Turkey launches new vocational education model for universities

vocational education university-industry cooperation In-Enterprise Vocational Education Model higher education reform professional training

The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) have signed a cooperation protocol to expand vocational education in higher education. This initiative aims to align university programs with industry needs through the new In-Enterprise Vocational Education (İME) Model.

Unlike traditional short-term internships, the İME model allows students to spend one or two semesters working directly within businesses. The program will initially be implemented in seven pilot provinces with high industrial capacity: Konya, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Izmir, and Ankara.

The first phase is expected to include 185 vocational associate degree programs, involving approximately 120,000 students. In Bursa alone, the project aims to connect 10,545 students from 45 different programs with 25 various industrial sectors.