Hasan Çelen
The Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Student Community hosted the 7th “Defense Industry Days,” uniting leading firms and experts in the defense industry.
The event, held at the OMU Faculty of Engineering conference hall, was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topçu, OMU IEEE Community Academic Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Karagöl, academics, and numerous students.
Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, who was part of the community’s founding team, expressed pride in the students' achievements over the past decade.
“This is the 7th Defense Industry Days event. It first started in 2018, coinciding with the launch of major national initiatives like Teknofest. The timing of this event is significant when we consider the strategic importance of our country’s geography. We live in a region where strength, resilience, and hard work are essential.
Today’s speakers will share their career stories and invaluable experiences, guiding you to achieve your dreams. Remember, the bigger your dreams, the broader your vision. This is a truth I’ve witnessed in my own journey.
The OMU IEEE Community is one of the most prestigious groups at our university. I’d like to thank everyone—our faculty, students, and guests—who contributed to making this event a success. The meticulous effort shown in every step, from fine details to overall planning, is the foundation of this accomplishment. Lastly, I must highlight our country’s need for visionary individuals like you who are committed to national and local production. Seeing this energy and potential here today brings me great happiness,” Kurnaz said.
Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topçu, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, emphasized the IEEE Community’s achievements on an international level.
“Today marks the 7th Defense Industry Days, which has become a tradition and a great success. Even during challenging periods like the pandemic, these events continued, demonstrating determination and commitment. I want to stress how important these events are for your career.
The knowledge you gain in classrooms and labs is valuable, but the vision, network, and experiences you gain here will create even greater opportunities. Representatives from TUSAŞ, HAVELSAN, TÜBİTAK, and other esteemed institutions are here today. Listening to them and engaging with them could open significant doors for you.
Communities like IEEE teach you how to solve complex problems by organizing large-scale events. Processes such as finding sponsors, making announcements, and planning events are as challenging as solving engineering problems. These skills will provide you with a considerable advantage after graduation. I truly believe that these events will hold an unforgettable place in your career journey.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap Karagöl highlighted the IEEE Student Community’s role in fostering entrepreneurship and technical development.
“Globally, IEEE Communities are active in over 3,500 locations across 160 countries. In Türkiye, IEEE is present in 104 universities. Our community is one of the most active and hardworking at our university and faculty. The community’s vision is to provide students with a sustainable technical infrastructure, starting from their education and extending into their professional careers.
Believing that engineering education cannot be completed with theoretical knowledge alone, we organize training sessions, technical trips, and social responsibility projects throughout the year. Our goal is to contribute to our students' academic, technical, and social development.
Today’s event aims to promote our country’s domestic defense industry products and strengthen university-industry collaboration. Esteemed firms like TİSAŞ, TÜSAŞ, Gold Force Defense Industry, HAVELSAN, METEKSAN, and the T3 Foundation are here to meet you as part of this year’s event.”
The event concluded with a group photo of the participants.
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