GeT MA Graduation 2012

Institut für Sozialwissenschaften | GeT MA Graduation 2012

Graduation Ceremony of the German Turkish Masters Program in Social Sciences (GeT MA)

On April 16, 2012, we celebrated the graduation of the last two generations of GeT MA students. In a festive ceremony, our 24 graduates received their GeT MA diploma from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. We were happy to welcome Edzard Reuter, former Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG as our guest of honor and the diplomatic representatives of the Turkish Embassy in Berlin and the German Federal Foreign Office, Iskender Okyay, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey and Dr. Anna Prinz, Head of the Foreign Science Policy Section of the Foreign Office.

Prof. Dr. Silvia von Steinsdorff ©Wenke Seemann	Guests of honor and GeT MA Team ©Wenke Seemann
In their welcoming speeches, the guests congratulated the GeT MA graduates for their extraordinary academic achievements and gave insight into their own perspectives on German-Turkish relations. They pointed out the potential of GeT MA students to become the future generation of active promoters of German-Turkish cooperation and encouraged them to further enhance relations between the two countries.

Iskender Okyay, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey ©Wenke Seemann	Dr. Anna Prinz, Head of the Foreign Science Policy Section of the Foreign Office©Wenke Seeman
	While presenting our graduates their diplomas, Edzard Reuter passionately emphasized that GeT MA graduates should use their knowledge responsibly, in order to open doors for those, who do not have the privilege to receive an excellent education in a study program such as GeT MA.
Edzard Reuter ©Wenke Seemann
With the aim to put this idea into practice, the graduates, Thomas Volk and Sebastian Sönksen, used this opportunity to introduce their concept for the establishment of the GeT MA Alumni Contact Group. This platform, which will be supported by the GeT MA program, will interconnect all current and previous GeT MA generations. In the long term, annual conferences will provide GeT MA alumni with the possibility to get together and enhance the discussions on academic topics related to Germany and Turkey.
	Thomas Volk and Sebastian Sönksen ©Wenke Seeman
	Following the official ceremony, the guests were invited to a small reception with open buffet and classical Turkish music. In a relaxed atmosphere, the guests, GeT MA graduates and the coordinating staff talked about future plans and exchange experiences.
Group picture with GeT MA graduates, guests of honor and GeT MA team ©Wenke Seeman