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Our outstanding student, Zeynep Deniz Yıldızhan, who graduated with a double major in the Foreign Trade Program and successfully passed the Vertical Transfer Examination (DGS) to enroll in the Economics Department, has achieved a remarkable success while still a student. She played a key role in her company's first export, successfully managing the entire process from start to finish.

Actively involved in every stage, from customer communication to official documentation, she efficiently handled correspondence, agreements, and the delivery process with the foreign company, ensuring the seamless shipment of products.

As part of the dissemination and promotion activities of the Erasmus project titled “Foreign Trade Education and Internship” by İzmir Trade Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, Accounting and Finance Department Head Serkan Demir and his students presented their project during the Foreign Trade Program class at İzmir University of Economics Vocational School. Additionally, students enrolled in the "Promotion in Foreign Trade" course delivered presentations of the campaigns they prepared throughout the semester.

Students from our International Trade and Aviation Programs had the unique opportunity to engage with a leading figure in the industry. Lufthansa Cargo Turkey General Manager Hasan Hatipoğlu delivered an insightful talk titled "Flying Cargo: The Future of the Air Cargo Industry," sharing his invaluable knowledge and experiences with our students.

During the interactive seminar, Hatipoğlu provided key insights into the latest trends in the air cargo sector, the impact of digitalization on the industry, and sustainability. He also addressed students' questions regarding their career aspirations.

The highly attended seminar offered students a fresh perspective on the industry while providing opportunities to build connections with professionals shaping the future of logistics and aviation.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hasan Hatipoğlu for his valuable contributions and wish our students continued success in their career journeys.

This week, the Social Media course at İzmir University of Economics hosted Ecem Özdamar, Social Media Manager at San Design Company, as a guest speaker. Özdamar engaged with students to share her insights into the dynamics of social media management, effective content creation strategies, and brand communication on digital platforms.

During the session, students had the opportunity to hear real-life stories about challenges Özdamar has faced in the industry and how she overcame them. They also gained valuable knowledge about planning social media campaigns and performance measurement techniques, inspiring them for their own projects.

Highlighting the importance of bridging academia and industry, Özdamar emphasized the role such events play in nurturing future professionals and offered practical advice for students aspiring to build a career in social media management.

This enriching and interactive session provided students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, leaving them motivated and better equipped for their future endeavors.

The "Izmir Cross-Border E-Commerce Training Conference 2024," organized by the international e-commerce platform WORLDEF and the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, brought together our students and industry representatives. The conference provided participants with in-depth insights into the dynamics of international e-commerce while also offering opportunities to explore new business prospects and the advantages of cross-border trade. Hosted by the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, the event featured enriching presentations by experts on topics such as emerging trends in digital commerce, export strategies, digital marketing tools, and international payment systems. Participants had the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge on strategic approaches, digital transformation processes, and customs regulations essential for achieving success in global markets. With the contributions of WORLDEF, this year’s conference marked a significant step in supporting the growth of Izmir’s e-commerce sector and connecting local businesses to global markets. Through interactive sessions and networking opportunities, participants were able to establish new business connections and explore the vast opportunities offered by cross-border trade. This conference served as a crucial platform to showcase Izmir’s potential in the e-commerce industry to the world, while enhancing the global competitiveness of local businesses.

An online information session about the Fulbright U.S. Community College Scholarship, organized by the Fulbright Commission, was held with broad participation. The session covered the application process, the scope of the scholarship, and the criteria expected from candidates in detail. Participants gained insights into the academic and cultural opportunities provided by the scholarship while also having the chance to ask their questions directly. Fulbright officials highlighted that the scholarship enables Turkish students to participate in vocational education programs in the United States, helping them enhance their knowledge and skills. At the end of the session, key tips and important dates for the application process were shared. Fulbright continues to contribute to strengthening ties between countries through education and cross-cultural exchange.

The “Volunteerism Workshop,” organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on an online platform, brought together academics from various universities and ministry officials. Aiming to promote and enhance the concept of volunteerism across Turkey, the workshop was successfully concluded with broad participation. During the workshop, topics such as raising awareness of volunteerism, developing sustainable projects, and encouraging youth involvement in volunteer activities were discussed. Academics shared their theoretical insights and field experiences to enhance the societal benefits of volunteerism efforts. Ministry officials emphasized the role of volunteerism in personal development and social solidarity, highlighting the critical importance of academic perspectives in shaping volunteerism policies. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants exchanged ideas and identified actionable strategies to make volunteer activities more effective. The ministry announced its intention to consider the outcomes of this workshop in guiding new projects. This event was regarded as a significant step towards fostering a sense of volunteerism among young people and building a stronger network of social solidarity in society.

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) started a 'digital transformation' movement in order for students to improve themselves in this field by not being indifferent to e-commerce, which grew 52% with the pandemic and digitalization that developed at a record level. IUE, which aims for its students to take their place in the growth of digitalization and allow them to come together with the leading names of the industry, updated course contents and increased its cooperation with Turkey's leading companies. IUE Rector Prof. Murat Aşkar said, “We have to bring entrepreneurial youth, who are capable of producing digital solutions, who have good command of new technologies, to our country. Izmir, with its high potential, can become one of the leading cities at the center of digitalization, raising qualified young people in this field.”

Students of Foreign Trade Program of Vocational School of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) provided support to 45 SMEs, which are members of Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO), between the dates of 1 July - 30 August 2019 as part of the 'Export Support Offices' project (https://www.izto.org.tr/tr/ihracat-destek-ofisi) based on the cooperation protocol between Turkish Ministry of Trade, Union of Chambers, and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). In the first part of the project, students and SMEs received training on export financing, international trade, e-trade, and business culture specific to countries. Later, IUE students supported SMEs on subjects such as customer exploration, SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, seeking for government funds and other financial resources, market research (identifying potential regional markets/ departmentalization), selecting a target market, identifying export marketing strategies, researching import companies in the countries predicted to carry out export business with, and international business correspondences. At the end of a two-month extensive training period, SMEs received significant support on exporting processes, and international marketing and branding.