The "Qualified Workforce Workshop in Sakarya" was held in collaboration with the Sakarya University Sakarya Center for Economic and Social Research (SESAM) and the Sakarya Branch of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD).
Hosted by the MÜSİAD Sakarya Branch, the workshop, held on July 17th, brought together representatives from the public sector, universities, industry, and unions.
Smart Cities Project Introduced
In the opening session of the workshop, SESAM Deputy Director, Res. Dr. Akın Özdemir, shared thematic data obtained from focus group discussions with the participants. Özdemir also gave a closing presentation on the project he led and supported by TÜBİTAK, titled "Smart Cities for All: Researching Stakeholder Priorities within the Framework of Effective Governance and Developing a Smart City Action Plan within the Socio-Political Model," and informed city stakeholders.
The program included presentations by Sakarya University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Özer Köseoğlu, Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SATSO) Chairman A. Akgün Altuğ, and MÜSİAD Sakarya President Ahmet Cihan commented on the importance of a skilled workforce in the city.
The future of Sakarya's workforce was discussed.
Eight thematic roundtable sessions, moderated by expert university representatives, addressed topics such as vocational education-industry matching, women and youth employment, attracting skilled labor migration to Sakarya, employer branding, and the transition to Industry 4.0. As a result of the sessions, a preliminary report was prepared containing concrete and implementable policy recommendations, such as the addition of Industry 4.0 modules to vocational high school curricula and the establishment of joint R&D centers in collaboration with the Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) and the university.
This report, which will be enriched with participant feedback, will be shared with relevant institutions upon completion of the evaluation process as a roadmap for Sakarya's skilled workforce strategy.
