The final meeting of the NEET PRO " Youth Are Working Uşak is Developing " project, which is co-financed by the EU and the Turkish Employment Agency within the framework of the European Union (EU) Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) and implemented by Uşak University, was held on November 4.

Speaking at the project closing meeting held at Uşak University Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Congress and Culture Center, Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş stated that they are very happy to complete the European Union Project named “Youth Are Working Uşak is Developing”, which they developed as Uşak University within the scope of the “Labor Market Support Program for Young People Neither in Education nor in Employment (NEET PRO)” coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and said, “As Uşak University, we believe that ensuring continuous development in a society is possible by including all individuals in the education process. Our project “Youth are Working, Uşak is Developing” was realized for this purpose. We are proud to have successfully completed our labor market support program for young people who are not in employment, education, or vocational training.

-100 young people between the ages of 18-29 received training under the project “Youth are Working, Uşak is Developing”.

Rector Savaş stated that 100 young people between the ages of 18-29 received training within the scope of the one-year project and said, “With our European Union Project named ‘Youth are Working, Uşak is Developing’, we set out to contribute to the industry of our province and young people who are neither in education nor in employment (NEET). In total, we had over 600 young people applying for the project. While we are very pleased with this intense interest, 100 trainees were selected for the trainings in accordance with the scope of the project. The trainees completed 44 days of training in different fields. They were also supported with a certain allowance for each day of training. Following the trainings, Individual Action Plans were prepared by İŞKUR for each of the trainees. They participated in the Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA) exams and were entitled to receive their VQA Certificates. Therefore, with the increase in the employment of qualified and certified labor force, the dissemination of better quality products and services in the industry and the increase in living standards were supported. Within the scope of the project, 43 young people have been employed in companies in the province so far.”

On behalf of Uşak University, Prof. Dr. Savaş thanked the project partners Uşak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Uşak Organized Industrial Zone, Uşak Leather Mixed Organized Industrial Zone and İŞKUR, which is the direct beneficiary of the project. Prof. Dr. Savaş said, “I would like to thank everyone, especially the project team and trainers and our participating companies, who contributed to our project, which aims to bring our young people into employment with priority in our specialization areas of Leather, Textile and Ceramics. I hope that this project, which both brings our young people to employment and supports our companies in the province with trained personnel, will be auspicious for our entire province.

-Uşak University will continue to work unabated for the development of our country.-

Pointing out that Uşak University will continue to carry out projects that will provide employment for students as well as young people who are not in education, Prof. Dr. Savaş said, "As Uşak University, we make the studies and projects sustainable in order to provide qualified employment that our country, especially our region, needs for regional development. In addition to our education and training activities, as a university that focuses on R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship and qualified employment, we will continue to work unabated for the development of our country in cooperation with all institutions of Uşak and our region.

Bülent Özcan - Director General of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the closing meeting online and congratulated everyone who contributed to the project and congratulated Uşak University for its success in its work on qualified employment.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atike İnce Yardımcı, Coordinator of the Technology Transfer Office of Uşak University, gave a presentation on the work carried out in the NEET PRO "Youth are Working, Uşak is Developing" project for one year and the results of the project and thanked the project team, trainers, partners, and associates, especially Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Savaş for their support.

At the closing session, a presentation on "Career Journey and Development" was given by EU and Grant Projects Consultant and Human Resources Specialist Sümer Boysan. At the end of the presentation, Rector Savaş presented a plaque of appreciation to Sümer Boysan and Director of Uşak University European Union Research and Application Center Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Çağlayan for their participation and support to the event.

The program ended with the presentation of appreciation plaques to Naci Utku Yumuşak - Secretary General of Uşak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Çoşkun Güngör - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Uşak Leather Mixed Organized Industrial Zone, Fahri Polat - Member of the Board of Directors of Uşak Organized Industrial Zone, who are the representatives of the partner institutions of the project, İlhan Temel - Director of Uşak Provincial Labour and Employment Board, the direct beneficiary of the project, and the companies participating in the project.