A First in Türkiye: Education Begins in the Pharmaceutical Production Technology Program through Collaboration between Santa Farma İlaç and Kocaeli University

30 students enrolled in the first term of the Pharmaceutical Production Technology Associate Degree Program, which is a first in Türkiye and was established within Kocaeli University Vocational School with the approval of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Within the scope of the program, which was launched through university-industry collaboration, students visited Santa Farma İlaç's modern production facility in Kocaeli. The official signing ceremony of the program was held on October 20, 2026, with the participation of senior protocol members.

Education has begun in the Pharmaceutical Production Technology Associate Degree Program, which was launched through the collaboration of Santa Farma İlaç, one of Türkiye's long-established pharmaceutical industry companies, with Kocaeli University. The program, which is the first sector-focused specialization program across Türkiye, aims to train qualified human resources in the field of pharmaceutical production technologies and to strengthen university-industry collaboration.

30 students enrolled in the first term of the program, which was approved and opened by YÖK. In order to get to know the operations of the sector firsthand and to gain their first experience with the Vocational Education in Business (İME) model, students were hosted at Santa Farma İlaç's high-technology production facility located in Kocaeli GEBKİM Organized Industrial Zone.

Official Signing Ceremony Held with Protocol Participation

The official signing ceremony, held to launch the program and strengthen university-industry collaboration, took place on October 20, 2026, at Santa Farma İlaç's production facility in Kocaeli GEBKİM OSB.

The ceremony was attended by Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, Kocaeli University Rector Prof. Dr. Nuh Zafer Cantürk, Dilovası District Governor Resul Çelik, GEBKİM Board Chairman Vefa İbrahim Aracı, Kocaeli Vocational School Chemistry Department Head Prof. Dr. Taner Erdoğan, and Kocaeli University academics.

Erol Kiresepi: "Our Goal Is to Ensure Our Young People Are Prepared for Professional Life with Strong Qualifications"

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Santa Farma İlaç Chairman of the Board Erol Kiresepi drew attention to the importance of collaboration between university and industry in contributing to the country's future.

Kiresepi stated the following in his speech:

"Today, we are here not only to celebrate the beginning of a new education program, but also to bring to life a fine example of how university and industry can together add value to our country's future. At Santa Farma İlaç, we have been serving human health for more than 80 years. During this time, we established factories, invested in technology, developed products, and expanded into international markets. However, there is a truth we have always believed in: the real strength of a company is measured not only by the facilities, technologies, or products it possesses, but also by the people it trains.

For us, investment is not merely spending on machinery, buildings, or technology. Investment in people, knowledge, and the future of our young people is just as valuable as these. Our goal is to ensure that our young people become closely familiar with contemporary pharmaceutical production technologies, develop their knowledge and skills, and are prepared for professional life with strong qualifications.

I hope this collaboration will set an example for other universities and industrial organizations as well. Because the future of our country will be shaped by a strong understanding in which education and production complement each other. I sincerely thank the Council of Higher Education, which approved the opening of this program, the Kocaeli University administration, especially our esteemed Rector, our valuable academics who contributed their efforts, and my colleagues at Santa Farma İlaç."

About Santa Farma İlaç

Santa Farma İlaç, which entered the pharmaceutical sector in 1944 with Farma Laboratuvarı, continued its growth process after merging with Santa Laboratuvarı. The company developed its activities under the name Santa Farma İlaç Fabrikası Kollektif Şirketi in 1954, and as Santa Farma İlaç Sanayi A.Ş. in 1973.

The company, which operates with 74 brands and 150 products across 10 different therapeutic categories in Türkiye, has a product portfolio covering dermatology, musculoskeletal system, digestive system, urogenital system, hematology, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic system, nervous system, endocrine and metabolism, respiratory system, and infectious diseases.

Santa Farma İlaç's production facility located in Kocaeli GEBKİM OSB holds EU/EAEU/ANVISA-GMP certifications that support generic product development, licensing, and manufacturing activities for European Union countries and other regulated markets. With 44,000 square meters of enclosed space and an annual production capacity of 150 million boxes, the facility constitutes an important part of the company's production infrastructure.

Santa Farma İlaç, whose mission is to develop solutions aimed at improving human health and quality of life, continues its efforts to add value to people's lives in more than 65 countries in line with its goal of "Providing Healthy Service to Health."