Istanbul Aydın University’s 20th Graduation Ceremony was held with great excitement at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. During the ceremony, students experienced the joy of graduation together with their families, academics and friends, and emotional moments were also shared.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın, President of Istanbul Aydın University, congratulated the graduating students and said, “Dear students, we are experiencing the indescribable pride of bringing you one step closer to your dreams. Today, you carry in your hands not only your diplomas, but also your years of hard work, patience, faith and hope. Every step you take on this campus, every friendship you establish, every knowledge you acquire will make you stronger in life from now on.”

Emphasizing that Istanbul Aydın University graduates are now part of a strong graduates chain, Prof. Dr. Aydın said, “You are now a link in the strong graduates chain of Istanbul Aydın University. We will always be honored to be a part of this family and we will proudly follow your achievements. It is also a source of great happiness for us that our graduates will spread not only all over Turkey but also to different geographies of the world.”

At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın renewed his belief in the students and said, “May your path always be open, your heart be brave, and your dreams be limitless. Your vision, dedication and human values will build the future of our country and the world. I believe in you sincerely and I am proud of each and every one of you. I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the values and efforts you have added to this big family.”

The 20th graduation ceremony of Istanbul Aydın University ended with young graduates proudly throwing their caps into the air.

The Global Sustainable Development Goals Congress, organized in cooperation with the Council of Higher Education and Times Higher Education, was held in Istanbul.

On the first day of the congress, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın came together with high-level figures such as YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, YÖK Vice President Prof. Dr. Haldun Göktaş, YÖK Executive Board Member Prof. Dr. Naci Gündoğan, Azerbaijan Minister of Education Emin Amrullayev, TRNC Minister of Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, City University of Hong Kong President Freddy Boey and THE Global Director Phil Baty.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın attended the opening ceremony and pointed out the role of higher education in the context of global responsibilities and sustainable development goals. In the congress, where more than 5000 academic representatives took part, issues such as internationalization in higher education, cooperation in science, digital transformation and social contribution were discussed in many aspects.

Prof. Dr. Aydın emphasized that universities are not merely centers of knowledge production, but also leading actors of social transformation, and underlined inclusiveness, sustainability and innovative approaches in education. He thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the realization of this meaningful organization.

On the third day of the Global Sustainable Development Congress, the ideas that shape the future of higher education continued to meet in Istanbul. On this platform where knowledge, vision and global collaborations came together; common wisdom was produced around the ideal of a more equal, more livable and more sustainable world.

Different languages were spoken and different perspectives were shared. The common goal was to strengthen sustainable development with concrete steps in every field.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın also attended the congress, where important evaluations were made on the global responsibilities of higher education, the role of universities in transformation and collaborative development models. On the fourth and final day of the congress, not only productive sessions but also strong bonds, new projects and an inspiring vision of the future were emphasized.

At the end of the congress, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın thanked all the institutions, speakers and participants who contributed to the meaningful meeting and concluded by expressing his sincere belief that this global solidarity built together will continue to shape the future.