This was followed by a speech by Rector Magnificus Zijm who congratulated the Turkish students on their success in forming TUSAT and stressed the importance of international students in maintaining the multicultural scene at the UT. He was presented with the Turkish flag, to be included in the collection of flags from countries which have students studying at the university. Mr. Hidayat Eris from the Consul General of Turkey in Deventer then shared his views on the vital function of such organizations in integrating international students into the fabric of the new country and their role in showcasing different cultures and traditions. The concluding speech was by the head of the Software Engineering research group, Dr. Mehmet Aksit who has lived in this country for 30 years. He pointed out that the cause for war and hatred in today's world is partly a result of lack of understanding of each other's cultures and that organizations such as TUSAT form a platform for students from different parts of the world to interact with each other.
One of the highlights of the event was a chance to feast on a variety of mouthwatering Turkish sweet and savory delights. There was Turkish music in the background and a presentation depicting the various tourist destinations in the country. The evening was an appealing introduction to Turkish people, their hospitality and their culture.
TUSAT has a lot of enthusiastic members, keen to carry out activities to propagate Turkish culture. They plan to organize Turkish theme social nights, movie screenings and Turkish art workshops. This year has been designated by UNESCO as the year of the great Turkish poet and philosopher Mevlana, to mark his 800th birth anniversary. TUSAT aims to publicize his works to the UT student community. They also plan to work in association with other student organizations to further cultural exchanges between different countries.
The University of Twente is home to more than 40 students from Turkey and this association is a giant leap forward in promoting Turkish culture. They already have five international students as members. All UT students and their family members are welcome to join by filling out a form available on their website (www.tusat.org) and by paying a nominal annual membership fee. We wish TUSAT success in their future endeavors.
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| TUSAT held its official inauguration ceremony at the Bastille Atrium on Friday, February 23. |
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