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Opening Ceremony of Eastern Black Sea Career Fair (DOKKAF'24) Was Held

Under the coordination of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and hosted by our university, the Eastern Black Sea Career Fair (DOKKAF'24), in its fourth year, was organized with the participation of Avrasya University, Giresun University, Gümüşhane University, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, and Trabzon University as stakeholders in the Eastern Black Sea Region. The aim of the fair is to bring together graduates and potential graduates with corporate companies, creating an environment where they can find job opportunities and internship possibilities. The opening ceremony took place on January 8, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Trabzon Biotechnology and Innovation Center. The event was attended by Trabzon Governor, Aziz YILDIRIM; Chief Inspector of the Public Inspection Authority, Şeref MALKOÇ, Esq; Mayor of Trabzon, Murat ZORLUOĞLU; Director of the Talent Gate and Organization Department, Dr. Neşe GÜLMEZ; President of Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erkut ÇELEBİ; Member of Parliament from Trabzon, Sibel SUİÇMEZ, Esq, along with university rectors, local protocol, representatives from public and private organizations, press members, and thousands of students.

After the moment of silence and the singing of the national anthem, the Director of our University's Career Development Application and Research Center, Prof. Dr. Hülya KALAYCIOĞLU, and the President of the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erkut ÇELEBİ, delivered opening speeches, greeting the protocol and all participants. Following them, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hamdullah ÇUVALCI, addressed all guests and students in his speech, saying, "As the host of this event, aiming to support the career planning process of all university students and young people in the region, we are proud to bring together representatives from dozens of public institutions and companies for all professional groups. This event provides our graduates and potential graduates with direct access to job and internship opportunities, enabling them to meet corporate companies without intermediaries. It also offers the representatives of our city's dynamic industrial and business world the opportunity to reach out directly to our region's entrepreneurial and talented youth, contributing to their success in the sector. We are proud to have brought you together and hosted you in this prestigious environment. Students and graduates participating in this fair will have the opportunity to receive first-hand information on topics such as job/internship opportunities, career possibilities, and various personal and professional development activities, panels, workshops, interview simulations, and interviews with HR specialists from companies. In addition, companies will seize an important opportunity during this event to recruit a qualified workforce and obtain intern students. Within the scope of this fair, organized to assist students in finding internships during their academic years, our students will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from approximately 200 public and private sector organizations that we have gathered here." He expressed his gratitude to all institutions and company representatives supporting the fair and to our university staff who contributed to its planning and implementation stages.

Following our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hamdullah ÇUVALCI, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, Murat ZORLUOĞLU, Chief Inspector of the Public Inspection Authority, Şeref MALKOÇ, Esq; Trabzon Governor, Aziz YILDIRIM; and Member of Parliament from Trabzon, Sibel SUİÇMEZ, Esq, delivered speeches at the comprehensive event hosted by our university. Their speeches covered important topics, including the gains this extensive organization would provide for students and graduates, the leadership it would offer in seizing career opportunities for their career development, and how various events would support them in discovering their talents.

Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Murat ZORLUOĞLU, in his speech, said, "I greet you all with respect and love from Trabzon, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in our country, and from Karadeniz Technical University, which is a leading university with a rooted history in Türkiye. Despite being in existence for a very short time, this organization has become a very important event in our country in terms of human resources and careers. Statistically, it has become the most important organization globally in terms of participants and impact. It has brought together many of our students and graduates with representatives from the real sector. I believe this organization is a crucial platform for both internship and job opportunities." Şeref MALKOÇ, Esq, Chief Inspector of the Public Inspection Authority, stated in his speech, "One of the offices and committees formed after the transition to the Presidential government system was the Turkish Human Resources Office. Türkiye has made great strides in every field in the last 10-15 years. Education was the most important area of these developments, and significant budgets were allocated to this field. The share allocated to R&D increased tenfold. I believe a new era will open in science and technology. The key point here is effort. We have no doubt that the 21st century will be Türkiye's century. No force can stop Türkiye's development." Member of Parliament from Trabzon, Sibel SUİÇMEZ, Esq, addressed the participants, saying, "I want to emphasize the importance of this event, which brings together students, interns, and university graduates with the business world and aims for a quality career planning, being very inclusive." Trabzon Governor Aziz YILDIRIM, in his speech, said, "Dear young people, remember that you cannot climb the stairs of success with your hands in your pockets. You must work hard to succeed. You will strive to be the best in your field. You will face obstacles, but you won't give up. You will benefit from the experiences of those who guide you and create new paths and new successes for yourself. I am sure that by utilizing the opportunities presented to you here today, you will achieve the success you aim for. Think big; thinking big means dreaming big. Through the meetings you will have with the leading representatives of the industry here, perhaps the opportunities that adorn your dreams will emerge. I hope you make the best use of them.

Following the opening speeches, the Horon Dancing Team of the Akçaabat Municipality presented a show to the attendees. Subsequently, plaques were presented to the Honorary, Gold, and Silver Sponsors of the Eastern Black Sea Career Fair, and the opening ribbon was cut along with the representatives. After the opening ceremony, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hamdullah ÇUVALCI, toured the fair with the protocol and guests, engaging in conversations with students and company representatives.

The fourth edition of the Eastern Black Sea Career Fair, hosted by our university on January 8-9, 2024, has become a tradition and received significant attention. With the theme "Talent Everywhere," the fair aims to instill the awareness that every young person is a talent, create equal opportunities for them to access job and internship opportunities, and increase their employability rates. It is anticipated that approximately 15,000 visitors will attend the fair, where students will have the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings and interviews with representatives from public institutions, private sector companies, and introduce themselves.


10 January 2024