Aligned with the theme "Women's Entrepreneurship and Women's Employment" set by the General Directorate of Development Agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Technology for 2025, the Industrial Robot Operator Training Program, coordinated by the Middle Black Sea Development Agency (OKA), was successfully concluded in Samsun.

Hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Yeşilyurt Iron and Steel Vocational School and OKA, the training included both theoretical and practical modules covering topics such as Robot Systems, Control and Programming, Simulation Creation, and Tool Definitions.

New opportunities for women in industry and technology

The training program aims to cultivate qualified human resources required in the region's industrial digitalization processes and encourage women's active participation in industrial and technological sectors. The initiative was executed under the Women's Employment and Entrepreneurship Cooperation Protocol signed between Samsun Governorship, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality, Samsun Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Board, and OKA.

In accordance with the sub-protocol signed among OMU Yeşilyurt Iron and Steel Vocational School, Samsun Central Organized Industrial Zone Directorate, TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Samsun Branch, and TMMOB Chamber of Electrical Engineers Samsun Branch, 25 women graduates or current students from engineering and technical departments attended the training.

"We aim for women's greater involvement in advanced technology"

Speaking at the closing ceremony, OKA Secretary General Mehlika Dicle emphasized that such public-university-industry collaborations significantly contribute to the region's industrial digital transformation. Dicle stated, "We aim to lead efforts for women's greater involvement in industry and advanced technology."

Mihriban Akyüz, TOBB Samsun Women Entrepreneurs Board Chairperson, highlighted the importance of inter-institutional collaboration in women's employment and entrepreneurship. She expressed that this training, aligned with the nationwide "Sanayide Kadın Eli" ("Women's Hand in Industry") project, would pave the way for future initiatives.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Demir, Director of OMU Yeşilyurt Iron and Steel Vocational School, pointed out their well-equipped infrastructure and human resources, emphasizing that such capacities could be utilized more efficiently through public-university-industry collaborations.

Kadir Gürkan, President of the TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Samsun Branch, underscored the growing need for qualified labor due to increased industrial investments in Samsun, stressing the significance of such training programs.

Participants received their certificates

Participants received certificates of achievement at the closing ceremony, attended by OKA Secretary General Mehlika Dicle, TOBB Samsun Women Entrepreneurs Board Chairperson Mihriban Akyüz, OMU Yeşilyurt Iron and Steel Vocational School Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Demir, President of TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Samsun Branch Kadir Gürkan, and trainers from ABB Turkey and Abka Software Automation Ltd.