Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

According to the previously signed protocol, the project which would cover the service and agriculture sector, courses would be opened at all vocational high schools. Companies with at least 1 employee would be able to obtain personnel from these courses.

The UMEM Ability’10 Project Protocol and Award Ceremony held by TOBB, Labor and Social Security Ministry, National Education Ministry, İŞKUR and TOBB ETU was hosted in Ankara by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and attended by Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik and National Education Minister Nabi Avcı.

- Call for both employment and personnel seekers

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed to the project as an exemplary instance of public administration – private sector – university partnership and called for both those seeking employment and those seeking personnel. Requesting that companies employ new personnel from this project, Hisarcıklıoğlu addressed employers, “We have put the business community at the helm of vocational training. With the UMEM Ability’10 project, we are training the appropriate number of personnel for whichever sector needs it. Afterwards we provide them for employment. When employment occurs, the employer is exempt from tax premiums for employment up to 4.5 years. That means 166 TL savings per person. This is valid for all 81 provinces.”

- Fourth year of the project

Hisarcıklıoğlu said in regards to the UMEM Ability’10 project, beginning four years ago, with regards to the Prime Minister Erdoğan’s emphasis on vocational education, “The world is changing rapidly. New industries appear, professions die out. The needs of the private sector changes. The age of unchangeable decisions is over.”

Stating that the UMEM Ability’10 Project Executive Council and members of the technical committee pay attention to all feedback from the various course administrations, Hisarcıklıoğlu provided information in regards to the working of the process which the project follows.

- Exemplary project for Turkey

Expressing the importance put on the UMEM Ability’10 project, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the project is an exemplary one for Turkey.

The project, establishing public administration – private sector – university partnership has not only been localized to Ankara, but spread to all 81 provinces.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that all that is necessary for companies is to register their requirements with the Chamber-Exchanges they are affiliated with.

- The history of vocational training

Stating that the current Chamber-Exchange system is a reflection of the Akhism and guild cultures, Hisarcıklıoğlu, “It is thought that the first chamber system came out of Europe. However the roots of the Chamber-Exchange system are founded in our culture. One of the primary duties of the Akhism and guild system was vocational training. We want our Chamber-Exchanges to have a say in these matter once again. That is why we formed teams and units dedicated to vocational training; they have gained expertise in vocational training and have gained institutional properties.”

Stating that the most successful countries in regards to vocational training are Germany and Austria, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the reason for their success is the fact that, in those countries, vocational training is managed by the private sector.

- Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik and National Education Minister Nabi Avcı

Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik stated that the most significant problem in dealing with unemployment is the lack of vocation, going on to report on the various actions taken by the Ministry address the issues.

National Education Minister Nabi Avcı spoke in regards to the changing nature of professions and emphasized the importance they put on vocational and technical training.

- Successful provinces awarded

At the end of the meeting, the provinces which have been extraordinarily successful as a part of the UMEM Ability’10 Project between 2011 and 2013.

The most courses were opened in Bursa; most personnel trained in Sakarya; most personnel requested by companies in İstanbul; most personnel request in Şanlıurfa; most employment provided, Kocaeli.

Receiving regional success – performance awards were Sivas, Mersin, Malatya, Tekirdağ, Bayburt, Manisa, Tokat, Rize, Karaman, Kilis and Bilecik.