Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The project which was implemented as a pilot enterprise in 19 provinces as per the protocol signed by the Labor and Social Security Ministry, National Education Ministry, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the TOBB University of Economy and Technology has become a campaign to provide training and employment.

The first courses of the project started in February 2011. A total of 2,224 courses were opened geared towards the industrial sector. Over 33,000 people attended these courses. Of the 19,000 who successfully completed the courses, 14,000 have found employment. Approximately 3,000 are continuing their practical training in firms.

The highest amount of employment has been achieved in Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Sakarya and Mersin with the least in Ağrı, Artvin, Kars, Ardahan, Yalova, Mardin and Hakkari.

Courses geared towards the service and agricultural sectors will be opened in 2012.

- 5000 firms have been contacted and a request for 25,000 candidates received

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu assessed the progress made to this day in his statement.

Relating that as part of the project, 111 technical and industrial vocational high school equipments in 81 provinces have been supplemented and that the educators in these school have received training in line with up to date equipment and curriculum, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that "Workforce Market Requirement Analysis" has been completed in the 19 pilot provinces and that after meeting with nearly 5,000 companies, requirements regarding which fields are in need of personnel have been identified.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, "These firms have made a request for a workforce of approximately 25,000. In line with this request, the first courses begun in the February of 2011."

Stating that a call center which could be contacted 7/24 for further information, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that firms operating in 81 provinces could place requests and industry chambers could observe the project progress through an information system.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, "For the first time in Turkey, workforce requests can be tracked via a central system."

- 92 million Lira investment

Stating that the first courses were started off in 111 vocational high schools selected in 2010, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that in the case that these proved insufficient, additional courses can be opened up through other vocational high schools and companies and went on, "As per the requests received from the provinces the number can be increased to 140 schools in 81 provinces including the 29 pilot schools.

As part of the project, 140 schools have received an investment of 88 million Liras. Over 4,000 educators working in these have received training regarding up to date equipment. An investment of 4 million Liras has been made for the training of these educators."

- Ford Otosan has provided employment to 1180 people

Stating that as part of the project 2,244 training programs in a wide variety of technical positions have been established, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, "These courses have trained over 33,000 trainees and continues to do so.

Of the 19,000 attendants who successfully completed the courses, 14,000 have found employment with 3,000 continuing their practical training within companies."

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the province which achieved the highest amount of employment is Kocaeli and went on, "Especially Ford Otosan has achieved significant amount of employment by employing through the UMEM project.

In addition to this, Tekirday, Sakarya and Mersin have also achieved high employment figures. Ford Otosan in Kocaeli has provided employment to 1180 people.

One of İzmir largest companies, CMS Jant has employed 400 people and Yazaki Automotive in Sakarya has employed 324."

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the provinces which achieved the least employment were Ağrı, Artvin, Kars, Ardaha, Yalova, Mardin and Hakkari.

- Courses geared towards the service and agriculture sectors will be opened

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, reminding that as of the February of 2012, the project has completed its first year and said, "Significant success has been achieved in regards to the ratio of the number of course attendants trained to the employment of said attendants. In 2012 we plan to promote the project throughout the country and raise interest in the project.

In addition, it has been decided to open courses geared towards service and agriculture sectors. This way, we will be able to address the requests from establishments in all provinces in the service and agriculture sectors."

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that in order to place the right personnel in the right jobs, a "Vocational Orientation Test" will be administered prior to interviews in 2012.

Emphasizing that the UMEM Ability'10 Project conducted in cooperation between the public, private sector and universities will open courses in line with the needs of the job market and the employability of the unemployed will be improved via vocational training, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, "This project, which also provides significant incentives for employers, invites all employers to take part. We expect our unemployed to keep track of opening courses and apply for those which suit them."
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