In her opening remarks, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Yasemin Beyazıt, stated:
“In the 2025-2026 academic year, all our departments have filled their quotas, welcoming 629 new students to our faculty. For the first time, 20 students were admitted to our dual-degree program with the State University of New York. I wish success to all students beginning their academic journey and congratulate them. Opening lectures are an important tradition of universities and faculties, addressing current issues and providing knowledge for everyone’s benefit. Today’s lecture focuses on the future of social sciences. While technical and natural sciences deal with matter, we engage with meaning. Social sciences help us understand society, develop critical thinking, influence policy and economy, and have the power to shape the future. Events in Palestine over the past two years, as well as the designation of 2025 as the Year of the Family, have once again shown us the importance of producing, studying, and transmitting social science knowledge to new generations with awareness. Therefore, today’s opening lecture is dedicated to the future of social sciences. I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Süleyman İnan for delivering the lecture, to our Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör for attending the ceremony, and to all of you valued participants.”

Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör, in his speech, emphasized the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences’ mission of nurturing humanistic values, the importance of passing these values to new generations, the necessity of not remaining passive in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the significance of historical awareness. He urged young people to remain attentive, sensitive, and to voice condemnation regarding the events in Gaza and Palestine.

Following the opening remarks, the program continued with the lecture titled “The Future of Social Sciences” delivered by Prof. Dr. Süleyman İnan. At the conclusion of the lecture, Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör presented a certificate of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Süleyman İnan in recognition of his contribution.

The ceremony also included the presentation of gifts to top-ranking students in the faculty. Nurdan Ceren Erzeybek, who enrolled in the Art History Department with the highest verbal score; Uğde Zeyrek, admitted to the Psychology Department with the highest equal-weight score; and Dr. Ahmet Sarohan, entering the French Language and Literature Department with the highest foreign language score, were all honored with gifts.