Vocational Education in the Footwear Industry

Education is a time-consuming and expensive investment. Vocational education, in particular, is an even more costly investment. However, we know that investing in people is an investment in the future of our country, and thus in our own future and the future of our children. In this regard, the need for vocational education is of great importance in today’s world. For the development of our country, we need well-trained bureaucrats, industrialists, workers, civil servants—in short, well-educated individuals.

We must ensure that our young people are encouraged to choose vocational education more frequently and receive a more qualified education by supporting them throughout the educational process.

Today, the dizzying pace of technological advancements and change brings to the forefront those countries with a well-educated workforce that can adapt to this rapid transformation. Just as in the rest of the country, there is a growing need in Konya for individuals trained in vocational education, particularly in the footwear sector.

At Aykent Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, we have embarked on our journey with a vision not only to meet the requirements of the present time but also to prepare for the needs of future centuries. We aim to incorporate all technical and technological developments of the present into our institution, while fostering an environment of love and tolerance, open dialogue, and the ability to express thoughts and emotions.

As the management, teachers, and staff of Aykent Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, our mission is to raise students who embrace, protect, and develop the national, moral, human, spiritual, and cultural values of the Turkish Nation in line with the general objectives of the Turkish National Education System; who love their family, country, nation, and all humanity; who are aware of their own identity and abilities and aim to use them in service of their nation; and who are physically, mentally, and morally of high character.

To train a qualified workforce in the footwear and leather goods sector, our school has established a strong infrastructure and has made significant progress in cooperation with the Konya Footwear Industry.

In our school, particularly in the Footwear and Leather Goods Program and in all three of our programs, students graduate ready for both higher education and the workforce. One of our primary goals is to meet the industry’s need for skilled workers. When considering the need for qualified human resources, the activities we carry out to enhance the quality of vocational and technical education will greatly contribute to the economic development of our region.

None of our graduates experience difficulty finding a job; they are able to enter the workforce without any trouble. We ensure that the needs and expectations of the industry guide the development of vocational education. We enable indirect stakeholders in the education system to integrate with the system and share their knowledge and ideas. This is because we believe that vocational education will be the cornerstone of our country’s development. As a school deeply integrated with the industry, we are the ones who best understand the needs and expectations of our stakeholders.

Dear students, the future of our country will, of course, be in your hands. The education you receive and the profession you acquire will allow you to have a say in the future of our country and will be the key factor in the country’s development.

In conclusion, as Karatay Aykent Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, especially in the Footwear and Leather Goods Programs, we believe that we have made significant contributions to raising young people who value their profession in line with the Ministry’s “My Profession, My Life” motto, which emphasizes the importance of vocational education in the development of our country.

İLKER ÖZER

AYKENT MTAL PRINCIPAL