Kastamonu University hosted a meaningful event on the 87th anniversary of the death of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic.

 The "A World Leader Atatürk" Panel, organized in collaboration with the Directorate of the Turkish World Application and Research Center and the Directorate of the History and Archeology Application and Research Center, was held on November 10, 2025, in the Cemil Meriç Hall of our University's Central Library.

At the event, moderated by Prof. Dr. M. Serhat Yılmaz, Atatürk's leadership qualities, intellectual world, and emergence on the historical stage were examined from different perspectives. The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Fatma Zehra Pattabanoğlu, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Prof. Dr. Orhan Kandemir, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kaçar, as well as our academic staff and students.

The program, which began with a moment of silence and the reading of the Turkish National Anthem, continued with the opening speech by Associate Professor Dr. Rabia Aktaş, Director of the Center for History and Archeology Application and Research. 

In his speech, Assoc.Prof.Dr.Aktaş stated that commemorating Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, is not merely a historical reminder, but also a matter of a civilizational ideal, a journey of modernization, and national consciousness. Emphasizing that Atatürk's legacy is not a thing of the past, but rather a guide that shapes the future, Aktaş stated that they are working to carry this legacy into the future. 

In the opening remarks of the panel, moderator Prof. Dr. M. Serhat Yılmaz stated that Atatürk's leadership sets a universal example, expressing that his ideas are among the common values not only of Turkey but of the entire world, and thanked the participants. 

The first speaker of the panel, Prof. Dr. Sevda Özkaya Sofu, discussed the influence of Atatürk's personal characteristics, education, and the era he lived in on the formation of his leadership understanding in her presentation titled "From Mustafa Kemal to Atatürk: The Life Story of a Leader.". Prof. Dr. Sofu stated that Atatürk was not only a soldier but also a statesman who analyzed national and international conditions well, and that his ideas, which transcended his time, are still guiding today. 

Following this, Prof. Dr. Ercan Çelebi took the floor and discussed "The Birth of a Leader: The Process of Mustafa Kemal Pasha's Landing in Samsun," touching upon Atatürk's military strategies during the National Struggle period. Prof. Dr. Çelebi stated that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk served on many fronts before the War of Independence and achieved numerous successes thanks to his military genius.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the participants by Prof. Dr. Fatma Zehra Pattabanoğlu, Prof. Dr. Orhan Kandemir, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kaçar, following the Q&A session, and a photo shoot to commemorate the day.