YÖK and İMİB Sign Protocol

YÖK and Istanbul Mining Exporters Association (İMİB) have signed an important cooperation agreement to raise the profile of mining, geology and ore preparation engineering, to train personnel with the competencies required by industry, and to encourage top-ranking high school graduates to choose these departments. The industry-university cooperation protocol was signed between YÖK and İMİB at an online ceremony attended by Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, YÖK President Prof. Dr. Yekta Saraç, TİM President İsmail Gülle, İMİB President Aydın Dinçer, and executives from EMİB, EİB, MTA, MAPEG, İMMİB, YÖK members, and department heads from engineering faculties at ITU, Hacettepe and METU. Under the protocol to be implemented starting in the 2020-2021 academic year, students ranking in the top 50,000 in the university entrance exam who place mining, geology or ore preparation engineering among their first five choices and secure admission will receive a monthly scholarship equal to the net minimum wage excluding the subsistence allowance (AGİ). Students ranking between 50,000 and 65,000 will receive half the net minimum wage excluding AGİ as an unconditional scholarship, while those ranking between 65,000 and 80,000 will receive one-third of the net minimum wage excluding AGİ. According to the protocol signed by Istanbul Mining Exporters Association on behalf of the Turkey Exporters Council Mining Sector Board, which includes Aegean Mining Exporters Association and West Mediterranean Exporter Associations, the scholarship amount will be updated at the beginning of each academic year. Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank said the following regarding the matter: "I have read the protocol in detail. The framework you have presented is designed in a manner that will serve as an example for many sectors. Your perspective and your efforts to raise awareness among young people in this field are commendable. Unfortunately, our youth unemployment is high.

In our efforts in this area, the private sector needs to stand beside us more powerfully. As a government, we are taking unique steps to encourage employment.

These steps must find their counterpart in the real sector and employment rates must rise permanently. It is you who are playing a critical role in bringing to life the structure we desire in this protocol. At this point, Istanbul Mining Exporters Association, Aegean Mining Exporters Association and West Mediterranean Exporter Associations are demonstrating strong leadership by coordinating their efforts. Please be assured. Every opportunity you provide to young people in the employment field will come back to you in kind. The opportunities you offer them will contribute both to young people viewing the future with hope and to them pursuing their professions with great enthusiasm. The high motivation of these young people will come back to your factories as productivity, efficiency and innovation." Varank continued his remarks: "The mining sector is a strategic sector that produces raw materials for all branches of industry and thus creates economic value approaching USD 40 billion. Our underground reserves are very rich. Of the 90 types of minerals produced in the world, 80 are found in our country. However, we have a foreign trade deficit in the sector and still have untapped reserves. Therefore, the cooperation you are undertaking is extremely appropriate in terms of developing our production capabilities in the sector," he said. YÖK President Prof. Dr. Yekta Saraç summarized the matter as follows: "Attracting successful students to the mining sector and rewarding students unconditionally, increasing apprenticeship and workplace training practices to develop students' practical skills, and providing employment after graduation." Istanbul Mining Exporters Association (İMİB) President Aydın Dinçer said: "For better, newer and more innovative mining, the young generation will build our future. Young people who will work on mining in the public sector, private sector or universities will increase the quality, scope and efficiency of the work. With this protocol we are signing today, we are opening an extremely strong door before this generation, and we are laying the groundwork for making our sector shine with their presence. With this step, we are not aiming to save the day but to build the future starting today." he said. TİM President İsmail Gülle, noting that a similar scholarship protocol for textile engineering students was signed between YÖK and exporter associations last year, stated that it is very important that such a valuable initiative is being carried out in the mining field this year. Gülle expressed his hope that such cooperations, which he believes will make positive contributions to the production and export of value-added products, will be implemented in other associations in the coming years.