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Addressing high-quality training needs in Turkey:

GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

LIFELONG EDUCATION CENTER

The transformation Gebze Institute of Technology Associate Professor Bünyemin
went through into becoming Gebze Technical Uni- Bünyemin Çoflut, Di- Çoflut
versity (shortly GTU) in 2014 was one that scholars in rector, GTU Lifelong
the field of management science call a “Schumpete- Education Center, says
rian shock”, that is, creative destruction. The but- that the practice of dis-
terfly effect that started in Gebze grew stronger, ra- tance education, which
pidly expanding its domain of influence. Drawing its emerged as a reflecti-
strength primarily from the people and the industry on of digital transfor-
of Gebze, and elevating its position among the lea- mation on education,
ding universities of Turkey every other day, GTU con- poses a great opportu-
siders integrating education with research; the aca- nity for those who have
demy with the industry; and science with the society time limitations; those
as its reason for existence. With the vision of making who would like to freely choose the time and place
education widespread and developing the society to- for the education they want to have, and continues:
gether with the industry, GTU incorporates as much “GTU Lifelong Education Center started offering
professional practice and experiential elements as courses as part of distance education for the first
possible in to the theoretical undergraduate educati- time in 2016 and reached a total of 400 people. Be-
on it offers, gives priority to projects that seeks solu- sides these courses and compared to individual co-
tions to the problems industrialists face in collabora- urses such as innovation, creative thinking and re-
tion with industrialists themselves, and develops organization, we offer more comprehensive and
education policies to provide maximum benefit for corporate trainings and consulting for companies
the local community. that would like to keep up with the novelties and
GTU has recently restructured its Lifelong Educa- changes of our time. In this regard, coming toget-
tion Center with the aim of serving the country by her with organizations such as privately owned
making use of its non-formal education policies that companies, organized industrial zones, chambers
draw on the high-quality education it offers to its stu- and associations, we are designing projects that
dents. Setting off on its journey in December 2015 aim to develop scientific and technological founda-
with Associate Professor Bünyemin Çoflut as its Di- tions and improve qualified workforce. The first
rector, the Lifelong Education Center increased its and the most comprehensive of these projects so
budget in its first active year by 300% compared to far is ‘Qualified Information Technology Specialist
the previous period. Also in the same year, the num- Training’ started collaboratively by Gebze Techni-
ber of learners provided with formal education in- cal University and ‹fiKUR (Turkish Employment
creased from approximately 350 to 1200, marking a Agency). Within the scope of this project, qualified
350% increase. Appealing to learners of every age information technology specialists to be employed
from 7 to 70, and of every education level and profes- in the IT Valley of Turkey are being trained at GTU
sion, GTU Lifelong Education Center provides the fol- Lifelong Education Center.”
lowing trainings: Associate Professor Çoflut concludes: “As a re-
l Professional competence and personne sult, GTU, which has gathered the leading scholars in
certification (in the fields of web design, Turkey and in the world under its roof, will become a
programming, 3D/industrial design, place that offers professional and personal trainings
working at height) the society and the work force needs and that brings
l Pedagogical formation together the key players in the university and in-
l Trainings for kids (coding, English, dustry under projects with rich content, and the first
intelligence-boosting games) place that comes to people’s minds when they think
l Language courses (English for Speaking and of education and research. GTU will achieve the soci-
Writing, Business English, Turkish for al part of this goal with its Lifelong Education Center.
Foreigners) For more information on the Center and the services
l Personal development courses (diction, it offers you can either visit our website at
interview techniques, careermanagement, time www.sem.gtu.edu.tr, call us at +90 262 605 14 37, or
management and so on) simply visit our offices at the GTU campus, which is a
l Distance courses (over 200 different courses) natural wonder.”