Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) Faculty of Dentistry bid farewell to its first graduates who successfully completed their five-year education with a graduation ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Ömer Tekşen, Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy, faculty members, graduate dentists, and their families.
The ceremony began with a speech by the top student Dt. Emirhan Kanlıada, who gave an emotional speech. Kanlıada emphasized that MAKÜ not only provided them with academic knowledge but also instilled human values. As the first graduates of the faculty, he stated that they took a confident step by blending theoretical knowledge with practice. He noted that the calm and sincere environment of Burdur always made them feel at home. Kanlıada also expressed special thanks to his family, stating that it would have been impossible to achieve this success without their sacrifices and support.
Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Dr. Ali Alp Sağlam shared the challenges they faced from the early days of the faculty's establishment. He explained that every obstacle was overcome thanks to the determination of the students during the days when the faculty was still under construction. He mentioned that the faculty is equipped with technological devices, the faculty staff has strengthened, and they have rapidly risen in international research. Sağlam stated that students received excellent education both theoretically and practically and that they would embark on their professional lives as beneficial individuals to society.
Later, a slideshow was presented that narrated how the Faculty of Dentistry spent its 5 years.
Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar also emphasized that despite the difficulties experienced in the early steps of the faculty, the importance they placed on practical education allowed students to graduate with intensive practice. Rector Dalgar highlighted that the faculty would become one of the leading faculties in Turkey's dentistry field in the future. He stated that they aim to increase international recognition and that the young and dynamic academic staff works equipped with this vision. He expressed his belief that the faculty would achieve a prestigious position both nationally and globally.
After the speeches, the dentists, who were dressed in gowns by Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar, Vice Rectors, and faculty professors, received their symbolic diplomas.
Then, under the leadership of Dean Prof. Dr. Ali Alp Sağlam, the graduate dentists collectively recited the Hippocratic Oath, fulfilling their professional commitment. The ceremony concluded with the graduates joyfully throwing their caps into the air.
