Following the Footsteps of Haluk Dursun - Journey with Books Workshop

Held in memory of the late Prof. Dr. Haluk Dursun and designed to pass on his legacy to younger generations, the “In the Footsteps of Haluk Hoca: Student Symposium” brought together high school students to share research‑based presentations on history, culture, and geography.  

Organized under NÛN Foundation for Education and Culture Dorm Academies and guided by Prof. Dr. Ali Satan, the symposium crowned a year of scholarly work. Three roundtables were moderated by expert academics: 

Table I – Janissaries of the West (Moderator: Prof. Dr. Vahdettin Engin): Cultural imperialism’s impact on the mind, and a vision for an “ideal youth” able to overcome it. 

Table II – Istanbul (Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salim Aydın): Re‑reading Istanbul not as nostalgia, but as a way of life and a locus for identity formation. 

Table III – From the Nile to the Danube (Moderator: Lecturer Sena Akçaba): Tracing our heartland’s cultural continuities and shared historical responsibilities. 

Prepared with the maxim “to discover the fine secret between looking and seeing,” the symposium elevated historical awareness while strengthening students’ capacity for public academic defense and critical thinking. Students reflected our school culture, where learning and wisdom meet discipline.