July 10, 2025
The graduation ceremony for Maarif students who came to Türkiye from different countries to complete their higher education was featured in many leading news agencies. This ceremony attracted intense media interest by demonstrating that education is not limited to individual achievements, but also promotes intercultural dialogue, global peace, and shared values. The ceremony was attended by 17 journalists, including reporters and teams from Anadolu Agency, Demirören News Agency, TRT News, TRT World, TRT Kurdi, 24 TV, Bengütürk TV, and Ülke TV, as well as a reporter from Yeni Şafak Newspaper. The program was covered in 3 print newspapers, 8 TV channels, and 32 websites. TRT AVAZ and TRT 2 channels featured news and program content related to the graduation ceremony. TRT Africa has prepared a special file on our graduates from its target audiences through its posts in different languages.
The agencies reported in detail on the international impact of Turkish Maarif Foundation, which reaches 70,000 students in 55 countries, along with speeches and figures from the ceremony. The fact that the graduation ceremony was designed with content emphasizing universal values and solidarity, rather than being a mere celebration, attracted the attention of the press. Anadolu Agency described TMF's education model as “non-imposing, sensitive to local needs, and open to universal values.” Özdil's words, “You are not only successful students, but also reliable bridges of trust carrying our common values,” reflected the graduates' position as ambassadors of peace.
Palestine Theme Did Not Go Unnoticed at Graduation Ceremony
GZT highlighted the international atmosphere at the ceremony and the students' symbolic gestures. Instead of throwing their caps, the students flew paper airplanes with watermelon patterns, a symbol of Palestinian resistance, crowning their graduation with a meaningful message of solidarity. The news highlighted the humanitarian and moral impact Maarif has had on its students by featuring statements from students from different countries. The section began with Ennur Pupus from Kosovo saying, “What matters is not the color of our skin, but the values we share,” and Hamza Yimaj Hussien from Ethiopia's statement, “It is our duty to be the voice of those who are not heard,” particularly stood out. GZT reported that Turkish Maarif Foundation equips its graduates not only with academic success but also with values such as compassion, justice, and social awareness.
“It is our duty to raise good people”
Demirören News Agency, in its report, described the atmosphere at the ceremony in detail and emphasized that the 101 students who attended the ceremony graduated from 39 different departments at 38 universities. President Özdil's statement that medicine was the top choice among Maarif graduates, followed by engineering and social sciences, highlighted the academic diversity of the students. The agency added a strong emphasis on values to its report with Özdil's words: “We consider it our fundamental duty to raise good people who are ready to put their minds and knowledge at the service of humanity.”
