Head of Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş appeared on TRT News as a guest. Answering Mustafa Yıldırım’s questions on live broadcast, Prof. Dr. Ateş evaluated “Turkish Summer School” project organized every year since 2010.

Stating that Yunus Emre Institute strives for making perception of Turkey positive all around the world, aims to reach its mission by increasing number of people connected with Turkey, said in several areas activities are carried out for this.

Expressing that with 154 contact points within universities as well as 56 culture centers in 5 continents activities are maintained; and in countries, where the Institute center does not exist, works are realized through embassies, Prof Dr. Ateş said the summer school is carried out by making choices among youth reaches the Institute through these means. After saying 1000 people are hosted in this year’s summer school, Ateş maintained his words as this:

“This year, applications were over 100 thousand. However we were able to bring 1000 people. We subject these one thousand people to a one month long program in 27 cities, in 29 universities. Here we send students, of which we have assessed language levels, to different cities. In the summer school program there are 60-hour intensive Turkish lessons and activities towards students get to know the region, to get together with the society and learn about universities and science centers.

In the program began with 30 people in 2010 and reached to 1000 people capacity today, there is a standard education. Not only Ankara and İstanbul but also our several provinces from Erzurum to Kütahya, to Rize are introduced. We receive quite good feedback from students and most of the students express they want to receive education in Turkey or do business with Turkey. This is not only about us but also about sympathy and understanding of the society shows them. While communities face ethnocentrism around the world, Turkish public also embraces these students from 118 countries that we host in Turkey without color, race, and religion and language discrimination.

At the center of this colorfulness Anatolia, we meet with our youth not only in Turkish education, cultural elements or natural beauties points but also we make a science-based contact with them. We host them in our universities. We offer them the opportunity to observe capacity, departments and technicities of our universities on site.”

Within this scope transmitting details of the visit took place in Konya Science Center on weekend with Head of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Ateş said 170 students are hosted here as a part of the summer school program:

“There youth coming from not only Africa or Islamic geographies but also youth coming from Western Europe express they do not know that Turkey is such a developed country. Hence, for us to carry out this diplomacy one-to-one has a serious advantage. Now, number of students we are connected with as a part of the summer school program is 3 thousand 500. We maintain our communication with our summer school students after they go back to their countries.”

“Turkey for the world’s future”

Also making remarks on “Turkish Cinema Summer School” that Yunus Emre Institute carried into effect with İstanbul Şehir University, Prof Dr. Ateş stated in the program will be taken place with participation of youth from 20 countries, together with students of cinema department, sector employees such as scenarist, director and actor/actress are present.

Expressing that apart from a rich-contented education they will receive from important names and academicians of cinema history, they will have the opportunity to get to know Turkish cinema on site thanks to activities such as field visits, meetings with the directors and city tours, Ateş uttered Turkey has much to offer.

Mentioning toleration in Anatolia and capacity to produce together with other countries are always emphasized by students as an additional value, Ateş said this statement has turned into “Turkey for the world’s future” slogan. After emphasizing that Turkey needs to be the center not only for geographically or strategically but also for culturally to create peace and tranquility around the world Ateş maintained his speech as this:

“Beyond reflection of international media, Turkey has a very decent and a special place among global communities. We are trying to become this perception widespread in a more positive way. Thus we continuously maintain our academic studies, symposiums, scientific activities, cultural and art activities and cultural diplomacy activities. We realize more than one thousand activities in a year with a structure addresses the local from Hungary to USA. In applications for summer school we see its reflections. People from all around the world try to participate in this activity.”