Following the screening of PAU’s promotional video, the program continued with opening speeches.

Çelik: “The bridge established between the Provincial Directorate of National Education and our university will be a determining factor in enabling young people to make the right choices and take firm steps on their educational journey.”

The first opening speech was delivered by Acting Provincial Director of National Education Ragıp Çelik, who said: “As someone born and raised in this city, to my knowledge, this is the first meeting of its kind held by our university prior to the university preference counseling period. Therefore, it is very meaningful that such an event is being held in this beautiful setting today. I extend my sincere thanks to our Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör and to all academic and administrative staff who contributed to this event, to our esteemed professors who will inform us with their presentations, and to the university community for their support. I would also like to convey the greetings, well wishes, and messages of success from our Provincial Director of National Education, Dr. Emre Çalışkan, who could not attend due to an official duty outside the city. Earlier, we saw the slogan ‘We Are Ready’ on our tables. Indeed, our university, together with the preference counselors, has meticulously prepared for this process. The interest and participation of you, our esteemed guidance counselors, clearly show how seriously this process is taken. Pamukkale University, with its academic background, physical infrastructure, and human resources, will play an important role in shaping the future of our students. The bridge established between the Provincial Directorate of National Education and our university will be a determining factor in enabling young people to make the right choices and take firm steps on their educational journey. I sincerely believe that this preference counseling process will be carried out actively, efficiently, and with quality through our guidance teachers. I wish all our students success in the 2025–2026 academic year. I once again greet you all with respect and affection.”

Rector Güngör: “With your valuable contributions, Pamukkale University will take its well-deserved place among not only Denizli’s, but also Türkiye’s most prestigious universities.”

Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör said: “Pamukkale University is not just a higher education institution; it is also an educational hub contributing to the social and cultural development of Denizli, fully integrated with the National Education community. Our main goal in being here today is to contribute together to guiding students toward the fields where they can best realize their potential. As of today, our university has 19 active faculties, 6 institutes, 1 school (School of Foreign Languages), and 17 vocational schools. Although PAU was officially established in 1992, its foundations date back to 1976 with the opening of the Mechanical and Civil Engineering departments of the Faculty of Engineering. Our vision, built upon this deep-rooted history, focuses not only on academic achievement but also on building a structure that contributes to the city, region, and country. As a university open to cooperation at all levels of education, the collaborations we carry out with our Provincial Directorate of National Education are an essential part of this understanding. Helping young people make the right choices during the university preference period is only possible through your guidance. When we direct students not only based on their scores but also on their interests and abilities, success becomes inevitable. At Pamukkale University, we work with this awareness and prioritize a student-centered approach. Our university is also making significant strides in internationalization. In recent years, we have increased the number of international students to nearly 3,000. We have signed agreements with universities in countries such as Poland, Africa, and the United States, launching student exchange and dual degree programs. For example, through our partnership with a state university in the U.S., our students can study two years in Türkiye and two years in the U.S., earning a dual degree and gaining access to international internship opportunities. In addition, we have made considerable progress in digitalization and integration into the global education network. While preparing our university for the education model of the future, we aim to raise students as globally integrated individuals. With your valuable contributions, Pamukkale University will take its well-deserved place among not only Denizli’s, but also Türkiye’s most prestigious universities. In this process, the ones who will benefit will be our students, you, and our country. I thank each of you for your contributions, guidance, and presence at this meaningful gathering.”

Following the opening speeches, the program continued with a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Akçay, Head of the Department of Finance at PAU’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, where he introduced the university’s educational opportunities and facilities. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akçay also provided a detailed discussion on the professions and competencies of the future. After the presentation, he answered questions from the participating teachers.

The program concluded with presentations by deans from various PAU faculties, followed by a luncheon.