Germany's Braunschweig University of Technology, Department of History and Didactics, Professor Dr. Matthias Steinbach, along with doctoral students Nevin Vanella and Sedat Kayaoğlu, arrived in Akşehir district of Konya to conduct research on Nasreddin Hodja.
It has been learned that as part of Professor Dr. Steinbach's research, he has established a partnership with Selçuk University Nasreddin Hodja Application and Research Center. From now on, the research will be conducted jointly by the two universities. The visiting academics in Akşehir began their research accompanied by the Director of Selçuk University Nasreddin Hodja Application and Research Center, Assistant Professor Dr. Kadir Öztaş, deputy directors, and municipal officials.
Akşehir Mayor Salih Akkaya organized a meet-and-greet session for the academics from Germany, attended by representatives of Nasreddin Hodja-related associations and press members in Akşehir. During the meeting, the academics provided information to the participants about their research. The academics also paid a visit to Mayor Akkaya in his office, where he shared information about the history, culture, and values of Akşehir with his guests.
Professor Dr. Matthias Steinbach expressed his admiration for Akşehir, stating, "No matter how I look at it, I am incredibly impressed by the potential and all the features that Akşehir possesses. You have an amazing city. Furthermore, you have exceptional hospitality, for which I would like to express my gratitude."
After the visit to the municipality, Mayor Akkaya and his guests proceeded to the Nasreddin Hodja Memory Center, which was nearing completion. Mayor Akkaya provided the academics with information about the center. At the end of the visit to the Nasreddin Hodja Memory Center, Prof. Dr. Matthias Steinbach presented German-language books on Till Eulenspiegel, Germany's master of humor, as a gift to the archive of the memory center.
