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Our students volunteered at the “Bazaar of Kindness” event, held on May 3–4, 2025, at the İZFAŞ Gaziemir Fairground. Organized under the leadership of LÖSEV (The Foundation for Children with Leukemia), this meaningful event showcased the spirit of solidarity and compassion, with four of our students setting a remarkable example of social responsibility. The Bazaar of Kindness aimed to boost the morale of children with leukemia and their families, raise public awareness, and strengthen the sense of community through the participation of numerous volunteers. The event featured workshops, stage performances, and a variety of booths that offered visitors both a fun and meaningful experience. Throughout the event, our students took on organizational roles, actively supporting the activities on the ground while also contributing to LÖSEV’s ongoing social responsibility initiatives. Their dedication and enthusiasm received widespread appreciation from both event visitors and LÖSEV officials. We take great pride in our socially conscious students and extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this heartwarming and impactful event.

As part of the Professional Development Activities course offered by the Foreign Trade Program at İzmir University of Economics Vocational School, Ms. Gülşah Çolak, Assistant Specialist in Human Resources at SOCAR Türkiye, was welcomed as a guest speaker. During the event, Ms. Çolak shared in-depth information about the dynamic structure of the energy sector, human resources processes, and recruitment policies. She offered valuable advice on career planning for new graduates, interview preparation, and adapting to corporate life. Attracting great interest from students, the session also featured Ms. Çolak sharing her personal career experiences and answering questions from the participants. She also provided up-to-date information on internship and career opportunities at SOCAR Türkiye. The event served as a valuable opportunity for students to engage directly with a sector professional and gain insights to help shape their career paths.

Organized for the eighth time this year by the Banking and Insurance and Foreign Trade Programs of the Vocational School at İzmir University of Economics, the “Bi’ Dünya İş Conference” was held on May 14, 2025, with high participation. The conference, which brought together leading figures from the business world with students, shed light on the transformation dynamics of today's professional environment.

The event featured three sessions in which experts from different sectors shared their insights and experiences.

In the first session, Ünal Kılıç, Regional Director of Loans at QNB Aegean, delivered a presentation titled “Digital Transformation in Corporate Loans and Sustainable Credit Policies,” evaluating the impact of digitalization in the finance sector and approaches focused on sustainability.

In the second session, Mehmet Çağlar Er, Customs Consultant at Irmak Group, addressed the topic “A Critical Step in the Supply Chain: Customs and Compliance Management in Logistics,” highlighting the importance of regulatory and logistical integration in foreign trade.

The third session featured Bengi Aşkallı, Human Resources and Corporate Communications Officer at Irmak Group, who discussed “HR Compatible with Global Trade: Transformation through Next-Generation Strategies,” focusing on how human resources processes are integrated into international trade and emerging practices in the field.

The conference attracted great interest from students and provided a valuable learning opportunity to follow sectoral developments closely and engage directly with professionals. This event, which serves as a bridge between the university and the business world, is set to continue in the coming years with new topics and distinguished speakers.

Izmir University of Economics Vocational School continues to strengthen its university-industry collaboration through its Foreign Trade Program. As part of the Foreign Trade Legislation course, Mr. Serkan Tunalı, Managing Partner of Asap Trade Consulting Maritime Industry and Trade Ltd. Co., was invited as a guest speaker to our university.

Mr. Tunalı shared his insights on current practices in foreign trade, customs procedures, and recent legislative changes. He also provided concrete examples of practical challenges encountered in the sector. Throughout the session, students had the valuable opportunity to gain knowledge directly from an industry practitioner, achieving significant academic and professional benefits.

Our students collaborated with LÖSEV (The Foundation for Children with Leukemia) as part of their Volunteerism Studies course and participated in the FAYDA (Creating Awareness and Solidarity) project, which focuses on social responsibility initiatives. During the event, Berke Eyin, the Public Relations and FAYDA Project Coordinator at LÖSEV, was invited as a guest speaker and delivered a comprehensive presentation on the foundation's activities, the needs of children battling leukemia, and the importance of raising awareness within society.

Emphasizing the significant role young people play in this process, Berke Eyin highlighted the crucial contribution of university students in strengthening the culture of solidarity. At the end of the conference, students had the opportunity to gain detailed insights into LÖSEV’s ongoing projects and learned how they could contribute as volunteers in the future. This meaningful event, aimed at fostering social awareness, was met with great interest and high participation from the students.

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.

The Foreign Trade Career and Development Summit was held at the Selçuk Yaşar Campus, organized in collaboration between Yaşar University’s International Trade and Finance Community (YUINTF) and the Konak Rotaract Club. The summit aimed to inspire students who aspire to pursue a career in foreign trade and to share current developments in the sector.

Dr. Kenan Demirel, Lecturer at İzmir University of Economics, participated as a keynote speaker and shared his insights on the changing dynamics of foreign trade, the impact of digitalization in education, and the importance of an academic perspective in career planning. Dr. Demirel emphasized that in addition to academic background, hands-on experience is crucial for young people looking to develop themselves in the field of foreign trade.

Other speakers included Customs Broker Assistant Merve Acet and İlkim Makina General Manager İlkim Asiye Ünlü, who shared their sectoral experiences. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights into career planning. The event concluded with high participation from both undergraduate and associate degree students, and all participants received certificates.

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.