PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS      

              Welcome to the website of our university.

              Trakya University wich has undertaken the mission of a regional university with its Atatürk's follower, secular, democrat and contemporary line, is the only university which attempts to improve the collaborative relations between Turkey and the European Union Countries in Balkans, supporting Turkey`s path to the European Union. Trakya University is a large family which includes Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science and Letters and Vocational College in Aysekadın Campus; Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Vocational School of Health Care Management, State Conservatory, College of Physical Education and Sports, Center of Mentally and Physically Handicapped Children in Gullapoglu Campus and many more units of higher education totalling up to 54. The university embodying Faculty of Agriculture in Tekirdag, Faculty of Technical Education in Kırklareli, Engineering Faculty in Corlu and Vocational Colleges in three cities and 14 districts is also an institution of science covering and embracing the whole Trakya region.

              Trakya University was established in 1982 in Edirne. The two invaluable works of art; the historical building of Train Station in Karaagac and the historical complex of Beyazıt II which had gone to rack and ruin in time were allocated to the university. They were restored and revitalized by the University itself. Karaagac Train Station building which had embodied Social Facilities and some departments of the Vocational College during the early years of the establisment, has been using as the main administrative building with the Rectorial offices since July 19, 1998. The restoration of the other historical buildings in Karaagac Campus is underway. Following the decision taken by the Trakya University Senate on November 27, 1996, the Trakya University Rectorate realized the inaugurations of Lozan Memorial, Lozan Square, Lozan Plantation and Lozan Museum perpetuating the Lozan Pact which has been the symbol of our independence and considered as the identity card of our republic, on the 75th anniversary of our republic's establisment, turning the campus to an outdoor museum. The Rectorate also endeavours to keep the historical disposition of Edirne: The University provided a steam engine from the General Directory of the State Railways of Turkish Republic to preserve the historical disposition which will be completed with the allocation of a wagon by the support and permission of the State Railways.

              The students who prefer our university are personally invited to visit the Rectorate campus and given a tour around the Rector's Office, Senate, Lozan Museum and Lozan Memorial in October every year. For the last three years our graduation ceremonies have been held at Karaagac Campus. Approximately ten thousand students, their families, their relatives and the university staff celebrate the graduation day in a banquet atmosphere. The campus of Trakya University Rectorate is visited by elementary, secondary schools' students of the central Edirne with their teachers and parents in June and September every year.

              Turkey's first health museum including a psychiatry department was founded in the complex of Beyazıt II on April 23, 1997. It reveals that the Ottoman took heed of health services and reflects the characteristics of the Ottoman Architecture. Health education and service are offered to the local people by the Family Medical Clinic which was opened in the medrasa part of the Complex.
              Trakya University being a regional university, supports many scientific projects on Marmara region and the environmental issues. Within this context , the university has started some important studies which deals with the environmental pollution in Trakya region. It has hosted many panels, symposiums and congresses and has set up many offices which are relevant to this matter as well. Within the frame of the Project of Ergene Basin Environmental Arrangement which was ratified by the Ministry of Environment and Trakya University on November 11 in 1999, Trakya University has been carrying out a teamwork to search for causes of destruction of the natural resources around the region during the recent years and to develope, progress and apply projects. The researchers of the university presented to the authorities a report revealing how destructing the use of the rain and spring waters that are headed for Black Sea (Istranca Creeks and Kırklareli Longos Forests) from Yıldız Mountains as a water supply for Istanbul is for the forests and natural structure of that region. A report of another research project involving the Lake Gala and carried out by a scientific research group made of members from different departments of the university, each knowing the area well, was presented to the authorities to emphasize the protection of the natural resources in and around the Lake Gala. Finally, Trakya University openned an office in the Rectorate Campus to make way for communication and information exchange on the environmental issues with the Balkan countries after a joint organization with Balkan Environmental Association (B.EN.A), TUBITAK and Turkish Chemical Manifacturer Association on October 18, 2001 and the Turkish representative office of the Balkan Environmental Association which has been organized by the European Union was given to Trakya University forming the first time such an office is located in a city (Edirne) other than the national capital.

              Gulloplu Arboretum which is being set up in Gullapoglu Campus will fulfil the recreation needs of the personnel, provide an outdoor laboratory for the students and contribute to the tourism activities.

              Trakya University, having Atatürk's follower, democrat and secular views, has been using representative systems for research assistants and students for four years. Elected representatives of the students and the research assistants are invited to the administartion board and senate meetings to express their ideas and demands.
The university celebrations and activities organized by the student communities of Trakya University Health Culture and Sports Department, enable our students and the invited guest students from Balkan universities to be involved in science, arts and culture, history and literature, and sports. Furthermore the sport teams of our university have been achieving good results in the competitions of different fields. Openning of the Arts and Education Center of the State Conservatory on November 25, 2001 was an important step for our university family to grow larger. Our students of the conservatory have been giving concerts, organizing national and international contests for 4 years and have achieved great success as they've participated in Moscow Youth Festival for 3 years. A variety of activities such as exhibitions, concerts, plays, ballet performances, movies will keep on being held in the Gallery of the Rectorate, the Square of Lozan, Turkan Sabancı Culture Center and in our new Arts and Education Center of the State Conservatory. Sabancı Culture Center, which is open at the weekends as well, has a library providing the students and the academic staff with the internet service.

              This large family deserves assertive students, academic staff and families. I thank to everybody who has joined us and I am sure that we together will achieve many things.