A special program was organized by the Faculty of Education at Uşak University on November 24 in honor of Teachers’ Day and in memory of the esteemed professor, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Helvacı, who passed away recently.

Held at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Congress and Cultural Center, the event highlighted the significance of the teaching profession and revisited the enduring legacy of Prof. Dr. Helvacı in the field of education.

The event was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Osman Birgin, Uşak Provincial Director of National Education Halil Yücel, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Bülent Çavaş, Prof. Dr. Ayhan Aydın, faculty members, academics, administrative staff, and students.

The program began with a moment of silence and the national anthem, followed by speeches from Dean Prof. Dr. Bülent Çavaş and Provincial Director of National Education Halil Yücel. Both speakers celebrated Teachers’ Day and emphasized the importance of the teaching profession while commemorating Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Helvacı with heartfelt gratitude.

Following the opening speeches, a musical performance was coordinated by Faculty of Education lecturer Dr. Onur Altıntuğ.

After the musical segment, a film titled Traces of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Helvacı in Our Minds was screened. Prepared by the Faculty of Education, the film featured reflections from Prof. Dr. Helvacı’s colleagues and students about his influence and contributions. The screening evoked deeply emotional moments among the audience.

The program continued with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Ayhan Aydın titled Teaching as a Performing Art. In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Aydın offered a fresh perspective on the teaching profession, discussing its etymological development and framing teaching as more than the mere transfer of knowledge but as an art form. He described education as the art of bringing love, excitement, and elegance to life, emphasizing that teaching transcends time, space, and even a single lifetime. He posed thought-provoking questions such as “What is education, and who is a teacher truly?” and stressed the unique and living nature of the teaching process. Prof. Dr. Aydın concluded his speech by saying, “I extend my warmest wishes to all educators on this Teachers’ Day.”

The event concluded with the presentation of commemorative plaques to the participants in gratitude for their contributions.