Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Was Commemorated with Gratitude and Longing at Our University on the 88th Anniversary of Her Passing

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was commemorated on the 88th anniversary of his passing through various events held across Turkey, including in Mersin and at our university.

The November 10th ceremony, organized by the Mersin Governorship at Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydanı), was attended by Mersin Governor Ali Atilla Toros, our Rector Prof. Dr. Erol Yaşar, provincial officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, veterans, students, and a large number of citizens. During the ceremony, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Erol Yaşar, laid a wreath at the Atatürk Monument on behalf of our university. The commemoration continued with further events held at the Cultural Center.

Wreath-Laying and Moment of Silence Ceremony at Our University

A wreath-laying and moment of silence ceremony was also held at our university to mark the 88th anniversary of the passing of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The program, which took place on Tuesday, November 10th, at the Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Alanı) on campus, began with the laying of a wreath at the Atatürk Monument by our Vice-Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk. It continued with a two-minute moment of silence at 09:05, accompanied by the sounding of sirens, the playing of the National Anthem, and the lowering of flags to half-mast.

The program proceeded with a lecture titled "Atatürk and Leadership," delivered by the Director of the Silifke Vocational School, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Saygın, at our university’s Prof. Dr. Uğur Oral Cultural Center. The lecture was attended by our Vice-Rectors, Prof. Dr. Mehmet İsmail Yağcı, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk, and Prof. Dr. The event was attended by Mehmet Çağrı Çetin, along with our Rector’s advisors, deans, department heads, academic and administrative staff, and students.

The Secret to Success Lies Not in Mystery, but in Reason and Science

In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Saygın explained the essence of leadership through the concepts of love, respect, trust, and discipline, noting that true management is the art of building a climate of trust. He emphasized that great achievements are rooted not in mystery, but in reason and science.

From Tactical Steps to Strategic Goals

Tracing the historical evolution of leadership theories, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saygın highlighted the fundamental differences between a manager and a leader: a manager focuses on doing things the right way, while a leader focuses on doing the right things. Stating that leadership is built upon vision, crisis management, and a human-centric approach, he cited the example of Atatürk reading the novel Çalıkuşu (The Wren) just before the Great Offensive. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saygın noted that this was not merely a literary choice; rather, it served as clear evidence of Atatürk’s mastery in managing stress during a crisis and transitioning from tactical thinking to strategic objectives.

Modern Management Philosophy and Institutional Legacy

Pointing out that Atatürk flawlessly applied the classic management functions—planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling—within his state administration, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saygın emphasized that the Tekâlif-i Milliye (National Obligations) decrees were far more than a simple call for aid; they represented a monumental achievement in logistical organization. Furthermore, he noted that the establishment of the Board of General Audit (Umumi Murakabe Heyeti) in 1938 brought state-owned economic enterprises under oversight based on modern accounting principles, thereby leaving a robust institutional legacy for the future.

Concluding his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Saygın suggested that to truly grasp the mindset of a leader, one should study works such as Nutuk (The Speech), Siyasetname (Book of Statecraft), The Art of War, Kutadgu Bilig, and The Social Contract. He emphasized that Atatürk’s construction of a state philosophy—grounded in reason, science, and merit—should serve as an exemplary model for all administrators and leaders.

The conference concluded with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Saygın by our Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Öztürk.

Press and Public Relations Department