OMU Students Gain New Internship and Employment Opportunities through YÖK–TOBB Cooperation

Through cooperation with the Çarşamba Commodity Exchange under the YÖK–TOBB protocol, students will gain stronger access to practical training, internships, sector-informed coursework, digital projects, and employment opportunities beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Çarşamba Commodity Exchange Vocational School is strengthening its ties with the business community through a new cooperation model designed to bring vocational education more closely in line with local industry needs.

Under the cooperation protocol between the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the Vocational School has been paired with the Çarşamba Commodity Exchange (ÇTB).

Beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, educational processes will be shaped more directly around the needs of the local business community, while students will gain access to practical training, internships, and employment opportunities through the Commodity Exchange and its member companies.

Protocol Executive Board Agrees on Roadmap

To implement the cooperation in practice, the Protocol Executive Board, consisting of representatives from ÇTB and the Vocational School, held its new-term meeting.

Members of the Çarşamba Commodity Exchange Assembly and academic staff from the Vocational School also participated.

During the meeting, the parties agreed on a joint work schedule covering hazelnut and paddy rice trade, licensed warehousing, agricultural accounting, digital transformation, and employment.

Prof. Dr. İsmail Aydemir: “We Are Bringing Academic Knowledge and Industry Experience Together”

Director of the Vocational School Prof. Dr. İsmail Aydemir emphasized that students should graduate with more than theoretical knowledge.

“We want our students to graduate with a clear understanding of the current needs of the sector,” Aydemir said.

“In line with the decisions of our Executive Board, we are creating a broad field of practical cooperation ranging from internships and employment to course content and digital transformation projects.”

“Our aim is to bring academic knowledge and industry experience together in a way that creates value both for our students and for the region.”

Aydemir also thanked the Çarşamba Commodity Exchange and its Board Chair Kazım Yılmaz for their longstanding support.

Kazım Yılmaz: “We Want Young People to Find Employment in Our Region”

Çarşamba Commodity Exchange Board Chair Kazım Yılmaz highlighted the importance of strengthening the connection between education and the business community.

“For the development of our region, it is extremely important to train young people who understand the needs of the sector and have strong professional skills,” Yılmaz said.

“Through this cooperation, we aim to help students become more familiar with the business world, enable our members to access qualified human resources, and contribute to the employment of young people within our region.”

Hazelnut, Paddy Rice and Licensed Warehousing to Be Integrated into Education

In line with decisions adopted by the Executive Board, the dynamics of Çarşamba’s agricultural trade will be incorporated more directly into the educational process.

Current sector expectations in areas such as hazelnut and paddy rice trade, licensed warehousing, agricultural accounting, and related fields are planned to be reflected in the course content.

Programs will be further developed to meet industry needs, while students will have opportunities to engage with the business community before graduation.

Experienced professionals from the sector will also contribute directly to courses at the Vocational School, sharing practical field experience with students.

Workshops and laboratories are expected to be developed in line with relevant industry standards.

Graduate Career Pool to Be Established

The Çarşamba Commodity Exchange and its member companies will provide priority opportunities for students undertaking compulsory and optional internships.

A new Graduate Career Pool will also be established to connect successful graduates directly with Commodity Exchange member companies seeking qualified personnel.

The initiative is intended to create a more direct transition from vocational education into employment.

Joint Projects in Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity

The cooperation will extend beyond agricultural trade to include digital transformation and information technologies.

OMU academic staff and students will provide training to Commodity Exchange personnel and member businesses on topics including Türkiye’s Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK), cybersecurity awareness, and data security.

Under academic supervision, students will also develop sector-oriented projects in fields such as e-commerce infrastructure, agricultural automation, and web-based monitoring systems.

These projects are expected to give students practical experience while also helping local businesses address current digital needs.

YÖK–TOBB Protocol Pairs 388 Vocational Schools with 367 Chambers and Commodity Exchanges

The Vocational Schools Education Cooperation Protocol, launched by YÖK and TOBB on 21 April 2025, covers 388 vocational schools at 103 universities and 367 chambers and commodity exchanges across Türkiye.

The national model aims to strengthen the relationship between education and employment by integrating vocational schools more directly with local economic structures.

Through the initiative, vocational schools are expected to work more closely with the local business community, while educational programs are aligned more closely with the skills and competencies sought by employers.