A Joint Commitment to the Future of Young People

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) and the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) have entered into a cooperation agreement aimed at contributing to the education, academic development and professional growth of young people. The five-year protocol, which is expected to pave the way for exemplary projects beginning in Izmir and expanding across Türkiye, was signed by IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu and TEV General Manager Melike Koçoğlu. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu stated that supporting the education of young people is an important social responsibility and expressed his pleasure at being part of such a meaningful collaboration.

Hosted by Izmir University of Economics, the protocol signing ceremony was also attended by Dr. Donald Staub, Director of the IUE Micro-Credentials Office; Dr. Özge Coşkun Aysal, Deputy Director of the Office; Gülnur Soybayraktar, TEV Izmir Branch Manager; Özge Karameşe, Head of the IUE Human Resources Department; and TEV executives.

PROJECTS TO BE DEVELOPED FOR TEV SCHOLARS
Under the protocol, micro-credentials, skills development, academic and professional development, as well as social and cultural activities, will be among the priority areas of cooperation. Izmir University of Economics will provide academic support for research, education, program design and content development activities related to TEV’s fields of work. IUE’s knowledge and academic expertise across various disciplines will be utilized in the development of new projects designed to support the growth of TEV scholars. Joint initiatives will also be carried out between IUE student clubs and TEV. These activities will create new opportunities for students to participate more actively in social responsibility projects, gain experience in different fields, and strengthen their teamwork skills and culture of volunteering.

“KNOWLEDGE WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO SOCIAL BENEFIT”
IUE Rector Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu stated that the cooperation with TEV marked an important step toward transforming knowledge into social benefit. “There are many competencies that young people need to acquire in order to adapt to a rapidly changing world. Having professional knowledge and developing expertise in only one field will no longer be sufficient for our young people in the years ahead. Universities that can accurately anticipate the needs of the future therefore have a very important responsibility,” said Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu. “One of the most critical areas we need to focus on is micro-credentials, which certify measurable knowledge and skills acquired in a specific field. We can design micro-credential-based learning pathways and skills development programs to support the academic, professional and personal development of TEV scholars. In this way, we can share the knowledge and experience we have accumulated across different disciplines with many more young people through TEV. This will be one of the main starting points of our work. Beginning in Izmir, we aim to develop projects that will eventually have a much broader impact.”

“WE WILL EMPOWER THE POTENTIAL OF YOUNG PEOPLE”
TEV General Manager Melike Koçoğlu stated that every collaboration that makes a positive difference in the lives of young people carries special significance for the Foundation. “The right opportunity that a young person encounters during their educational journey can sometimes change the entire course of their life. At TEV, we care not only about enabling young people to continue their education, but also about helping them grow into self-confident individuals who discover their talents and look to the future with hope,” said Koçoğlu. “I believe that this step we have taken together with Izmir University of Economics will open new doors for our young people and provide them with different experiences and opportunities for growth. Our greatest wish is that every project we develop together will leave a positive and lasting impact on the life of a young person.”