Designed to help prospective students gain awareness about universities and departments to make informed and accurate choices, TercihFest—Türkiye’s first and only preference program—was held at the Ibn Haldun University Campus between August 1 and 3 this year.
Within the framework of the program, where hundreds of successful prospective students from 54 different cities across our country had the opportunity to experience the university atmosphere firsthand, numerous social, cultural, and guiding events were organized, including workshops, inspiring summit talks, sample lectures, one-on-one sessions with preference advisors, sector meetings, and a Bosphorus tour.
Meeting with the youth at the closing of the TercihFest ’26 program, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Ömer Bolat, began his remarks by stating, “Our motivation is that the best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.”
Reflecting on his own university years, Bolat remarked, “The most valuable capital for a country is its human capital.” Bolat expressed that students in our country today enjoy far greater opportunities compared to the past.
He stated that while we have the option to take risks in life and rely entirely on our own experiences, we can also chart a smoother path by drawing upon the accumulated knowledge and experiences of others we trust. Saying “The number one university in the world is the university of life,” Bolat emphasized that individuals must have a goal, an ideal, and a cause on their journey through life.
Delivering the opening address on the final day, A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, President of the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, offered advice to prospective university students to help them make the right choices.
Dağlıoğlu noted that the motivation behind university choices varies from person to person. Drawing attention to the various transformations and crises occurring worldwide, Dağlıoğlu emphasized that when choosing a university, students should pay close attention to where the world is heading and how well the chosen university can prepare its students for this new environment.
Expressing that the goal envisioned under the Century of Türkiye mission is to become a true global actor, Dağlıoğlu advised candidates to take advantage of all opportunities for self-improvement, while always carrying a sense of belonging to their country and reading Türkiye well.
In his speech, Dağlıoğlu noted, “Horizons that seem distant today will become possible in the coming decades. Set goals for yourselves with this in mind.”
In his summit address, the President of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Safi Arpaguş, stated that the future of our country will be shaped by the youth. He emphasized the necessity of utilizing technological capabilities, science, and competencies while shaping the future.
Reminding the candidates going through the preference period that they have worked hard and achieved a result, he advised them to consult properly at this stage and place their trust in God (tawakkul). He stated that both dwelling on the past and focusing excessively on the future while missing today are futile; instead, one must be ibn al-waqt—a child of the moment—thinking and acting with awareness of the present moment.
Addressing prospective university students at the Summit Conferences, Anadolu Agency Director General Serdar Karagöz stated that media, both in name and function, is a “medium”—an intermediary. He explained that media has evolved and transformed through all communication tools from cave paintings to ancient myths, and from the printing press to the telegraph and up to the present day.
Emphasizing that regardless of one's profession, being a good communicator is indispensable, Karagöz stated that effective communication skills also enhance one's ability to leave a lasting mark on life.
Stating that those who attribute simplicity to the social sciences and humanities are mistaken and that she disagrees with this view, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO Prof. Gülnur Aybet focused particularly on artificial intelligence and its impact on professions during her summit address.
Prof. Aybet pointed out that young people currently going through a critical phase like university selection and making important decisions about their future have many questions regarding the future of their desired careers.
Noting that artificial intelligence technology has permeated fields ranging from the pharmaceutical industry to psychology, Prof. Aybet asked, in an era where AI is so widely used and machines are becoming increasingly successful at thinking, “What is the most valuable thing for humans to understand?” She answered her own question: “Ourselves.” She highlighted the value that human-specific experiences carry, particularly in professional fields.
Meeting with the youth at the summit conference, businessman Ali Ülker strongly emphasized the value of social activities and active involvement in student associations and clubs during university education.
He stated that regardless of the chosen department, every student should equip themselves beyond coursework, noting that these experiences are invaluable in both personal and professional life.
Saying “You will design the future,” Ülker stressed the necessity of gaining competence in using today’s tools while designing that future.
Meeting with the youth in a conference session held on the second day of TercihFest, Hakan Bayrakçı, Founder and Chairman of SONAR Research and Consultancy, shared how his observations of our country and the world during his youth influenced his career choice. Stating that we make many important choices in life, Bayrakçı advised prospective students to choose a profession they love and enjoy doing, while keeping track of the major sociological shifts happening in Türkiye and around the world.
On the second day of TercihFest, famous actor Burak Yörük and educator-author Gökhan Müftüoğlu were also guests at the conference sessions. The interactive sessions were followed with great interest by the prospective university students.
TercihFest ’26, where all speakers were presented with certificates for 1,000 saplings donated on behalf of the 1,000 participating prospective students in memory of their contributions, concluded following the presentation of certificates of participation to the students.
