Education First — Prof. Efrem Yildiz on Language, Scholarships & the Nineveh Chair (Assyria TV, 2021)
Education Is the Starting Point for National Continuity
Education First — Prof. Efrem Yildiz on Language, Scholarships & the Nineveh Chair (Assyria TV, 2021)
Recorded in 2021 for Assyria TV, this interview—hosted by Ramsina Gabrielle—features Prof. Dr. Efrem Yildiz, then Vice-President of the University of Salamanca and Professor in the Department of Hebrew and Aramaic Studies. Speaking candidly about his journey from Hakkari to Europe’s universities, Prof. Yildiz explains how mastering languages and living across cultures deepened his commitment to an Assyrian-led, evidence-based approach to history, literature, and language.
He describes why he chose Salamanca—an 800-year-old public university—as the place to build durable academic infrastructure for Assyrian studies, ultimately leading to the creation of the Nineveh Academic Chair (approved June 30, 2020).
At the heart of the conversation is a simple thesis: Education is the starting point for national continuity. Prof. Yildiz warns of diaspora assimilation when language transmission falters, and outlines concrete remedies: create real education centers wherever large Assyrian communities live; professionalize teaching; and invest in young scholars. He presents the Chair’s four pillars—(1) scholarships, (2) annual international congresses, (3) Assyrian-led research groups, and (4) online courses—and highlights the inaugural doctoral scholarship (2021–2022) as a model for training 60–100 experts over the coming decade. Crucially, scholarship recipients are expected to give back by teaching and building programs in community hubs and the homeland. The interview closes with a call for unity, love, and constructive collaboration—the cultural mindset required to turn long-term plans into living institutions.
Watch the interview: For students, parents, and community partners seeking a roadmap—from language at home to doctoral training—this Assyria TV discussion with Prof. Yildiz is essential viewing.
