Bahcesehir University
CO-OP Career Development Application and Research Center
Universities Meet the Business World
Higher Education Professional Readiness Summit
President of WACE
WACE
Vice President
Corporate Development and Talent Management
Head of Technology Training Department
Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye
Istanbul Provincial Director, Turkish Employment Agency
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Deputy General Manager, Customer Experience
Microsoft Türkiye
Regional HR Director, Multi-Country Cluster
Microsoft Türkiye
CHRO
DP Eurasia
Vice President of Retail
MR.DIYIn higher education, it is becoming increasingly critical for students to graduate not only with academic knowledge, but also with an understanding of business expectations, professional competencies, real-world experience, and the skills needed to adapt to the changing world of work. The Work Readiness Summit focuses on this need and aims to bring universities and the business world together at the same table.
The summit will discuss how ready students are for professional life, the role of universities in this preparation, employers' expectations of young talent, applied learning models, long-term internships and CO-OP practices, the transformation of career centers, new competencies in the age of artificial intelligence, and the future of university-industry collaboration.
The competencies required by the business world are changing rapidly.
Students expect more real-world work experience and career guidance before graduation.
Universities need to develop new models that prepare students not only for graduation, but also for professional life.
In Türkiye, the outcomes of university-industry collaboration and practices that support students' transition into employment are gaining a stronger place on the higher education agenda.
This summit is designed to highlight existing best practices, examine CO-OP and work-based education practices around the world, and build a shared perspective for the future.
Since 2008, Bahcesehir University's CO-OP model has pursued an applied education approach focused on bridging the gap between higher education and professional life. Through long-term internship experiences, Branded Courses, and various practices that provide direct engagement with the business world, CO-OP supports students in preparing for professional life before graduation.
The Work Readiness Summit aims to bring together universities, career centers, human resources and young talent leaders in Türkiye, along with prominent representatives of the business world. For the international dimension of the summit, Dr. Norah McRae, President of the World Association for Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education (WACE), of which Bahcesehir University is a member, is expected to be invited to share current global developments in this field with participants.
In 2025, Bahcesehir University hosted the WACE World Conference, bringing international discussions on university-industry integration and work-integrated learning to Istanbul. Following this experience, the Work Readiness Summit is positioned as a new gathering focused on preparing students in Türkiye for their careers and professional lives.
University-industry collaboration, work-integrated learning, next-generation competencies, university and employer panels, international best practices.
Career stories, role-model meetings, young people's expectations, entering the business world, personal branding, networking, and inspiring talks.
From Internships to Work-Based Learning: The Changing Role of Universities and New Approaches to Preparing Students for Professional Life
Workshops, Career Clinics and Networking Sessions
The program is subject to change; updates will be announced on this page.
On the second day of the summit, a compelling career-story session designed to inspire young people is planned. In this context, a 'role model' is expected to be invited to share their career journey, path to international success, discipline, creative process, and inspiring experiences for young people. This section is designed to be one of the summit sessions with the highest reach and engagement, particularly for students. Announcements will be updated once the guest's participation is confirmed.
Participation is free of charge and capacity is limited. You will receive a notification email once your registration is approved.
Bahcesehir University CO-OP — For sponsorship and corporate collaboration inquiries:
