10.07.2021 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President and the TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETU) Board of Trustees Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, gave advice to the graduates at the TOBB ETU 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony. “Don’t miss out on life. Be a citizen of the world, travel a lot, learn new cultures, never stop reading and researching. Be the hero of your own story, not anyone else's.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that his most proud project is TOBB ETU, and said that TOBB ETU is a project of
the Turkish business world to bring a new generation to Turkey that thinks
freely, follows information, learns fast, produces technology and invents.
Emphasizing that TOBB
ETU is a big family with their students, graduates, parents, academicians and
business representatives, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Praise Allah we are among the
best young universities in the world today. Our scientific research programs
are developing rapidly, and our number of graduate, doctoral students and
faculty members is increasing rapidly. In this process, we also have graduates
who have re-joined us as faculty members. We are flattered by the achievements
of our TOBB ETU students, graduates and teachers. They represent us in the best
way, both nationally and internationally.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed
out that the Incubation Center at TOBB ETU has become a project factory and
that its teachers are among the most influential scientists in the world. TOBB
ETU has become a university that exports ideas and technology to the world.”
“Maybe you will
continue to work in the academic field, maybe you will start your own company,
and maybe you will start life in public institutions or corporate companies. No
matter what you do, no matter where you are, never lose your entrepreneurial
spirit! This is the most basic feature that distinguishes you from others as
TOBB ETU graduates.”
Advising the graduates,
Hisarcıklıoğlu urged them to dream, set goals, work hard and not be afraid of
losing, to bring new customs to the old village and to set their own rules and
principles.
Emphasizing that the
graduates are now part of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of
Turkey family of 1.5 million people, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Wherever you go,
which city, which district you go in Turkey, you have a door to knock on. It's
up to you to turn this into an advantage. Always keep a close eye on us, your
university. Be sure to become a member of the Alumni Association and
participate in its activities. Remember, it's not just the know-how, it's the
know-who era. Keep the TOBB ETU spirit alive for life. I believe that thanks to
you, Turkey will be a prosperous, high-income country. This country needs young
people like you. Do not marginalize anyone because of their language, religion,
identity, opinion, sect. Whatever Turkey has suffered, it has always suffered
from being captive to its fears, from seeing its companion as the other. As our
greatleader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said; 'Great successes come with the
help of successful young people raised by precious mothers'. That's you. We
trust you, we believe in you. We're always there for you. May your path be
clear.”