International Forwarding and Logistics Service Providers Association (UTIKAD) sheds light on the future of the logistics industry with the Intern Employment Project, which it has implemented for the second time in order to support youth employment in the logistics industry.
The six focus groups established under the leadership of UTIKAD Chairman of the Board Ayşem Ulusoy continue to get positive results from the contacts with public administration units, non-governmental organizations and universities in an intensive program coordinated with UTIKAD working groups.
UTIKAD Universities Focus Group first implemented the “UTIKAD at School” project in universities in Istanbul and other provinces in 2022. In the events organized, students had the opportunity to meet with industry professionals and listen to the personal experiences of industry leaders.
In the meetings that took place, it was determined that the primary needs of the students were to communicate with the logistics companies where they could do their internship. Accordingly, in May 2022, the 'Intern Employment Project' was initiated under the leadership of UTIKAD Board Member and Universities Focus Group Coordinator Yüksel Kahraman, and a bridge was built between the industry and the academy. Within the scope of the project, which was initiated with the aim of increasing the interest of students continuing their education in the logistics sector, internship opportunities were provided to students in UTIKAD member companies as a result of contacts established with 8 universities from different cities that provide education in different fields of logistics.
A high level of participation was achieved in the announcement made to UTIKAD member companies to support the compulsory internships of students from five universities determined within the scope of the project, whose continuity was ensured in 2023. Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to reach the qualified human resources needs of member companies and to contribute to the development of university students who continue their education life.
Universities Focus Group Coordinator Yüksel Kahraman explained his views on the project with the following words; “Being a bridge between the industry and academia is among our primary goals. We should reduce the anxiety of students who are currently studying at universities about the future and increase their interest in our sector. As in every sector in our country, one of the main problems of our sector is trained human resources. We believe that non-governmental organizations should take an active role in solving this problem. As UTIKAD, we think that these and similar studies are of strategic importance in order to ensure a sustainable future of the industry at international standards. We will continue to work on this issue, which has continuity and produces solutions to problems.”
UTIKAD Chairman of the Board Ayşem Ulusoy and Istanbul University Faculty of Transport and Logistics Dean Prof. Dr. With the protocol signed by Abdullah Okumuş last year, the “Mentor-Mentee” application was implemented in cooperation with UTIKAD and Istanbul University. In the project, in which fifteen leading female logisticians, members of UTIKAD Women's Focus Group, served as mentee to fifteen female students, the students completed their compulsory internships and the logistics students benefited from the knowledge and experience of the leading women of the industry.
UTIKAD President Ayşem Ulusoy evaluated the Intern Employment Project and the Mentor-Mentee project with the following words; “We are excited to realize projects that contribute to our members and students and create value. Today's university students will be our colleagues and managers tomorrow. With our goal of sustainable growth at international standards, we are confident that every investment we make in students will return to our industry.”