Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The protocol between TOBB, YÖK and ISKAV was signed at a ceremony held at the Presidency of YÖK.

The protocol aims to provide scholarships to students studying in mechanical and energy systems engineering departments, thus increasing employment in the air conditioning sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, TOBB Board Member Seyit Ardıç pointed out that the protocol aims to employ students in the air conditioning sector after their graduation.

Stating that the work carried out with the cooperation of three institutions will be one of the best examples of university-industry cooperation, Ardıç said:

“Especially in the fight against climate change, the importance of air conditioning technologies in reducing environmental impacts and creating healthy living spaces is increasing day by day. Our air conditioning sector contributes not only to economic growth, but also to environmental responsibility and social welfare, and in this context, we should all do our best to reach qualified employment. Today, we are taking an important step in this sense.”

YÖK Vice President Prof. Dr. Haldun Göktaş said that within the scope of the protocol, successful students studying in the mechanical and energy systems engineering programs of Ege, Gazi, Karabük and Yıldız Technical Universities will be awarded scholarships starting from their second year.

Stating that the scholarship will be 40 percent of the net minimum wage amount excluding the minimum subsistence allowance and will be given for 9 months, Göktaş continued his words as follows:

“The air conditioning sector will provide students with opportunities for workplace training and internship, and it will be possible for our engineers to be employed in the sector for 5 years after graduation. We are also establishing a protocol executive board for the healthy functioning of the process. This board will follow the students who receive scholarships, promote the scholarship with workplace training and internship-related activities, make improvement suggestions to ensure the continuation of the graduates’ work in the sector, determine the sector’s need for mechanical and energy systems engineers, and inform the parties mutually. Therefore, the protocol will not remain on paper, efforts will be made to actively operate it. The executive board will include representatives of the sector and the heads of the relevant departments of our 4 universities.”

Göktaş stated that the protocol covers 4 universities and 50 students for now, and that they aim to expand the work and address more students.