Ensuring the coexistence of international students throughout Turkiye, ''9th International Student Symposium" was hosted by Istanbul Gelisim University. At the symposium, where "International Studentship" and "International Education" were determined as the main theme, Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya, Former Ambassador Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kavas, Abdülkadir Gayretli, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Gelisim University, Abdullah Muhammed Islam, President of the Federation of International Student Associations (UDEF), faculty members and approximately 500 international students attended.

 

"More than 300 thousand international students"

Istanbul Deputy Governor Mustafa Kaya made the following statements in his opening speech: "More than 300 thousand international students will serve their countries, our country and the world by getting the best education in Turkey, educating and developing themselves in the best way. The world is in great injustice. We live in a time when the strong are right, not the strong. Therefore, we need a fair world. As a matter of fact, our students who grow up in our country will achieve this in the future."

 

"We have always been and will continue to be with you" 

Abdülkadir Gayretli, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Gelişim University, started his speech by saying "You, our esteemed students, are worthy of the most beautiful things. We want to make you feel the privilege of studying in Turkey. We always show that we are in unity and solidarity with you, our dear friends. We have always been and will continue to be with you. We know that Turkiye, all Turkish and Muslim states should be in unity and solidarity, and as a nation."

Turkiye is in the top 10 among the preferred countries

Stating that Turkey's education standard has become an important center of preference by international students, especially with the increase in the last two decades, Istanbul Gelisim University Political Science and International Relations Department Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Fuat Tuncer, “Turkiye has entered the top 10 among the countries preferred in international education. It has made a serious breakthrough in recent years. According to the figures of 2023, there are more than 300 thousand foreign students. This is a very important figure for Turkiye's public diplomacy power. Students who come to our country graduate as volunteer ambassadors and represent Turkey in their own countries. As a university, we are one of the universities that hosts the highest number of international students in Turkiye. We attach great importance to international education and studentship."

Stating that international studentship is also an important resource for the Turkish economy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Fuat Tuncer added: “According to a recent study, an international student contributes an average of $700 per month to the Turkish economy. This reaches a very serious figure annually when multiplied by the number of students.''