Graduation Celebration at Karabük University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Karabük University celebrated the graduation of its students at the 2025–2026 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony. Graduates received their diplomas in the presence of their families, while certificates of achievement were presented to the students who ranked highest in academic performance.
The ceremony was attended by Karabük University Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Hasan Solmaz and Prof. Dr. Elif Çepni, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Muhittin Kapanşahin, Director of the School of Foreign Languages Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Polat, Director of Safranbolu Şefik Yılmaz Dizdar Vocational School Asst. Prof. Dr. Fatma Erten, together with academic and administrative staff, students, and their families.
During the ceremony, diplomas were awarded to graduates of the Departments of Archaeology, Western Languages and Literatures, Geography, Educational Sciences, Philosophy, Art History, Sociology, History, and Turkish Language and Literature.
In her address, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Elif Çepni emphasized that professional competence should always be accompanied by strong human values. Addressing the graduates, she remarked:
“You may become an outstanding geographer, art historian, sociologist, or psychologist. However, above all, strive to be a good human being. Use the knowledge and experience you have gained for the benefit of our country and humanity.”
Encouraging graduates to maintain their ties with their alma mater, Prof. Dr. Çepni added:
“Wherever you go, you will represent Karabük University. Never forget your university or your professors, and always strive to represent us with distinction.”
In his speech, Dean Prof. Dr. Muhittin Kapanşahin stated that graduation represents far more than the conferral of a diploma; it is a celebration of perseverance, intellectual achievement, and years devoted to understanding humanity. He noted that although Karabük University is a relatively young institution, it has demonstrated remarkable progress in education, research and development, and internationalization. He further emphasized that, with 11 departments, 3,020 students, and 129 academic staff members, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is one of the University's largest academic units.
Highlighting the Faculty's commitment to high-quality education and scholarly research in the social sciences, Prof. Dr. Kapanşahin addressed the graduates with the following remarks:
“In a rapidly changing, increasingly digitalized world that sometimes overlooks the human dimension, the education you have received is more valuable than ever. You may analyze data and guide artificial intelligence; however, no algorithm can replicate the excitement an archaeologist experiences while uncovering the past, the pursuit of knowledge reflected in a historian's archival research, a literary scholar's search for humanity within a text, or a philosopher's exploration of existential questions. Your profession and your expertise are fundamentally about being human and understanding humanity.”
Dean Kapanşahin also expressed his gratitude to the families of the graduates, acknowledging that their unwavering support, sacrifices, and encouragement had played a vital role in the students' academic achievements.
Outstanding Graduates Honoured
As part of the ceremony, certificates of academic excellence were presented to the Faculty's highest-achieving graduates.
The Faculty valedictorian was Fatıma Sena Yürük, a student in the English Language and Literature Programme within the Department of Western Languages and Literatures. Habıba Hossam Moussa Shousha Shou, also from the English Language and Literature Programme, ranked second, while Tuğçe Nur Aydın from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature ranked third.
In her valedictory address, Fatıma Sena Yürük emphasized that her achievement was not solely her own and expressed her sincere gratitude to her family and academic mentors for their unwavering support. She noted that her university education had provided her not only with academic knowledge but also with the ability to think critically, appreciate diverse perspectives, and better understand people. Addressing her fellow graduates, she remarked that the knowledge, friendships, and experiences gained throughout their university years would continue to guide them throughout their lives.
The ceremony concluded with the traditional cap-toss celebration, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the graduates' personal and professional journeys.