Vocational Training Set to Be Expanded Through This Project

GEBKİM OSB, Turkey's first specialized chemical industry organized industrial zone, opened a Vocational Education Center Liaison Office on 10 January 2022 in a ceremony held under the 'Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Protocol' signed between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Industry and Technology. The agreement on the 'Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Protocol' signed between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Industry and Technology aims to expand vocational education throughout the country and thus contribute to the workforce. The newly signed protocol began to be implemented nationwide. GEBKİM OSB opened a Vocational Education Center Liaison Office as part of the project. The office, which was opened in a ceremony on 10 January 2022, was attended by Dilovası District Governor Metin Kubilay and District National Education Director Murat Balay.

Qualified Workforce Needs to be Met Through 'Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Protocol'

GEBKİM OSB opened the Vocational Education Center Liaison Office in a ceremony. The office was opened under the 'Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Protocol' signed between the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Industry and Technology to expand vocational education and increase the workforce. GEBKİM OSB Board Vice Chairman İbrahim Aracı made statements regarding the project. Aracı stated: "With GEBKİM Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, we had created our own solution to our search for qualified personnel. With the new protocol agreement, the expansion of vocational education throughout the country will make an important contribution to our nation's workforce." Due to the decline in vocational education in recent years, industrialists and manufacturers face problems in their search for qualified personnel. For this reason, the number of institutions providing vocational education was increased and favorable conditions were created to guide young people towards vocational education. The latest step taken to increase vocational education was the signed 'Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Protocol'. According to this protocol, students will continue their education in high school while gaining experience by working in the industry.

Strong Development is Key to Vocational Education

GEBKİM OSB Board Chairman İbrahim Aracı made statements about the project in which GEBKİM, Turkey's first specialized chemical industry OSB, is located. Noting that vocational education in Turkey has made progress but has not reached the desired levels, Aracı stated: "According to the average of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), of which Turkey is a member, vocational education accounts for over 50 percent within the education system. In Turkey, the proportion of students receiving vocational education remains at 46 percent. The healthy development of the branches of production, the creation of more employment, and the key to strong development lies in vocational education," he said.

Students Will Gain Experience at Facilities Four Days a Week While Attending School One Day a Week

Dilovası District Governor Metin Kubilay and District National Education Director Murat Balay attended the ceremony held for the opening of the Vocational Education Center Liaison Office at GEBKİM OSB, which is a participant in the Vocational and Technical Education Cooperation Protocol project, on 10 October 2022. The importance of the project was emphasized at the opening ceremony. Aracı, sharing information about the details of the project, stated: "Through Vocational Education Centers to be opened nationwide, schools and OSBs will be matched and Vocational Education Center Liaison Offices will be established within organized industrial zones. Vocational Education Center students will gain experience at the facility of their choice four days a week, while attending school one day a week. Students will graduate after receiving a Journeyman Certificate in the third year and a Master Certificate in the fourth year. Thus, the number of workers who have acquired competency in the vocational field will increase, more employment will be created, and a solution will be provided to our manufacturers' workforce problems," he said.

Graduates Are Hired at High Rates by Industrial Enterprises

Aracı also mentioned the steps taken to meet the need for qualified workforce in his statement. Aracı said: "The GEBKİM Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School (MTAL), which we put into operation in 2018 with GEBKİM Foundation, was opened to create qualified personnel needed by our manufacturers in the region. Our Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School stands out as a school offering facilities far beyond conventional vocational high schools, with 8 chemistry and 4 industrial automation laboratories, production facilities and a quality control unit attached to these facilities, workshops, conference hall, a library hosting over 10,000 books, dining hall, dance and art studios, an 'English street' specially designed for English education, and free shuttle service for students from outside the province. Our high school, which operates in integration with the GEBKİM Technology and Solution Center (GEBTEK) located within GEBKİM, has graduates hired at high rates by both our OSB and surrounding industrial enterprises," he concluded his statement.