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A press conference was held to provide updates on the "This Youth Can Do A Good Job" project, for which Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) is the principal applicant, and Samsun Central Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) Directorate is the co-applicant. The European Union and the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) co-financed the project.

The press conference was held at OMU Rectorate Senate Hall, attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten, Project Leader Dr. Cenk Gezegin from the Faculty of Engineering, faculty members, and administrative staff.

Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten: “As part of the project, 60 trainees between the ages of 15-29, who are 'neither in education nor employment,' were selected through written and oral exams.”

During the meeting, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten provided details about the project, stating: "I would like to thank you all for participating in the 3rd Press Conference of our EU project 'This Youth Can Do A Good Job,' for which OMU is the main applicant and Samsun Organized Industrial Zone Directorate is the co-applicant. Our project aims to meet the demand for qualified personnel in the TR83 Region’s (Samsun, Tokat, Çorum, Amasya) industrial enterprises, which are evolving towards high-tech and innovative needs. On July 31, 2023, we began the project and selected 60 trainees between the ages of 15-29, who have vocational training but are 'neither in education nor employment,' through written and oral exams. For the training provided within the project, two fully equipped laboratories and two workshops were established at OMU’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department."

"Trainees completed their internships and job training at industrial enterprises in the TR83 Region."

Kesten explained that the trainees received approximately 400 hours of theoretical and practical training in the newly established laboratories and classrooms at OMU’s Faculty of Engineering. "Conferences, seminars with industry experts, technical trips to industrial enterprises in the TR83 Region, and participation in fairs supported the training. The trainees completed their internships and job training at regional industrial enterprises. Of the trainees who successfully completed their training, 34 have been employed by various industrial companies, while a significant portion of the remaining trainees have not yet been employed due to reasons such as military service or postgraduate education," he added.

"Our university fully supports all initiatives in this field with its departments and resources."

Prof. Dr. Kesten also mentioned that the "TR83 Region Industrial High-Tech Needs Survey" had been completed: "The survey was conducted face-to-face with senior executives from 228 industrial enterprises operating in the TR83 Region. At the end of October, an overseas technical visit will be planned, including five OMU academics, two Organized Industrial Zone staff members, and five trainees who completed the training. The project primarily reflects our vision of establishing university-industry cooperation, particularly in Samsun and, more broadly, in the TR83 Region and developing projects based on this cooperation. Our university fully supports all initiatives in this field with its departments and resources. Following this meeting, we plan to hold the project's closing and another press conference in November. I would like to sincerely thank all the individuals and institutions involved in the project, especially Dr. Cenk Gezegin."

Key Insights from the "This Youth Can Do A Good Job" Project:

The high-tech needs of industrial enterprises in the TR83 region (Samsun, Tokat, Çorum, Amasya) were analyzed within the project's scope. The study aimed to determine the high-tech usage of large, medium, and small industrial enterprises in the region, their need for new technology, and the required skills for personnel to utilize these technologies. The research sample comprised 228 industrial enterprises selected through appropriate sampling in the TR83 Region. Company representatives answered a comprehensive survey face-to-face to assess their high-tech capabilities, and the data was analyzed using statistical techniques.

The research found that 62.3% of companies use Industry 4.0 technologies, but their experience with them is relatively short. Most companies indicated a desire to increase high-tech usage in the future, with key areas of interest including artificial intelligence, autonomous robots, and productivity-enhancing technologies. Financial challenges were identified as the main barrier to accessing advanced technology.

The top three departments needing high-tech solutions are design, production, and quality. The departments where companies most want to utilize high-tech solutions are production, quality control, and R&D. The most desired areas for high-tech investment are production, R&D, and quality control. Overall, the study concluded that companies require employees with expertise in technical fields, problem-solving, analytical thinking, communication, collaboration, innovation, leadership, and management skills to meet their high-tech needs.