur Erbaş respectively.
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