The 5th Apprentice Student Forum under the Employment for Vocational Education Programme (VET4JOB-II), supported by the European Union and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education’s Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education and the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK) under the leadership of Expertise France, was successfully held in Antalya between 02–04 December 2025.
The forum brought together approximately 200 participants, including leader apprentice students from 14 provinces, leader teachers, ESOB representatives, alumni, and programme stakeholders. The event offered an inclusive and interactive learning environment where the needs of apprentice students and other participants regarding vocational training were voiced, and knowledge was shared in areas such as digital and green transformation.
A New Phase of the Forum Experience: The Thematic Approach
Following the opening remarks by Fatma ÖZDEMİR ULUÇ, Team Leader on behalf of Expertise France; Fuat ELVAN, Director of EU and Foreign Relations at TESK; and Mustafa GÜNAY, Head of the Department of Social Partners and Projects at the Ministry of National Education’s Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education, the achievements from Phase 1 of VET4JOB were reviewed.
The forum then introduced the new “Thematic Forums” approach launched under VET4JOB-II, focusing on Digital Transformation, Green Transformation, Entrepreneurship, and 21st Century Skills—an approach that aims to enhance apprentice students’ vocational training processes in line with current sectoral needs.
Hands-on Workshops for Students and Teachers
On the second day, during a panel moderated by İlker TABAK from the Turkish Informatics Association, Kutlu TANRIVERDİ, General Manager of Edutes Educational Technologies Ltd., highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, and digital skills in his presentation on “Digital Transformation.”
Dr. Taner DİNDAR, Lecturer at Ankara University, delivered a comprehensive presentation on “Green Transformation,” addressing energy efficiency, environmentally friendly production, and sustainability.
In a highly engaging segment of the panel, Murat Anıl ORAL, General Manager of Pulsar Robotics Inc., shared his entrepreneurial journey, offering inspiration to participants.
Prof. Dr. Arzu GÖNENÇ SORGUÇ, Director of METU Design Factory, discussed 21st-century skills—such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and digital citizenship—presenting them as “superpowers” through an engaging and enjoyable narrative.
Students contributed to the interactive section of the panel by posing questions about future skills and professions. In the thematic group work conducted simultaneously in three halls, participants developed solution proposals based on various scenarios. These activities helped students gain concrete awareness in the fields of digital transformation, green transformation, and entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, leader teachers and ESOB representatives took part in a session titled “Rethinking Teaching with Artificial Intelligence,” where they explored AI tools and designed mini teaching scenarios relevant to their own fields.
School-Level Dissemination: “Back-to-School Transfer Material”
On the final day of the forum, students and teachers prepared short presentations and posters to transfer the knowledge and experiences gained during the forum to their own schools, ensuring local-level sustainability of the Forum’s impact.
Finally, students provided feedback through a digital survey to support planning for the next Forum. Since 2021, the Apprentice Student Forums aim to continue as a platform that fosters young people’s active participation in vocational education, supports social cohesion, and empowers apprentice students—now strengthened with a new thematic structure.
