#Istanbul #Vocational Education #UNICEF #Türkiye #Rönesans Holding

UNICEF and Rönesans: Pioneering Youth Vocational Education in Türkiye

In a significant advancement for youth vocational education in Türkiye, Rönesans Holding has announced its partnership with UNICEF’s innovative 'From Learning to Earning for Youth' program. This initiative aims to reshape vocational education by equipping young people with the necessary skills to excel in today’s job market.

A Bold Initiative

Rönesans Holding steps into its role as a substantial private sector partner alongside the Ministry of National Education. The project is expected to revolutionize how vocational training is perceived and operationalized, providing young learners in Türkiye with access to real-world experiences and practical skills across various sectors.

One of the cornerstone projects includes opening the Gaziantep City Hospital to 120 vocational high school students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in fields such as software development, food and beverage services, industrial maintenance and repair, plumbing, energy systems, and industrial automation technologies. This direct link between schooling and modern workplace requirements is pivotal in empowering youth to turn their ambitions into successful careers.

Bridging Ability and Opportunity

Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Türkiye Representative, emphasized the initiative’s goal: “Our mission at UNICEF is to support every young individual in reaching their potential by acquiring the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for their future.” This partnership not only benefits participating students but also catalyzes broader enhancements within the educational framework, including updates to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curriculum and improved workplace safety standards.

The initiative aims to impact a plethora of TVET students across Türkiye, ensuring that quality and relevant skills become standard. Elisabetta Falcetti, EBRD Managing Director for Türkiye and the Caucasus, highlighted the significance of such cross-sector collaborations in promoting workforce diversity and optimizing skills development, stating, “Unequal access to economic opportunities limits growth, which is why the EBRD is committed to promoting equal opportunity across all its regions.”

A Commitment to Sustainable Education

Rönesans Holding has a longstanding dedication to educational initiatives. Their endeavors already encompass support for over 14,000 scholarship students and the establishment of science and technical high schools, reinforcing a culture of sustainability. The partnership with UNICEF has held significant importance since 2023, addressing urgent needs in earthquake-affected areas while ensuring educational access for vulnerable populations.

Chair of the Board İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp articulated Rönesans’ mission: “We aim to offer a future filled with hope and opportunities to our youth, training them under master instructors in one of Türkiye’s most advanced hospitals.” The hospital will serve as a training ground for students learning to operate modern healthcare technology, during which they will gain practical insights four days a week.

An Answer to a National Challenge

Currently, Türkiye faces a pressing issue, with nearly one-fourth of young individuals aged 15-24 disengaged from education and employment. The 'From Learning to Earning for Youth' program confronts this challenge head-on by creating supportive environments that close the skills gap. By training students under specialized hospital staff, the program assures high-quality learning experiences that promote gender equality and workforce diversity.

Rönesans Holding is not stopping here; the company is committed to scaling its support for youth education while exploring potential applications of the 'From Learning to Earning for Youth' model across various industries and communities.

As Rönesans and UNICEF join forces to reshape the future of Türkiye's youth, this collaboration stands as a model of how public, private, and nonprofit sectors can unite to address crucial educational and economic challenges. The integration of diverse forces aims to sculpt an empowered generation ready to meet the future head-on.