Our Rector Met with Children in the July 15th Excursion Program
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alican, met with children from Malazgirt during an excursion program organized on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of the July 15th coup attempt.
Accompanied by the academic advisor of the Malazgirt Battlefield Identification, Historical and Archaeological Surface Research Project, Prof. Dr. Adnan Çevik, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Yaşar Karadağ, General Secretary Harun Demir, and the project team, Rector Alican gathered with the children for the excursion at Malazgirt Vocational School.
The excursion program, organized by Prof. Dr. Çevik, began with a tour of the project laboratory located at Malazgirt Vocational School. As part of the program organized within the educational aspect of the project, the children were shown around the laboratory where data obtained from excavations were stored, and the purpose of this work was explained. While Rector Alican explained how the Battle of Malazgirt was won to the children, the professors from the project team provided information to the children. Later, the children visited the Malazgirt Monument and the excavation site in the village of Afşin. Informed about the battle and the project, the children answered the questions correctly and received gifts.
In a statement regarding the matter, Rector Alican said, "On the occasion of the 7th anniversary of the treacherous coup attempt on July 15th, we organized various activities throughout the week as a university. We had a photo exhibition, and we also organized a workshop on National Will and July 15th, where we invited important figures. A mevlid-i şerif (a religious ceremony) was held for our martyrs at Sultan Alparslan Mosque. Within the scope of these activities, we met with the children from Malazgirt in this excursion program, where we explained the work and history we have been carrying out here for the past 4 years. The children from Malazgirt are the most important recipients of our work here because we have conducted excavation works in many areas in Malazgirt and gathered a significant amount of data. However, the issue here is to explain the importance of Malazgirt to the people of Malazgirt, especially to the children. In this excursion, we explained the project, the purpose of our activities, Sultan Alparslan, and the Battle of Malazgirt to the children. These are very important things. It is important for these children to learn our history and culture from various aspects. Therefore, I believe that this event was very beneficial. Hopefully, we will continue with similar activities in the coming days."
The academic advisor of the project, Çevik, who organized the excursion program, stated in his remarks, "The project regarding the identification of the Malazgirt battlefield is still ongoing. In this project, we are not only conducting archaeological work. There is also an educational aspect to this project. In order to create awareness among the people of Malazgirt about this great historical event they have lived through, we also organize educational programs. In this context, we arranged an excursion program today with the children from Malazgirt due to an educational program. Projects like this are also important in creating awareness and a sense of belonging, especially among the people of the region. Among these children, future historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, geographers, geophysicists, and geologists will emerge, and they will continue these works. Therefore, within the scope of this project, we also aim for the children to learn how these works are carried out, to recognize their own history, to know it, and to respect and embrace their own culture and values. Our educational programs will continue in this regard."
