TÜPRAŞ Partners with Universities

Tüpraş launches cooperation with Batman University under "Women in Technology and Innovation Program". Through this program, Tüpraş aims to raise awareness among university students, particularly female students, in the field of entrepreneurship and enable them to play a more active role in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Tüpraş launched the 'Innovation and Women Power in Young Minds Program' at Batman University West Raman Campus in the Rectorate Conference Hall with a 'Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seminar' organized for all students on 18 March. Through this initiative, the company aims to promote entrepreneurship culture in universities, facilitate young people's, particularly female students', access to technology and innovation ecosystems, and expand the program through partnerships with universities in Kocaeli, Kırıkkale, Istanbul and Izmir, the provinces where it operates in subsequent years.

60 percent of participants in the 'Innovation and Women Power in Young Minds Program' are female students

In the first stage of the program, Tüpraş organizes 'Foundations of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seminars' for all students during each academic term. Through the seminars, creative thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship tools are shared with students, as well as entrepreneurship at Tüpraş and recent developments in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. In the second stage, based on evaluations, intensive entrepreneurship training will be provided to a group of 40 third and fourth-year undergraduate students. Female students will comprise 60 percent of the entrepreneurship program, the content of which is specially prepared by Tüpraş for the university. The program comprises modules such as innovative idea development, starting a new venture, problem understanding, solution design, market research, business model components, entrepreneurship tools and presentation techniques. Through the training they receive, students will gain competency in understanding problems and needs, developing products accordingly, testing their solutions with potential users and developing an entrepreneurial mindset that creates solutions to problems. In addition to online training, participants are assigned Tüpraş mentors to contribute to developing and implementing their ideas. Students will also be supported with personal development training that will contribute to their competencies. Over the 12-week entrepreneurship program, students will work in 8 groups of 5 people each to produce innovative projects with the support of internal mentors who have experienced entrepreneurship at Tüpraş's internal entrepreneurship program. At the stage of commercializing project ideas, suitable projects are planned to be directed to appropriate entrepreneurship channels, including Koç University Entrepreneurship Research Center K-Works. Tüpraş General Director İbrahim Yelmenoğlu stated: "In line with Koç Holding's global leadership at the United Nations Women's Entity Generations for Gender Equality Forum, we are proud to launch the first step of our 'Innovation and Women Power in Young Minds' Program in Batman, where Tüpraş's foundations were laid, to contribute to its commitments in technology and innovation. I thank all our academics, especially the esteemed Rector of Batman University, who contributed to this work. The experience we gain here will guide us in our activities in other provinces where our refineries are located. I sincerely believe that students participating in the program will become good entrepreneurship candidates through the training they receive. We want to touch their lives by reflecting the creative thinking methods and entrepreneurship experience they acquire in their perspectives and careers. Our goal is to reach 10,000 female students through partnerships with universities over five years," he said. Yelmenoğlu continued: "We believe it is possible to create inspiring powerful ecosystems where women are more visible in every aspect of life. Being part of a program that will guide raising girls equipped with future competencies, empowering women in innovation and technology is extremely honourable. Of course, these goals are only a beginning; we will take much bigger steps in the process and increase our numbers even further." Batman University Rector Prof. Dr. İdris Demir, expressing satisfaction with the partnership conducted with Tüpraş under the project, stated: "Today we are launching the 'Women in Technology and Innovation Program' with Tüpraş. The aim of our project, named 'Innovation and Women Power in Young Minds,' is to create ecosystems where women are more visible, more creative and inspiring, strengthen awareness, increase the number of women working in innovation and technology fields, and create an environment and opportunities that will reveal women's potential. During this process, our students will be given training in entrepreneurship, information technologies and digitalization, seminars and workshops will be organized, and particularly our female students will be encouraged to focus on technology and innovation. The program will open a new door for our students. In today's world where enhancing women's entrepreneurship abilities and digitalization have become important, we attach great importance to these projects for implementing technology and innovation-focused business ideas. As Batman University, we try to provide development opportunities for our students in every field. Every project that includes people is very valuable to us and worth the effort," he said. Demir continued: "This program will also allow our students to take a journey into their inner world. These projects, which will enable our students' personal development and the realization of their original ideas, I believe, will return from our city as a beneficial light to our country. I sincerely believe that Batman University students will produce notable work with new entrepreneurship ideas in the field. I thank Tüpraş and our university's project team for their efforts."

Tüpraş's "Women in Technology and Innovation Program" Commitments to Society:

Tüpraş developed the "Women in Technology and Innovation Program" to contribute to Koç Holding's commitments under its global leadership at the United Nations Women's Entity Generations for Gender Equality Forum. Through the "Women in Technology and Innovation Program," the company aims to reveal girls' work potential in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, guide women's empowerment, and facilitate women's and girls' access to technology and innovation ecosystems. Through different training projects to be conducted under the program, the company commits to reaching a total of 100,000 female students—90,000 from middle school and 10,000 from university—over 5 years.