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Arzu Simge Sürmeli, President of Turing Agency, joined our E-Commerce course as a guest speaker and shared her professional experience in agency management, digital marketing, brand communication, and e-commerce with our students. During the session, the impact of digitalization on businesses’ marketing and communication strategies was discussed, along with the methods brands use to reach their target audiences through digital channels. Bridging theoretical knowledge with industry practices, the event provided students with an opportunity to explore current trends in digital marketing and e-commerce while gaining valuable insights into professional business processes.

Our students visited Fashion Prime: Textile, Ready-to-Wear Suppliers and Technologies Fair, held at Fuarizmir, where they had the opportunity to explore the latest developments in the industry. Organized by İZFAŞ and hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, the fair provided an opportunity to explore production, supply, marketing, and international trade opportunities in the textile and ready-to-wear industries. Bringing together companies specializing in fabrics, textile accessories, and ready-to-wear technologies, the event enabled our students to gain insights into current industry trends and export potential. During the technical visit, our students examined the products and services of participating companies, connecting their theoretical knowledge of foreign trade with real-world industry practices. They also had the opportunity to observe various aspects of international market expansion, the development of business partnerships, and supply chain management. The visit, organized to support our students' professional development and strengthen university–industry collaboration, provided valuable practical experience by allowing them to observe foreign trade practices across different sectors.

As part of the E-Commerce course, Ersin Sayım, Co-Founder of Agron Studio and Digital Media Specialist, met with our students to share his professional experiences and insights into the dynamics of the digital world and recent developments in the industry. During the seminar, key topics such as the role of digital media in e-commerce, brands’ digital presence, digital marketing strategies, and changing consumer behaviors were discussed.

The opportunities and competitive advantages that digitalization offers businesses were also among the highlights of the event. By bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world industry experience, the seminar aimed to contribute to students’ professional development in the fields of e-commerce and e-export.

Students from the Foreign Trade Program visited Logistech 2026 – International Logistics, Storage and Technologies Fair, held in Gaziemir, İzmir, where they met with representatives of leading companies in the logistics industry. During the visit, our students had the opportunity to explore the latest developments in international trade and logistics firsthand and learn about internship, employment, and career opportunities.

As part of the fair, students held face-to-face meetings with representatives of major companies, including DSV, Borusan Port, Hapag-Lloyd, Arkas Line, SOCAR Terminal, and Turkish Cargo, operating in international transportation, maritime shipping, port operations, and air cargo services. The discussions focused on the companies' roles in international trade, logistics operations, transportation processes, and the professional skills required in the industry. By engaging directly with industry professionals, students gained valuable insights into different areas of logistics and obtained information to support their career planning.

One of the key highlights of the visit was the opportunity for students to establish professional connections before graduation. During the meetings, company representatives and students discussed internship and employment opportunities, recruitment processes, the qualifications expected of recent graduates, and career development prospects. In addition, potential collaborations were explored, including the participation of industry professionals in university conferences, seminars, and career events, as well as future technical visits and university–industry partnerships.

Throughout the fair, students had the opportunity to explore current industry trends, including the digitalization of logistics processes, sustainable transportation, supply chain management, port operations, and the growing role of technology in international trade. The developments highlighted at the fair also demonstrated that foreign trade extends beyond import and export procedures, encompassing an interconnected system of maritime, road, and air transportation, customs clearance, warehousing, and logistics technologies.

The visit to Logistech 2026 provided students with a valuable learning experience, enabling them to connect the theoretical knowledge acquired in their courses with real-world industry practices while expanding their professional networks.

Zeynep Uyaroğlu, a recent graduate of our university and currently working as a Sales and Payment Consultant at ATÜ Duty Free, met with our students to share her experiences and insights into the aviation industry. Drawing on her educational background and professional journey in aviation management, Uyaroğlu provided valuable information about job search processes, career planning, professional development opportunities, and current trends in the sector.

Reflecting on the experience she has gained since graduation, Uyaroğlu discussed the challenges and opportunities she encountered during her studies, as well as the key decisions that shaped her career path. Her presentation offered students practical guidance and inspiration as they prepare for their own professional futures.

Students actively participated in the session by asking questions about industry expectations, career opportunities, and workplace realities, gaining first-hand insights from a young professional working in the field.

The event provided a productive learning environment that contributed to students’ career planning and strengthened their connection with the aviation industry. At the end of the program, students thanked Uyaroğlu for sharing her experiences and commemorated the occasion with a group photograph.

Sıla Aktaş, Social Media Manager at RE/MAX, was a guest speaker in the RTV 234 Social Media course, where she shared current developments in digital marketing along with her professional experience with our students. Within the scope of the session, a wide range of topics were covered, from the fundamental dynamics of digital marketing to social media strategies, content creation, and target audience analysis. Aktaş presented concrete examples of how digital communication is structured, particularly in the real estate sector, demonstrating how theoretical knowledge is applied in practice. Through real campaign cases, she emphasized that successful social media management goes beyond simply sharing content; it requires effective data analysis, precise targeting, and a strong understanding of platform dynamics.

Students had the opportunity to gain insight into real-world practices while also learning about career opportunities in the field of digital marketing. In the final part of the session, a Q&A segment allowed students to directly engage with a sector professional and ask their questions. This interactive component not only increased student participation but also enhanced the overall learning experience. Such events, which bring together academia and industry, once again highlighted their significant contribution to students’ professional development.

The “Technology Addiction Project,” carried out במסגרת the IEU 200 Volunteering Studies course, stood out as a significant social responsibility initiative that enabled students to develop awareness at both individual and societal levels. Throughout the project, students actively participated in seminars addressing various types of addiction, particularly technology addiction, and contributed to the organization of awareness-raising activities within the university. In this context, the “Combating Addiction” training delivered by Expert Psychologist Özgen Kaplan in collaboration with the Yeşilay Counseling Center (YEDAM) supported participants in approaching the issue from a critical perspective.

The project was not limited to theoretical knowledge; it also drew attention with its practice-based activities. Students gained institutional experience by participating in Yeşilay events, while seminars and interactive Q&A sessions held at the university contributed to increasing awareness levels. In addition, a survey conducted via QR code enabled the analysis of students’ technology usage habits based on empirical data. Presentations on the symptoms, risk factors, and societal impacts of technology addiction encouraged participants to reconsider their digital habits. The findings of the project revealed a growing trend in screen time and addiction tendencies among young people, once again highlighting the importance of awareness initiatives. The project was completed with final presentations held on January 19, 2026, and attracted attention with its structure that successfully integrated theory and practice, as well as its strong focus on social contribution. Overall, the project made a meaningful contribution to students’ development not only in academic terms but also in fostering a sense of social responsibility.

Dr. Kenan Demirel, a faculty member of the Foreign Trade Program, paid a visiting scholar visit to St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences in Austria. During the three-day academic visit, Dr. Demirel delivered hands-on courses in the field of digital marketing and participated in workshop activities.

Throughout the visit, key topics such as digital marketing strategies, new media dynamics, and current industry-based practices were addressed. The courses particularly focused on brand management on digital platforms, data-driven marketing approaches, and analyses based on contemporary industry cases. In the workshops, students had the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practice through group work based on real-world industry cases. Within the scope of the academic program, Dr. Demirel engaged in academic exchange with scholars from different disciplines, including Prof. Dr. Helmut Kammerzelt and Fabian Bergner, during which potential opportunities for inter-university collaboration and prospective joint projects were discussed. This academic visit supported international experience sharing by providing up-to-date perspectives on digital marketing for both students and academics.

https://www.ustp.at/de/stories/news/digital-marketing-in-der-hotelbranche

As part of the “Apprentices Ask the Masters” event organized within the İzmir University of Economics Vocational School Foreign Trade Program, Kemal Kadirhan, co-founder of ROI Driven Digital Marketing Agency and a Lecturer, met with students as a guest speaker. During the event, Kadirhan shared his professional experience while discussing the role of digital marketing in foreign trade processes, performance-driven marketing strategies, and sector-based practices. His insights into ROI (Return on Investment)–focused approaches, data-driven decision-making, and the contribution of digital channels to export activities attracted significant interest from the students.

Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to directly ask questions about the industry, creating an interactive learning environment where academic knowledge and field experience converged. The event stood out for its practical perspective and proved to be an inspiring experience for students planning a career in foreign trade.