June 24, 2025

Within the scope of the “Vocational Schools Education Cooperation Protocol” signed between the Council of Higher Education and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) signed on 21 April 2025, 388 vocational schools at 103 Turkish universities were paired with 367 chambers and stock exchanges affiliated to TOBB in their provinces and districts.

Students will benefit from practical training, internship and employment opportunities in TOBB-affiliated chambers and exchanges. Vocational schools will shape their education processes according to the needs of the local business world.

The protocol signed between the Council of Higher Education and TOBB aims to increase the quality of vocational and technical education, to train qualified manpower needed by the sector and to strengthen university-industry cooperation.

The protocol covers a wide range of cooperation activities, from the preparation of educational content to the development of workshops and laboratories, from internship opportunities to the employment of graduates. As per the protocol, university and sector representatives will work together in the boards to be established in the provinces.

Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, stated that they have implemented a new model that will enable higher education to establish stronger ties with the sector and strengthen the harmony of education and employment, and said, “We are building a system in which universities act in partnership with the sector and train graduates with the skills needed by the business world.”

Emphasizing that a strong bond will be established between the vocational schools and the chambers and exchanges affiliated to TOBB, Özvar said, "Our universities will closely follow the demands of the business world, training programs will be developed in line with sectoral expectations and students will be better equipped for the business world. Experienced names in the business world will be able to give lectures at vocational schools and directly transfer sector knowledge to students. This new education model will put applied knowledge at the center and will enable students to adapt to real professional processes at an earlier stage."