The Opening Ceremony of the 2025–2026 Academic Year was held on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Media and Event Center of the Ibn Haldun University Campus. With the participation of our faculty members, students, administrative staff, and distinguished guests, the Opening Lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Kuşakcı, Rector of the International University of Sarajevo.
Our Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. İrfan Gündüz, emphasized that a person must first make it a principle to read themselves and the universe, noting that after the command to “Read,” the most important gateway to knowledge is “listening.” Reminding the audience that we come from an auditory tradition, he highlighted the importance of discerning what should and should not be listened to. Concluding with the words “As we begin, so shall we continue,” Gündüz underlined the significance of consistency and ended his speech by wishing for a blessed new academic year.
Our Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, began his speech by extending his congratulations for the new academic year. Emphasizing that the university has built a dynamic structure by bringing together a strong academic and administrative staff, Erdoğan stated that Ibn Haldun University has the potential to achieve its major goals in as little as ten years. He concluded his remarks by noting that in order to reach these goals, students as well as academic and administrative staff must move forward with determination and decisiveness.
Our Rector Prof. Atilla Arkan opened the new academic year by greeting the participants and congratulating the community on the beginning of the term. He emphasized that Ibn Haldun University is progressing toward becoming an international center of excellence, stressing the importance of combining power, justice, and virtue to remain active contributors rather than passive observers—something that, he noted, is possible through the effective use of artificial intelligence.
Arkan underlined the dual nature of AI: while it enhances efficiency, speed, and research capacity in areas such as data discovery, prediction, simulation, and thesis development, it also carries risks such as plagiarism, over-reliance, and excessive digitalization. He reminded students of the importance of shaping their future vision early and concluded his address with good wishes for a prosperous and fruitful academic year.
Prof. Ali Osman Kuşakcı, Rector of the International University of Sarajevo, delivered the opening lecture at Ibn Haldun University, expressing his pride in being back at the institution where he had served for over seven years as an academic and administrator, and extended his best wishes to the new students at the start of the academic year. Beginning his address with reflections on the developments in Palestine following October 7, Kuşakcı stressed the importance of conveying the truth of this process in all its dimensions, stating: “If we fail to build historical consciousness, lamentation will remain our unfortunate destiny.” Focusing on the question “What can social scientists do for artificial intelligence?” Kuşakcı described AI as a field inspired by the workings of the human mind and emphasized that it is unequivocally a disruptive innovation. He underlined the necessity of adhering to ethical principles in AI technologies, stressing that justice, transparency, human-centered values, and the goals of sustainable development must be among the core priorities. Noting that every country has its own strategic plans for AI, Kuşakcı highlighted Türkiye’s determined steps in this field. He further emphasized that the contribution of social scientists is indispensable wherever AI intersects with society, calling attention to the need for regulations in areas such as bias and fairness, the history of AI, trust and public perception, and social inequalities.
The 2025–2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony concluded with a presentation of a gift to Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Kuşakcı and the taking of commemorative photographs.
