Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) School of Computing and Technology (SCT) signed an agreement titled “Neighborhood Residents Log Project” with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ministry of Internal Affairs and Labour. Within the framework of the said project, an IT course was delivered to local administrators throughout the TRNC. A certificate ceremony for those who have completed the first phase of the said training took place at EMU Activity Hall on the 11th of April 2016.
The training received by the local administrators of the regions Nicosia, Famagusa and Iskele, took place at the EMU SCT computer labs. The event was coordinated by EMU SCT staff member Yesim Kapsil Cirak. The training team also included SCT staff member Cihan Unal and EMU Information Processing Directorate staff member Ozlem Gorkan Evre.
During the certificate ceremony which proceeded the event, Local Administrator of Taskinkoy and Head of the Nicosia Local Administrators Association Dervis Dizliklioglu noted that local administrators provide the community a voluntary service and requested that politicians be more sensitive in matters concerning local administrators. Dizliklioglu also highlighted the importance of the event, noting that computers play a large role in our lives. Dizliklioglu thanked everybody involved in the organization of the event and presented a plaque of gratitude to Cirak and Evre.
Rector of EMU, Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam thanked everybody for their participation and noted that being a local administrator is a difficult job. Highlighting the importance of the project, Prof. Dr. Osam expressed his pleasure in collaborating with a ministry of such vision. Stating that EMU is ready to participate in any future endeavors, Prof. Dr. Osam also thanked those involved in the organization of the course.
Undersecretary of the TRNC Internal Affairs and Labour Ministry and member of the EMU Board of Trustees Hasan Alicik thanked the local administrators for participating in the course. Noting that we are living in the Information Age, Alicik went on to highlight the role universities must play in the growth of communities. Stating that the EMU is leading the way in providing services for the community Alicik also noted that the Internal Affairs and Labour Ministry is going to continue carrying out events for the local administrators.
During the certificate ceremony, honor participant Vahibe Ozkasirga, local administrator in the Yeni Erenkoy region received her certificate from Hasan Alicik and a silver plate from Prof. Dr. Osam. The certificate ceremony was also attended by Sifa Colakoglu, the district governor of Famagusta, Mustafa Kurtulus Tel, the district governor of Nicosia, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilkan, Director of the SCT, Cantas Ozerek, Assistant Director of the SCT and Murat Aktugrali, Director of the EMU Public Relations and Press Office.
Noting that one of the roles of universities is to serve the public, Dean of the School of Computing and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilkan stated that such functions are part of this role. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilkan also stated, that the SCT is always happy and prepared to help carry out this role and that such functions should spread to all walks of society in order to increase service quality. Setting this as an aspiration Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilkan also noted that such service should be free of charge. Highlighting the fact that the each year the SCT provides vocational education in areas of demand, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilkan dubbed the EMU SCT as the “place to go” for vocational education.