The Western Black Sea Career Fair (BATIKAF24), which was held on 16-17 December 2024 under the leadership of the Presidential Human Resources Office, where our University is among the stakeholders, was hosted by Bolu Governorship and Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University.
The organization, held at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Gölköy campus, cooperates with 17 stakeholder universities, public institutions and organizations, professional chambers, and non-governmental organizations in 8 provinces. BATIKAF'24 started with the opening program held at the Congress Centre Bordo Hall.
Bolu Deputy Governor Hakkı Uzun, President of the Presidential Human Resources Office Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salim Atay, university rectors and vice presidents, mayors, judiciary members, provincial directors, representatives of stakeholder institutions, academic-administrative staff, and students attended the opening ceremony. Our Vice-Rector, Prof. Dr. Ömer Küçük, participated in the opening of the program on behalf of our University. Prof. Dr. Şerif Demir, Director of the Career Development Application and Research Centre, also participated in the program.
Under the direction of Conductor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Can Doğan and Hasan Hüseyin Genç were the guest artists, and the concert of the Miner's Choir, consisting of miners from Zonguldak was highly appreciated. Afterwards, the 'Talent is Everywhere' Regional Career Fairs promotional video was shown. After the concert, the program continued with opening speeches and protocol speeches.
BATIKAF Manager and Career Centre Director Assoc gave the opening speech at the Career Fair. Prof. Dr. Murat Tarhan.
Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Vice Rector and Fair Responsible Prof. Dr. Coşkun Karaca stated that nearly 400 events are planned within the scope of BATIKAF'24 and that students will spend two days full of workshops, exhibitions, and shows as well as panels, conferences, and training that will guide their career choices.
Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alişarlı stated that the Regional Career Fairs, which were launched in 2019 with the theme of 'Talent is Everywhere,' were held in cooperation with universities, public and private sector institutions, and professional chambers, and stated that the Western Black Sea Career Fair (BATIKAF) was first held in 2022. This year, they had the second one with 17 stakeholder universities. Alişarlı emphasized that BATIKAF is organized to guide the career planning of young people, to enable them to meet with sector representatives and to contribute to their personal development, and said that it provides many benefits such as creating employment and internship opportunities, developing entrepreneurship, and leadership skills, completing the deficiencies after graduation, creating a road map in the fields of postgraduate education, supporting public-industry-university collaborations.
Presidential Human Resources Office (CBİKO) President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salim Atay emphasized the critical role of human capital in development. He stated that the investments made in human resources since the Republican era peaked, especially in the last 20 years. Atay said, 'While the share allocated to education from the budget increased to the highest level, universities were opened in 81 provinces of Turkey, and the problem of access to education was eliminated' and added that regional career fairs are important organizations that directly bring supply and demand together. Atay also gave information about the Early Career Ecosystem (EDKE) and stated that EDKE works effectively with projects such as establishing career centers, career planning courses, Talent TV, and Talent Gate. Atay emphasized that thanks to these efforts, the unemployment rate in the 20-24 age group, which was over 28 percent in 2019, has dropped to 16.2 percent today and that a large part of this improvement has been achieved thanks to EDKE, and stated that Turkey has reached a manageable level in terms of youth unemployment.
After the speeches, the plaque ceremony started. Miner Choir Conductor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Can Doğan presented plaques of appreciation to the Career Centre directors of the stakeholder universities and the representatives of the platinum and gold sponsors.
After the opening ceremony, activities started at the Western Black Sea Career Fair. In the fair organized with the theme of 'Talent is Everywhere,’' our University opened a stand and introduced its projects, career opportunities, and academic studies to the participants.
Kastamonu Technopolis, Technology Transfer Office (TTO), and Forestry and Nature Tourism Specialisation Coordinators also participated in the fair. Kastamonu Technopolis informed the participants about its technology-oriented entrepreneurship, R&D studies, and innovative projects. Technology Transfer Office (TTO) guided university-industry cooperation and commercialization of academic knowledge. Forestry and Nature Tourism Specialisation Coordinatorship provided detailed information to the participants about protecting the region's natural resources and sustainable tourism projects.
Our Vice-Rector, Prof. Dr. Ömer Küçük, also visited the stands of universities, institutions, and companies that opened stands in the fair area and received information about the work done. Our University's specialization projects and technology-oriented activities attracted significant interest from the participants.
The fair contributed to career planning, collaborations, and new opportunities for students, graduates, and industry representatives.
