Preserving Heritage, Sustaining Culture

Near East University contributes to the documentation, preservation and transmission of cultural heritage through education, research, artistic activities and community engagement. Its initiatives address the protection of local traditions, historical knowledge, cultural expressions and practices that form an essential part of collective identity.

Throughout 2025, the University implemented projects supporting the continuity of Cypriot cultural traditions, the documentation of national heritage and the preservation of cultural practices among international and diaspora communities, including those from regions affected by conflict and displacement. These initiatives bring together academic expertise, student participation and community partnerships to safeguard cultural knowledge for future generations.

Local or Regional Cultural Heritage

Near East University Students Preserve Cultural Heritage with Traditional "Gollifa" Event

On 27 December 2025, students from Near East University's Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts organised their annual traditional Gollifa event at the Nicosia Turkish Municipality Community Kitchen. Students prepared Gollifa, a traditional Cypriot New Year dish made with roasted wheat, pomegranate seeds, almonds, sesame and raisins, and shared it with local shopkeepers and residents in Bandabuliya, Büyük Han and Arasta.

The activity provided students with practical experience in preparing traditional Cypriot food while introducing the wider community to the cultural meanings associated with the dish. By preparing and sharing Gollifa, the University contributed to preserving local culinary knowledge and transferring traditions of abundance, sharing and solidarity to younger generations.

Passing on Traditional Knowledge of Cyprus's Wild Edible Plants

In April 2025, Near East University brought together academics from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Tourism for the interdisciplinary session "Sustainable Nutrition: From the Field to the Kitchen," held during the 3rd International Medical Student Congress, Habitat Cyprus 2025.

The session explored traditional Cypriot knowledge of wild edible plants, including wild asparagus (ayrelli) and king oyster mushroom (gavcar), alongside sustainable food production and regional biodiversity. An interactive tasting activity introduced participants to recipes prepared with native herbs, sprouted legumes and traditional grains.

By connecting local food traditions with contemporary nutritional knowledge, the initiative supported the documentation, practical application and transmission of Cyprus's traditional food culture.

Heritage for the Future: Introducing Cultural Traditions to Younger Generations

In July 2025, academics from Near East University's Department of Turkish Language Teaching organised an interactive cultural heritage workshop for approximately 35 fourth- and fifth-grade students from the Cyprus Turkish Child Protection Agency.

Led by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yeniasır and Prof. Dr. Burak Gökbulut, the 90-minute workshop introduced students to cultural heritage concepts and examples from Cypriot traditions. Participants subsequently expressed their understanding through creative writing and drawings, documenting their personal interpretations of local cultural values.

The resulting materials will contribute to academic research on cultural heritage education and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The initiative supported the preservation of local traditions by encouraging younger generations to recognise and express their cultural heritage.

Safeguarding Local Cultural Heritage: Exploring Old Famagusta

On 19 December 2025, Near East University's Department of Tourism and Hotel Management and Tourism Research and Development Center organised the field-based seminar "Old Famagusta: Cultural Heritage" in the historic Walled City of Famagusta.

The event brought together university participants and local heritage representatives, including Serdar Ataï from the Famagusta Walled City Association (MASDER), to discuss the protection of the city's historical and architectural heritage.

By examining Famagusta's historic environment and the cultural knowledge associated with it, the initiative supported heritage awareness, knowledge sharing and cooperation between the University and local organisations working to preserve the city's cultural identity.

Preserving Cyprus's Cultural Memory through the Walled City Museum

Located near the historic Kyrenia Gate in Nicosia, Near East University's Walled City Museum preserves and presents the cultural and historical heritage of Cyprus through collections of historical documents, traditional objects, artworks and artefacts reflecting different periods of the island's history. Its collections include Ottoman-era records, historical costumes, Karagöz shadow theatre figures and objects representing Cypriot cultural traditions, providing opportunities for visitors to explore the island's collective memory.

In April 2025, seventh-grade students from Near East Yeniboğaziçi College visited the museum as part of an educational excursion. Accompanied by their teachers, students explored historical exhibits, Ottoman documents, traditional objects and artworks illustrating Cyprus's cultural development. The visit provided an opportunity for younger generations to engage directly with the island's heritage and develop an understanding of its historical and cultural identity.

The museum was also included in Near East University's 2025 Fall Term Orientation Programme, with a cultural museum tour scheduled for 17 October 2025 to introduce newly enrolled students to the island's history and cultural collections. Through such educational initiatives and visitor engagement, the museum supports public awareness and the intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge.

National Cultural Heritage

From Tradition to the Future: Preserving Cypriot Cuisine through Publication

In January 2025, Cypriot Cuisine: From Tradition to the Future was introduced as part of the TRNC Presidency's Cultural Publications series. The publication was co-authored by Near East University academic Erhun Ekinci, together with Mustafa Şah and Prof. Dr. Tülen Saner.

The book documents traditional Cypriot recipes, preparation methods, culinary stories and their historical and cultural contexts. By recording knowledge traditionally transmitted through families and communities, the publication provides a lasting resource for preserving the island's culinary heritage.

The work contributes to the documentation and intergenerational transmission of traditional food practices while making this knowledge accessible to researchers, students and the wider public.

Preserving Architectural Heritage and Traditional Urban Identity

On 29 April 2025, Near East University's Faculty of Architecture organised a seminar titled "Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Architecture and Urban Development."

The seminar examined the importance of preserving architectural heritage within contemporary urban planning and development. Presentations addressed cultural heritage protection, sustainable urban environments, public space and universal design.

Through academic discussion of heritage conservation and the relationship between historic environments and contemporary communities, the activity contributed to awareness of Northern Cyprus's architectural identity and the importance of transferring knowledge about historic places to future generations.

Documenting Turkish Cypriot Cinema and Cultural Memory

In November 2025, Prof. Dr. Fevzi Kasap, Dean of Near East University's Faculty of Communication, participated in the Turkic World Cinema Forum hosted by Istanbul University.

In his presentation, "Cinema in Cyprus," Prof. Dr. Kasap examined the historical development of Turkish Cypriot cinema from 1912 onwards, addressing its relationship with the island's social history, cultural identity and collective memory.

The presentation contributed to the documentation and dissemination of knowledge about Turkish Cypriot cinematic heritage, highlighting the role of films, documentaries and audiovisual records in preserving cultural narratives for future generations.

Near East University Hosts the 19th International Cultural Heritage Symposium

In May 2025, Near East University hosted the 19th International Symposium on the Protection of Turkish Culture, Art and Cultural Heritage at its Grand Library, in honour of Azerbaijani archaeologist and cultural heritage researcher Prof. Dr. Qafar Jebiyev.

Organised in cooperation with academic and cultural institutions, the symposium brought together researchers, artists and cultural heritage specialists from more than ten countries. Approximately 100 academic papers addressed subjects including folklore, traditional arts, literature, archaeology, cultural heritage, conservation and restoration.

The symposium provided an international platform for documenting, examining and disseminating traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. It also included an International Plastic Arts Exhibition featuring works by 30 artists, supporting the presentation and exchange of cultural and artistic heritage.

Preserving Cyprus's Visual Memory through Gazi Yüksel's Photographic Archive

In May 2025, Near East University's Faculty of Communication presented a retrospective photography exhibition featuring selections from the 40-year photographic archive of academic and photojournalist Gazi Yüksel.

The exhibition brought together documentary photographs reflecting Cyprus's social history, cultural life and collective memory. By presenting historical images and visual narratives to the public, the initiative contributed to preserving photographic records of the island's changing communities and cultural environment.

The photographic archive constitutes an important resource for documenting local history and supporting the transmission of cultural memory between generations.

Recording Cyprus's History for Future Generations

In April 2025, the Turkish Historical Society published Cyprus: Key to the Eastern Mediterranean (Doğu Akdeniz'in Anahtarı Kıbrıs) by Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Dean of Near East University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, as part of its Centenary General Reader Series.

The publication examines the history of Cyprus from prehistoric periods through Ottoman and British rule to contemporary developments, presenting the island's historical and cultural significance in an accessible format.

By bringing historical research to students, educators and general readers, the book contributes to the documentation and dissemination of Cyprus's historical knowledge and collective memory.

Heritage of Displaced Communities

Near East University supports opportunities for international and diaspora student communities to maintain and share their cultural traditions. This includes student communities originating from regions affected by conflict and displacement, where the continuity of cultural practices can be particularly important to community identity.

Through collaboration with student associations, the University provides spaces for cultural celebrations, traditional food practices, music and community gatherings. These activities support the expression and transmission of cultural knowledge across generations while encouraging intercultural understanding within the University community.

Preserving Sudanese Cultural Identity through Traditional Day

On 15 May 2025, Near East University's Dean of Students Office, in collaboration with the NEU Sudanese Students Association, organised Sudanese Traditional Day at Grand Library Hall 1.

The programme was designed to celebrate Sudanese cultural identity through traditional clothing, music and social customs, offering students an opportunity to present elements of their heritage within the University's multicultural environment.

By creating a dedicated setting for the sharing of traditional cultural expressions, the initiative supported the continuity of Sudanese cultural identity among students living outside their country of origin and encouraged awareness of Sudanese heritage among the wider university community.

Preserving Sudanese Living Traditions through Communal Iftar

On 14 March 2025, Near East University's Dean of Students Office and the NEU Sudanese Students Association organised a Sudanese Iftar gathering at the outdoor and indoor cafeterias of the Faculties of Dentistry and Pharmacy.

The event centred on traditional Sudanese communal dining practices, including the cultural significance of Al-Birsh, a woven mat traditionally used for shared meals during Ramadan.

By incorporating a familiar cultural practice into a community gathering, the activity provided an opportunity for Sudanese students to maintain and share elements of their living heritage while studying abroad.

Maintaining Yemeni Culinary and Community Traditions

On 27 March 2025, Near East University's Dean of Students Office, in collaboration with the NEU Yemeni Students Association, organised an Iftar gathering at the Grand Library.

The programme provided a setting for Yemeni students to come together around communal dining traditions associated with Ramadan. Such gatherings offer opportunities to maintain cultural practices connected with food, hospitality and collective identity while living outside one's home country.

Through student-led activities, the University supports the continuity of cultural traditions and the sharing of community practices among its international students.

Supporting Congolese Cultural Identity and Community Connections

On 15 March 2025, the Near East University Congolese Students Association (NEUCA), in cooperation with the Dean of Students Office, scheduled "Congolese Stand Up" at Grand Library Hall 1.

The initiative aimed to bring members of the Congolese student community together, providing a space for connection, shared experiences and the expression of collective identity. Through its support for international student associations, Near East University provides opportunities for students living outside their countries of origin to maintain community ties and strengthen cultural belonging within a multicultural academic environment.

Celebrating Gambian Cultural Identity and National Heritage

On 22 February 2025, Near East University's Dean of Students Office, in collaboration with the NEU Gambian Students Association, organised "The Gambia's Independence Celebration in TRNC" at Grand Library Hall 1 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of The Gambia's independence.

The initiative provided an opportunity for Gambian students living abroad to celebrate their national identity, honour their shared history and strengthen connections within their community. By supporting student-led cultural celebrations, the University encourages the continuity of cultural identity and the transmission of collective memories and traditions beyond national borders.

Supporting Cultural Continuity among Syrian Students

On 17 December 2025, Near East University's Dean of Students Office and the NEU Syrian Students Association organised the "Syrian Students Meet and Connect" gathering at Grand Library Hall 1.

The event provided a meeting space for Syrian students to establish connections, exchange experiences and strengthen their sense of community while studying abroad.

Although primarily a community-building initiative, the gathering supported relationships through which language, cultural memories and shared traditions can be maintained and passed on. It formed part of the University's wider support for cultural continuity and belonging among international student communities.