Graduation Joy at EUL

On June 19, 2025, the European University of Lefke (EUL) celebrated the graduation of its 2024–2025 academic year students with a magnificent ceremony. The event began at 7:00 p.m. at the Lefke August 16 Liberation Stadium, where graduates took their places for a program that commenced with a moment of silence, the Turkish National Anthem, and opening speeches.

EUL Graduation Night Held with High Attendance

The 2024–2025 Academic Year graduation ceremony of the European University of Lefke (EUL) took place on June 19, 2025, with a magnificent event. The ceremony began at 19:00 at the Lefke August 16 Liberation Stadium with graduates taking their places, a moment of silence, the National Anthem, and opening speeches.

The ceremony was attended by Speaker of the Republic Assembly Ziya Öztürkler, Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı, YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın, Lefke District Governor Cemal Orakçıoğlu, Lefke Mayor Aziz Kaya, MP Fırtına Karanfil, and other honorary guests. This year, EUL graduated 1,768 students from associate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

Speaker of the Republic Assembly Ziya Öztürkler delivered a speech addressing the graduating students. In his speech, Öztürkler congratulated the young people who had successfully completed their education, expressing that they shared their joy, excitement, and pride. Highlighting that this was a graduation ceremony at a university where students from all around the world studied together, cultures met, and universal values flourished, Öztürkler expressed that the education the students received on these lands would not only serve their personal careers but also form a foundation for their contributions to society, their countries, and humanity. He stated that graduates of the European University of Lefke would build the future with the education they received and shed light on future generations, noting that with the work done together with the university’s rector, board of trustees, and academics, the university has become a jewel of both the West and the TRNC.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı noted that the European University of Lefke is a distinguished institution that continuously raises the bar among the 22 universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and is also in a good position among the universities of the Republic of Turkey. He said that the European University of Lefke has created a success story since its founding in 1990. Emphasizing that the graduates of the European University of Lefke hold a ‘golden bracelet’ in their hands, Arıklı asked the graduates to act with the privilege and responsibility of graduating from EUL and to love their countries.

President of the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın also stated in his speech that the European University of Lefke is a very valuable university that is rapidly progressing on the path of continuous self-improvement, and he emphasized that it is a distinguished educational institution in the western part of the island. Hocanın noted that EUL is rapidly progressing in international accreditation processes and expressed that its success in the QS 2026 World University Rankings is a source of great satisfaction and pride for YÖDAK. He congratulated TRNC universities that are capable of competing internationally with global institutions and wished EUL graduates success in their new lives.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the European University of Lefke, Enver Öztürk, emphasized that the European University of Lefke is a source of pride and honor specifically for Lefke and generally for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He stated that in recent years, the university has become one of the most preferred universities and is steadily climbing to the top. Mentioning EUL’s achievement in the QS 2026 World University Rankings, Öztürk stated that the university has reached a proud point and expressed his gratitude to the EUL rector and all staff who contributed to this success. Additionally, Öztürk told the graduates that they were graduating from a university to be proud of and wished them success in their new lives.

Rector of the European University of Lefke, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Yükselen, emphasized that EUL is one of the most well-established universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, stating that EUL graduates will play important roles in the development of their countries with the education they have received. Yükselen stated that they experienced a second great joy and pride on this special day when they crowned the 32nd graduating class, noting that, as a result of realistic and correct goals implemented through successful strategies for over ten years, the university managed to be ranked in the QS 2026 World University Rankings announced on June 19, 2025. Yükselen stated that EUL, which was ranked in the 851–900 band out of 1,501 universities in the list of 8,467 institutions, was among the top 11 universities from the Republic of Turkey. He emphasized that this success is considered a reward for hard work, perseverance, and consistency by the entire EUL family.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, Murat Kanık, and on behalf of international students, Aishah Ayomide Mabayoje, expressed their pride in graduating from the European University of Lefke, which provides contemporary and quality education. They thanked their academics and families who supported them throughout their educational journey.

Following the speeches, the ceremony continued with the presentation of diplomas and awards to high-achieving students by honorary guests. The program included the much-anticipated cap toss and fireworks show, followed by a cocktail reception held in honor of the families and graduates.