On the occasion of Republic Day on 29 October, an online conference was held, moderated by Dr Tuğba Aydın Halisoğlu, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, with Associate Professor Meral Kuzgun from the Department of History at Kilis 7 December University as the speaker. The conference, titled ‘Atatürk and the Republic,’ began with a moment of silence followed by the recitation of the Turkish National Anthem. The opening speech was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ali Özen, Rector of Tarsus University.

Celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic, Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Özen emphasised in his speech that the Republic is not just a form of government, but the foundation of free thought, science, justice and equality. Rector Özen went on to say that the Republic, proclaimed on 29 October 1923 following the victory of the National Struggle launched by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk when he landed in Samsun on 19 May 1919, was the result of a great struggle. "Our Republic will continue to be preserved until the end of the world. The Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gifted our nation a way of life by saying, “The form of government most suited to the character and customs of the Turkish nation is the republican form of government”. The Republic is the greatest trust given to us. It is the duty of each and every one of us to protect that trust." Rector Özen concluded his speech by saying, "On this special day, I remember with infinite gratitude, respect and appreciation the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, our beloved martyrs who made this land our homeland, and our glorious veterans who have passed away. I congratulate our esteemed university community and our beloved nation on the 29 October Republic Day. I conclude my remarks with the unique sentence that Atatürk left us: “We established the Republic; it is you who will elevate and preserve it. Long live the Republic!”"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meral Kuzgun, a faculty member of the History Department at Kilis 7 December University, touched upon Turkish history, the culture of consultation, and the intellectual foundations of the Republic during the conference. Emphasising that the Republic, proclaimed on 29 October, was shaped by the common will of a nation, Kuzgun discussed the difficulties encountered during the National Struggle and how this struggle paved the way for the Republic. She stated that the independence struggle led by Atatürk resulted in a military victory and that this victory initiated a modern state concept based on national sovereignty.