Girne American University (GAU) has celebrated its 30th year in higher education with a gala night held in Le Chateau Lambousa with a significant participation.

The celebration, which was held in Le Chateau Lambousa Hotel, was attended by President Derviş Eroğlu, President of the Assembly - Sibel Siber, Nicosia Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey - Halil İbrahim Akça, CTPF Commander Lieutenant General Ismail Serdar Savaş, GKK Major General Baki Kavun, 39th Mechanized Division Commander Major General Ibrahim Yılmaz, 14th Armored Brigade Commander Brigadier General Ozkan Aydoğdu, Minister of Education Mustafa Arabacıoğlu, Health Minister - Ahmet Gülle, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources - Hamit Bakırcı, Vice President of the Assembly - Ünal Üstel, TDP President - Cemal Özyigit, Kyrenia Governor - Mehmet Envergil, LTB Mayor - Kadri Fellahoğlu, Kyrenia Mayor Sümer Aygın, Lapta Mayor - Fuat Namsoy, Chairman of GAU Board of Trustees - Erdal Memduh, Founding Rector and Chancellor of the Board - Serhat Akpinar, GAU CEO and Vice-Chancellor of the Board - Assist. Prof. Dr. Asım Vehbi, Vice Chancellor of the Board - Olgun Üstün and Cemile Esenyel and Rector - Prof. Dr. Yıldırım Öner, Deputies and high state officials and civil society organizations, public and private media, the presidents and representatives of institutions and organizations, academicians and students and invited guests.

The opening speech of the evening, which commenced with GAU’s 30th year introduction film, was made by GAU Founding Rector, Chancellor of the Board of Administrators - Serhat Akpinar followed by a speech by President Dr. Dervis Eroğlu.

Akpınar, “We began our journey by emphasizing on a past that creates the future”

GAU Founding Rector, Chancellor of the Board of Administrators - Serhat Akpinar stated in his speech that - "We live with the honour of celebrating the GAU’s 30th anniversary in higher education as the first university in Cyprus”, and also spoke about the history of the university.

Akpınar who stated that they started with "The history that creates future” slogan and brought in many firsts with that slogan, expressed that GAU is the first higher education institution that operates on three continents, opens overseas generic campuses, actualizes primary and secondary education private schools.

Akpınar stated that soon new campuses will be opened in Istanbul and Moldova alongside the UK, USA and Hong Kong campuses and reported that GAU will continue to evolve with the new campuses and departments.

Akpınar thanked the past Prime Minister, the current President - Dervis Eroğlu, the Governments which served in 1984-85, President of GAU Board of Trustees Memduh Erdal and everyone that has contributed to GAU’s inception to the present and university initiated movement in the TRNC and recorded that all higher education institutions in the country performed a miracle in creating the future of country.

Eroğlu, "GAU brought many Foreign Students to the Island by Reaching to the World"

In his speech, President Dervis Eroglu reminded that they concentrated on tourism which is a service sector as part of the studies which was to determine the driving force of the economy in 1985 during the times when he was a Prime Minister.

Eroğlu stated that GAU first started its operation as the first university in an apartment in the Kyrenia Tourism Port after the decision of the Council of Ministers and stressed that the university has made many successful developments from that day to the present time.

President Eroğlu expressed that GAU is one of the largest universities of the country today that has received many accreditations from Turkey and brought students from many countries into the country by opening to the outside world; and stated that they took a road with the idea of "Can we transform the TRNC into a country of universities?” and today the country has 8 universities which are recognized by the world.

President Eroğlu, who celebrated everyone who had contributed to bringing GAU to today, wished continued development and success.

Following the opening speeches, President Dr. Dervis Eroglu, President of the Assembly - Sibel Siber, the Chairman of GAU Board of Trustees - Erdal Memduh, and Founding Rector and Chancellor of the Board - Serhat Akpinar lit the torch signifying 30 years of education of GAU.

Later in the evening, plaques of honour, memory and appreciation were presented to the Head of Government, Ministers and other officials who contributed to the establishment of GAU during the years of 84-85.

The 30th anniversary was celebrated with messages from GAU England, America, Hong Kong and Turkey campus Rectors and Senior Executives, after the screening of the 30th year vision documentary.

GAU Faculty of Stage Arts students presented dance performances at the event. Türkan Kürşad, student of the American College, which provides education under GAU Group of Schools, enlivened the evening with her songs.

The Gala Night ended with the cutting of the 30th year cake following the concert of ENBE orchestra.