Sabancı University's 21st undergraduate and 24th graduate commencement ceremony was held on the University's Tuzla campus. Founding Chair of the Sabancı University Board of Trustees, Güler Sabancı, Sabancı University President, Yusuf Leblebici, and faculty members attended the ceremony in which 1008 students graduated from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Sabancı Business School.
Founding Chair of the Sabancı University Board of Trustees, Güler Sabancı started her speech by saying 'Welcome' to the graduates with 'AI Güler Sabancı' that simulated her own voice.
Güler Sabancı once again expressed her condolences to the relatives of our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquake disaster in February, and to our entire country, and said, "This disaster once again showed us the importance of unity, and most importantly, solidarity. We witnessed great solidarity from civil society. Our students took part in support activities in the earthquake area under the leadership of our Civic Involvement Projects. Sabancı Group and Sabancı University participated in many support activities in the earthquake zone.” Güler Sabancı said that the name of Sabancı University student Neris Ece Öz, who lost her life in the earthquake, will be kept alive with the new scholarship fund launched to support earthquake-affected students.
HER SPEECH WAS PREPARED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In her speech prepared by artificial intelligence technologies, Güler Sabancı said, “I am sure this example, which we are experiencing for the first time today, will become very common in the future”. She continued as follows: “Artificial intelligence will change our lives to a great extent and will play an important role in many fields. We see that artificial intelligence technologies have great potential in areas such as health, education, energy and sustainable development. Our young people's leadership and creative solutions in these areas will make our future brighter and more sustainable.”
Pointing to the “Future of Jobs Report” of the World Economic Forum, of which the Sabancı University Competitiveness Forum is the partner in Turkey, Güler Sabancı stated that the roles that will grow the most in the upcoming period will be in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, sustainability and cyber security. She continued: “The rate of those who think that emerging technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence will create new business areas as well as transforming companies and business areas is 55 percent in Turkey and 51 percent in the world. Companies that are open to innovation in our country will, as always, be pioneers in adapting to new technologies. According to the same report, 23 percent of existing jobs will change. Those who will undertake these jobs will be artificial intelligence-based robots, which are referred to as 'silicon life forms' in scientific terminology. We should consider the developments in this area not as a threat, but as an opportunity. The speech I am giving you today was produced by one of the most popular artificial intelligence tools. Of course, we edited it.”
“ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS NOT YET EGALITARIAN IN TERMS OF GENDER”
Emphasizing that even artificial intelligence is not yet egalitarian in terms of gender, according to the information she obtained from the experts on the subject, Güler Sabancı said, “Artificial intelligence is said to be a male-dominated environment. I believe that you, who grew up with an understanding based on gender equality, can contribute a lot to this environment. Your duty is to create value for the benefit of humanity by using artificial intelligence in an ethical and equitable way. Do not forget that as individuals who grew up in a free environment by asking questions, it is you who should ask the right questions and produce solutions”.
Noting that Sabancı University graduates grew up in a university that embraces the universal values of contemporary civilizations such as freedom, human rights and social equality and believes in the superiority of science, Güler Sabancı also emphasized the new century of our Republic and quoted the following words of our great leader, Atatürk, "Young people, you are the ones who strengthen and sustain our courage. With the upbringing and culture that you receive, you will be the most valuable example of human value and patriotism.”
“THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS FROM THE FIRST 1000 INCREASES EXTENSIVELY”
In his speech to the graduates, Yusuf Leblebici, Sabancı University President, said: “We have
not compromised or slowed down in the comprehensive breakthrough and transformation process that we have been going through for the last 5 years as a university. Exciting achievements await us in this new era, in which our institution has further increased its assertiveness throughout the country and the world, and raised the bar even higher.”
Stating that according to the university exam results, the number of students admitted to Sabancı University from the top 1000 has almost tripled in 5 years, Yusuf Leblebici continued as follows:
“Thanks to our distinctive and quality education system, we aim to adapt quickly to the choices of our students and to train more students in the most sought-after disciplines. Currently, we are the university that graduates the highest number of computer engineers every year among all universities in Turkey. I am proud to emphasize that we are the only university in Turkey that can achieve this without applying a quota in any of our undergraduate programs. We are pleased to see that 97% of our graduates start their careers in the sector of their choice as soon as they receive their diplomas, or they can continue their postgraduate education in the country of their choice. More than 22% of Sabancı University graduates continue their achievements abroad in leading companies and organizations around the world. We are proud of our graduates who have established their own businesses after graduation, achieved worldwide success, and are at the forefront of the world of science and art. Our goal is not only to be the best in Turkey, but also to become a real research university that is recognized and appreciated all over the world. “
Stating that they have continued to take steps to enrich the education and research infrastructure of the university in recent years, Leblebici said, “We carry out Turkey's pioneering and prominent research activities in our faculties and centers, and we receive strong project support from domestic and foreign sources for these efforts. The fact that we have close to 60 million dollars support for our active research projects gives us strength.”
At the ceremony, Dora Akbulut, the highest-ranking student in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Mert Ekici, the highest-ranking student in the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty, and Ahmet Ali Sancaktaroğlu, the highest-ranking students at Sabancı Business School, were presented with awards from the fund created following the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees. Sabancı University 2023 graduates showed their joy by throwing their caps into the air at the end of the ceremony.