For the first time this year, Erciyes University organized an "Alumni Gathering" under the theme "We Missed You". Hosted by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Altun, who has been working to strengthen the sense of institutional belonging since taking office, the event featured a variety of wonderful activities that allowed ERU alumni to relive their student years.
The "Alumni Gathering," which included a series of events, began with an opening program at the Erciyes Culture Center.
The program was attended by AK Party Kayseri Deputy Şaban Çopuroğlu, ERU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Altun, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Oktay Özkan, Prof. Dr. M. Hakan Poyrazoğlu, and Prof. Dr. Cevdet Kırpık, Secretary General Prof. Dr. İbrahim Narin, Deputy Secretaries General Prof. Dr. Afşın Alper Cerit and Dr. Oktay Musa Kayırga, senate members, faculty deans, ERU alumni celebrating their 10th, 20th, 30th, 35th, and 40th anniversaries and beyond, and their families.
The event began with a moment of silence and the singing of the Turkish National Anthem, followed by a mini concert by the ERU Classical Turkish Music Ensemble featuring soloist Nihal Şengün. AK Party Kayseri Deputy and 1990 ERU Business Administration graduate Şaban Çopuroğlu then shared memories from his student years.
Deputy Çopuroğlu stated, “If you were to ask young people to describe Kayseri in a few words, Erciyes University would certainly be among them. Erciyes University is the brand of this city.”
In his speech, Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Altun expressed their happiness at seeing graduates once again under the ERU roof, saying: “Esteemed graduates, distinguished faculty members, dear guests, we have not gathered here today merely for an event. Today, the heart of the Erciyes family beats once again under the same roof after many years. Today, we are experiencing more than a reunion; we are witnessing a return. We have named this return ‘homecoming’. In each of your memories, perhaps somewhere on this campus, certain moments are hidden. You may remember the winds of those years, the sound of those classrooms, or even your first excitement. Some of you rushed to class early in the morning, some planted trees, and some spent countless nights in the laboratories or the library. Today, the efforts of those days live on in every stone, tree, and building of this campus. The story of Erciyes University is not merely the story of a higher education institution but the story of belief, effort, and solidarity. To our graduates who have returned home — welcome back”.
Rector Altun continued as follows: “The past of Erciyes University is not merely a period of time but a state of spirit, a form of solidarity. Every great institution has a memory, and the memory of Erciyes University has been written with sacrifice. On this land, where even roads did not yet exist, our students and instructors carried stones, our women leveled the ground with pickaxes, trees were planted together, and classrooms were built together. Erciyes University was not merely a project; it was a dream that grew through collective effort. Perhaps we lacked resources, but we had faith and excitement. Every hole dug became a classroom foundation; every sapling planted was the beginning of a future. Today, the trees we see on campus are not merely trunks offering shade but silent witnesses of a period shaped by a culture of solidarity.”
He also thanked the philanthropists who have supported Erciyes University since its establishment: “Erciyes University is not just an academic institution; it reflects a city’s conscience, generosity, and faith. When you look at the history of Kayseri, doing good is not merely a tradition—it is a way of life. That tradition has permeated the walls, laboratories, and hospitals of this university. Many buildings on our campus bear the names of benefactors—from Sabancı to Has, Çetinsaya to Çıkrıkçıoğlu, Bayraktar to Eren, Hasçalık to Molu, Küçükçalık to Kılıçer, Tatar to Karamancı, and many others. Each of these names lives in the stones, bricks, and laboratories of this university. They did not just build buildings; they opened the doors to knowledge, hope, and the future.”
Our Rector highlighted that the sense of belonging is the unseen strength of a university and continued as follows: “The true greatness of a university is certainly not limited to its buildings, faculties, or laboratories. The greatest achievement of a university lies in the values its graduates contribute to human life. Today, across Türkiye and even around the world, the efforts, knowledge, and hard work of Erciyes graduates can be seen. Some guide production in industry, some foster development in commerce, some break new ground in science, some bring hope to children in schools, and some serve their country in public service. The reputation of Erciyes University is the sum of these achievements. You are not only the past of this university but also its future.”
Providing information about scholarships and research funds for students, Rector Altun said: “One of the most powerful things that touches students’ lives, sometimes even changes their direction, is the feeling of support. Today at Erciyes University, hundreds of our students continue their education through scholarships, research grants, and social assistance. Some are trying to make their way in a city far from their families; some are striving to turn a new idea into a scientific project. And we know that even the smallest contribution to a student’s life can change the course of a lifetime. For this reason, we have implemented numerous support mechanisms, ranging from our ‘Askıda Yemek’ (Suspended Meal) program to student scholarship funds, and from research grants to social assistance.”
At the end of his speech, our Rector emphasized that the event was not just a gathering but a reunion of the past and future, memories and hopes, effort and loyalty and said: “Erciyes University exists in each of your stories, and you, in turn, are at the heart of this university. Those of you who walked these campus paths years ago have returned today. And we know that no matter how far a person goes, they never forget the way to their home. You are the first students, the first hopes, the first success stories of this home. Now it is time to write the next chapter of that story together. We envision an Erciyes University where our students, academics, benefactors, and alumni work hand in hand—a stronger, more collaborative, more human-centered Erciyes University. Erciyes University was founded with you, has grown with you, and will move into the future with you.”
Speaking on behalf of the alumni, Mehmet Tayfur Doğan, a 1982 graduate of our Faculty of Engineering, emphasized that Erciyes University is a large and successful family and highlighted the significant achievements of its alumni.
Following the speeches, commemorative certificates were presented to alumni celebrating the 40th, 35th, 30th, 20th, and 10th anniversaries of their graduation.
In the second part of the event, where hundreds of alumni from various faculties reunited, a special lunch was served to the alumni at the university’s Central Cafeteria.
The event also featured concerts by student groups, exhibition booths by TEKNOFEST teams, student clubs, and the ERU Store, allowing alumni to relive their student years with their families. Rector Altun chatted with the alumni and visited each of the booths set up by the students.
Alumni expressed their happiness at being reunited after many years and thanked our Rector for organizing the event.
The 'Alumni Gathering,' held for the first time this year, will continue to be organized annually, becoming a more comprehensive tradition each year.
