The ‘KOBİFORWARD Mentor Training Programme carried out within the scope of the ‘SME Mentor Training Project for the Solution of Managerial and Marketing Oriented Problems of the Forest Products Sector’ supported by Kastamonu University Forestry and Nature Tourism Specialisation Coordinators and in which Sinop University and Çankırı Karatekin University are stakeholders, has been completed.
The closing meeting of the program, which aims to reveal the marketing and managerial problems of SMEs, primarily SMEs operating in the field of forest industry within the scope of Regional Development Oriented Mission Differentiation and Specialisation under the umbrella focus carried out by Kastamonu University, and to enable the organization of continuous training/mentoring programs for these problems, was held.
Speaking at the closing meeting of the program, Project Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erol Tekin stated that more than 50 academicians took part in this program, which was initiated to create a mentor pool consisting of academicians in the TR82 Region (Kastamonu, Çankırı, Sinop).
Touching on the stages of the program in his speech, Tekin stated that after the 60-hour theoretical training process, the academicians were matched with SMEs, and the field application phase was started. Tekin emphasized that within the scope of field practice, each academician made at least 20 hours of company visits, and 28 academicians who prepared a ‘Mentor Action Plan’ at the end of this process were entitled to receive an SME Mentor Certificate. Stating that the program does not end at this point, Tekin said that training and consultancy services will continue to be provided to companies requesting services through the mentors trained. Tekin also concluded his words by thanking all stakeholders who contributed to the project.
Sinop University TTO Coordinator Dr. Lecturer. Prof. Mehmet Samet Erdem started his speech by drawing attention to the importance of the program for regional development. Erdem stated that thanks to this program, the training and consultancy needs of SMEs will be met and will contribute to the strengthening of university-industry cooperation through the web platform to be established. Erdem stated that another important output of the project is that it aims to produce solutions to urban problems at the regional level. At this point, he expressed his belief that the cooperation of three universities will prevent solutions for the development of the region from being stuck in a single place and that problems can be solved faster. In addition, Erdem stated that the cooperation protocol to be signed between TTOs will make a serious contribution to this process. Erdem emphasized the importance given to projects and academic studies at Sinop University and expressed his gratitude to Kastamonu University and the project team for their support in this process.
Çankırı Karatekin University TTO General Manager Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Dilmaç stated in his speech that training mentors who will solve the problems of SMEs among universities in the TR82 Region is of great importance for regional development. Dilmaç stated that the mentors trained to solve the managerial and marketing problems that SMEs face the most will play an active role in the field and thus provide added value to the region. Dilmaç thanked Kastamonu University and all academicians who contributed to the project and expressed his belief that such projects will strengthen the cooperation between universities.
In his speech, Kastamonu University TTO General Manager Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alperen Kaymakcı emphasized the importance of university-industry cooperation and stated that industrial organizations not only need qualified staff but also need mentoring activities that will guide them correctly and enable them to establish connections with investors. Kaymakcı stated that this project trains expert mentors who will benefit industrial organizations operating in the TR82 Region in particular. He stated that finding solutions to the managerial and marketing problems of the industrial sector through mentors is an important step for both our university and the region. He emphasized that the cooperation protocol to be signed between TTOs within the scope of the project will contribute to the strengthening of joint studies between universities in the region. Kaymakcı concluded his speech by thanking all stakeholders and the project team who supported the project.
