Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Arts and Sciences Faculty, Department of Psychology hosted the “9th Işık Savaşır Clinical Psychology Symposium” between the 24th and 26th of May, 2019. The symposium was held in Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center. The symposium that was organized in cooperation with Turkish Psychologists Association and Turkish Cypriot Psychologists Association commenced on Friday, the 24th of May at 9 a.m. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the symposium, Turkish Psychologists Association President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Okan Cem Çırakoğlu stated: “We extend our gratitude to EMU for volunteering to host the symposium organized in memory of our very valuable teacher and scientist Prof. Dr. Işık Savaşır who contributed to the development of clinical psychology and set an example for everyone in the field. We believe that it will be a very fruitful and successful symposium with the participation of psychology students from Cyprus.”
“We Are Combating So-Called Certification Programs”
Turkish Cypriot Psychologists Association President Expert Psychologist Refia Erosal stated: “Unfortunately our island which was synonymous with Aphrodite, love and beauty has been struggling with war, migration, trauma, missing people, identity and cultural chaos for the last 50 years. Therefore, as mental health workers we have a great responsibility. In this regard the symposium is of great importance.” Meanwhile, EMU Arts and Sciences Faculty, Department of Psychology Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Bayraktar noted: “As the EMU Department of Psychology we are proud and honored to be hosting the 9th Işık Savaşır Clinical Psychology Symposium. The symposium is exemplary in terms of its substance and duration. We are combating so-called certificate and clinical psychology postgraduate programs that have no validity in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as well as Turkey.”
“We Are Proud to be Hosting the Symposium”
EMU Arts and Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Özarslan stated: “We are proud to be hosting this important symposium that will feature 60 speakers who have carried out original work in the field of clinical psychology. With its multicultural and strong academic staff as well as the TRNC’s first and only laboratories of its kind, the EMU Department of Psychology is one of our faculty’s most popular departments. Graduates from our department whose program has been designed according to European Psychology Diploma and Council of Higher Education standards can easily get accepted for postgraduate programs in some of the best American and European universities.”
“We Are Setting an Example for Other Universities in Cyprus”
During his speech, EMU Vice Rector for International Affairs and Promotion Prof. Dr. Cem Tanova provided information about EMU: “EMU is an education institution, with over 18 thousand students from more than 100 countries and over 1000 members of academic staff from more than 30 different countries. According to Times Higher Education our university is in the 600-800 band of the world’s top 1000 universities. It is also in the top 200 amongst young universities that are no more than 50 years old. This year we will be celebrating our 40th year. Therefore, we are very happy to be hosting this symposium. EMU will always continue to set an example for other universities in Cyprus whilst doing what’s right and expressing that this is more effective.”
Around 60 presenters (mainly from Turkey) who conducted unique studies on clinical psychology delivered presentations during the 9th Işık Savaşır Clinical Psychology Symposium. The symposium came to an end on Sunday, the 26th of May 2019 with the simultaneous working groups of 3 different locations.