Grand opening and Ground-

breaking Ceremony at GAU

The opening of GAU Freedom Complex and Elysium Court together with the Ground-breaking Ceremony of Smart Health (Health and Medicine Centre) has been held.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic – Beşir Atalay reported that the TRNC is consolidated in Economics, Democracy and Public Administration. Atalay emphasized that a Higher Education sector is indeed significant for the TRNC.

The opening of the GAU Freedom Complex (new educational building of GAU Law, Education Faculty, Social and Science Institute) and Elysium Court (new building for student dormitories) and the ground-breaking ceremony of Smart Health (Health and Medicine Centre) was held on Friday 15th November..

The opening was attended by Prime Minister – Özkan Yorgancıoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic – Beşir Atalay, Turkish Ambassador of Lefkoşa – Halil İbrahim Akça, together with other Ministers and Members of Parliament, Rector of Bilim University and Head Doctor of Florence Nightingale Hospitals – Prof. Dr. Avlan Çiftçi, University Authorities and invited guests.

GAU Vice-Chancellor of the Board of Administrators – Olgun Üstün, Rector of Bilim University and Head Doctor of Florence Nightingale Hospitals – Prof. Dr. Avlan Çiftçi, Minister of National Education – Mustafa Arabacıoğlu and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkish Republic – Beşir Atalay all gave a speech at the event.

Following the speeches, GAU Head of the Board of Trustees – Memduh Erdal, presented Prime Minister Özkan Yorgancıoğlu with a plaque of appreciation.

The event ended following the symbolic opening and the ground-breaking ceremony of the building and also a cocktail reception was held after a brief visit to the new buildings.

“ÜSTÜN provided detailed information about the buildings”

GAU Vice-Chancellor of the Board of Administrators – Olgun Üstün commenced his speech by congratulating the anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC. Üstün also reported that the Freedom Complex is built upon 11,000 square metres and consists of classrooms for Law, Education Faculty and Social Sciences School, following his brief informative speech about the buildings.

Üstün also remarked that the Elysium Court (girls’ dormitory), is constructed upon 7000 square metres with 5 floors. The ground floor will consist of an historical museum and student clubs. The building contains 123 accommodation rooms and 8 suites providing a 204 bed capacity.

Furthermore, Smart Health (Health and Medical Centre) will be built upon 7700 square metres and will include 32 polyclinics, 3 multifunctional operating theatres, delivery rooms and 50 bed capacity patients’ rooms. In addition to this the centre will also consist of a Rehabilitation Centre, Anti-addictiveness Centre and an Elderly Care Centre.

Following his speech, Üstün presented the contributing companies with a plaque of appreciation.

ÇİFTÇİ: “Medical Science necessitates extraordinary responsibility”

The Rector of Istanbul Bilim University and Florence Nightingale Hospitals Head Doctor – Prof. Dr. Çavlan Çiftçi reported that the health sector will be a dynamic field for developing science and technology and also added that medical science necessitates extraordinary responsibility.

Çiftçi emphasising that the dominant aim of medicine is to serve for the better health of the people, further explained about the Florence Nightingale Hospitals. Çiftçi stated that the medical, technical and scientific co-operation protocol with GAU has been an honour. Çiftçi also said that a new protocol on a mutual undergraduate program in medicine has been commenced today.

ARABACIOĞLU: “Education knows no bounds”

The National Education Minister – Mustafa Arabacıoğlu congratulated the 30th Establishment Anniversary of the TRNC. Arabacıoğlu underlined that the first education torch was lit in Famagusta in 1979 and now North Cyprus is honoured to be a country of education.

Arabacıoğlu also stated that there are students from over 100 different countries who choose to study in the TRNC and this is clear evidence that education knows no bounds.

Arabacıoğlu underlined that foreign students will be honorary representatives of the TRNC when they return to their homelands. Stating that the new target is to reach 100,000 students, Arabacıoğlu emphasized that “our duty is to contribute to education with active policies”.

ATALAY: “Higher Education sector is momentous”

Deputy Prime Minister of Turkish Republic – Beşir Atalay also congratulated the Establishment Anniversary of the TRNC and referred to the new buildings as the assets of 30 years since the establishment of the TRNC. Atalay reported that “the TRNC is consolidated in Economics, Democracy and Public Administration”

Atalay further added that they require to enhance the development of the Higher Education sector in the TRNC.

Atalay also underlined that, according to research conducted, 72 % of student expenditure is spent outside of the universities thus proving the reinforcement of education on the economy. Atalay emphasized that Turkey’s tourism and education sector is significant for the future of the TRNC.

Atalay drawing attention to the fact that students are valuable also stated that “Their environment, services and prices must all be scaled accordingly. We need to be good hosts for the students. They need to return home with good memories.”

Atalay underlined that competition in quality is a significant element in university education.

Atalay also said that the name of the “Freedom Complex” is indeed a perfect match with the relevant Faculties within this building.

Following the speeches, the ground-breaking ceremony of GAU Smart Health (Health Complex) and the opening of the Freedom Complex and Elysium Court were held.