Through this collaboration, Rönesans is opening the doors of its Gaziantep City Hospital and providing both on-the-job training to students, and capacity development opportunities for teachers, master trainers, and guidance counsellors to provide safe and supportive training environments for students.
120 students will have the chance to receive vocational training in fields that range from software development, food and beverage services, industrial maintenance and repair, to plumbing and energy systems and industrial automation technologies at the Gaziantep City Hospital. This will enable students to prepare for their professions through an experience where they learn about the latest practices in their fields using advanced technology. The programme will also enhance the technical capacity of coordinating teachers, guidance counsellors, and master trainers, as well update teaching programmes to align with industry needs. This is expected to facilitate and increase young people's employability after graduation, and will contribute to the training of qualified personnel needed by the healthcare sector. This way, young people’s employability after graduation will increase, and a contribution will be made to the training of qualified personnel needed by the healthcare sector.
One notable aspect highlighted in the partnership is the contribution of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as a stakeholder. The Bank’s sustainability-linked financing framework established with Rönesans Holding is creating as a catalytic effect in aligning the programme with objectives to enhance young people’s skills development and employability.
A solid transition opportunity for young people into employment is provided
Speaking about this unique partnership, UNICEF Türkiye Representative Paolo Marchi said, "as UNICEF, we want to support every young person reach their full potential by gaining the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need. Skills that are also matched with the labour market. This partnership does both – support the Ministry of National Education provide quality and inclusive vocational and technical education; and leverage the expertise of private sector partners like Rönesans Holding bring innovation and opportunity to young people.Importantly, the collaboration also strengthens the system beyond the directly targeted students. Updates to the TVET curriculum, improved safety and workplace-learning standards, and expanded teacher capacity will benefit a much larger number of TVET students across Türkiye — helping ensure that quality, relevant, and future-proof skills become the norm, not the exception.”
EBRD Managing Director for Türkiye and the Caucasus, Elisabetta Falcetti said that “We are proud to contribute to this cross-sector initiative, which champions workforce diversity, boosts competitiveness through skills development, and helps industries build stronger foundations. Unequal access to economic opportunities limits growth, which is why the EBRD is committed to promoting equality of opportunity across all its regions. Guided by our strategies for equality and gender inclusion, we strive, with our private sector partners, to unlock the potential of diverse workforces. I am confident this initiative will address a critical human capital challenge in healthcare, and we look forward to replicating its success in other sectors.”
A crucial step in vocational education
İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp, the Chair of the Board of Directors for Rönesans Holding reminded that to date, through the Rönesans Education Foundation, they have provided scholarships to more than 14,000 young people, offered career opportunities to approximately 1,900 recent graduates through the Pusula Program, established science and technical vocational high schools, and contributed to the education of over 390,000 children through various projects. Emphasizing that they continue to work to further strengthen their projects for quality education and equal opportunities in education, Ilıcak Kayaalp stated that by implementing a project with vocational training as the priority area in collaboration with MoNE and UNICEF, they have taken another very important step. İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp said, “As Rönesans, we are enabling 120 students prepare for their professions under the guidance of master instructors at the Gaziantep City Hospital, which is equipped with today's most modern and new devices. These students will receive training at our hospital four days a week within the framework of the programme. This project is ‘not only an educational initiative, but a pioneering model of collaboration between the private sector, international organizations, and the public sector in Türkiye—and one that could serve as an example globally,’ Kayaalp continued: “The private sector contributes production and experience, the public sector undertakes the regulatory role, and UNICEF provides the perspective of social benefit. The combination of these three forces creates impacts that could not be achieved individually. Because our greatest goal, is to offer a future filled with hope, opportunity and confidence to young people. We will continue to dedicate all our efforts to ensuring that young people who we entrust with our future grow into inquisitive, productive individuals who adapt to the demands of the age.”
İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp also added that discussions with UNICEF continue to expand this vocational training collaboration into other areas where they operate.