The 2025-2026 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony of Erzurum Technical University (ETU) was held at the ETU Stadium. A total of 570 students from 20 departments across six faculties received their diplomas and celebrated their graduation.

The ceremony was attended by ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Cakmak, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Ali Fatih Yetim, Prof. Dr. Ceren Sultan Elmali and Prof. Dr. Naim Urkmez, and General Secretary Prof. Dr. Ahmet Dumlu, as well as Erzurum Regional Court Chief Public Prosecutor Unal Bingul, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mehmet Akarsu, Ataturk University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Cavusoglu, Acting Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Erzurum Hadi Javan, Erzurum Bar Association President Lawyer Mesut Oner, Deputy Provincial Director of National Education Omer Faruk Pala, academic and administrative staff, graduating students and their families.

The ceremony, which began with a moment of silence and the recitation of the National Anthem, continued with a speech by Elif Yildirim, the top student of the graduating class, on behalf of the graduating students. Following this, ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bulent Cakmak addressed the graduating students and their families.

Rector Cakmak stated that graduation is the first step towards new beginnings, and that ETU is a higher education institution that guides the future with its understanding of educating individuals committed to knowledge, science, and ethical values. He noted that the university has achieved significant successes in education, research, social contribution, and governance in recent years, citing institutional accreditation success, the accreditation of many programs at national and international levels, being selected by the Council of Higher Education as a university specializing in Additive Manufacturing Technologies, the Turkish championship in the Interuniversity Sports League, and the Sports-Friendly Campus title as concrete indicators of this success.

In his speech, Rector Cakmak also offered advice to the graduates, stating that in the new world shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the importance of knowledge and technology is increasing every day, and that success is not only achieved through technical knowledge; He emphasized that this would be possible with universal values such as honesty, justice, conscience, and love for humanity. Calling on the young people to embrace lifelong learning, continuously improve themselves, and always represent ETU with pride, Cakmak also thanked the families, academic and administrative staff who contributed to the students' upbringing.

Following Rector Cakmak's speech, certificates of achievement and awards were presented to the top-performing students. Then, the graduating students received their diplomas from the faculty members.

The graduation program concluded with a cap-throwing ceremony, commemorative photos, and concerts, all performed with great enthusiasm by the students.

Corporate Communications and Promotion Directorate, July 18, 2026