The seminar in the ALTSO meeting hall was attended by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkey, Education and Training, Economic and Social Development Section Sector Manager Prof. Dr. Mustafa Balcı, Deputy General Manager of Education and Research at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Nusret Tutan, Mediterranean University (AÜ) Alanya Faculty of Business Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Süleyman Uyar, ALTSO Voc Test Center Project Coordinator Servet Ünlü, and many others.
ALTSO Vice President Fevzi Yüksekkaya, who delivered the opening speech of the meeting, reminded that as the chamber, they have implemented numerous projects and achieved successes both in our country and at the international level. Stating that they have established examination and practice workshops belonging to the project in the additional service building for the "ALTSO Voc Test Examination and Certification Center," and noting that as a chamber, they have taken a major step toward the future with this project, Yüksekkaya said: "Upon the completion of our project, we will become a personnel examination and certification center authorized by the vocational qualification institution for the accommodation sector and accredited by TÜRKAK. Our project will play an effective role in solving the qualified employment shortage. May it be beneficial to the tourism sector already."
ALTSO Voc Test Center Project Coordinator Servet Ünlü provided information regarding the project and professional competence at the beginning of the meeting. Reminding that the ALTSO Voc Test Center Project is one of the 26 projects carried out within the scope of grants in Türkiye, Ünlü pointed out that the incubation period of these centers will be completed with the support of EU funds and that in the near future, these centers will fulfill their duties with their full functions, conducting professional competence and certification activities in the tourism accommodation sub-sector.
“CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCE WILL REPLACE DIPLOMAS”
Speaking at the seminar, the European Union (EU) Delegation to Türkiye Education and Training, Economic and Social Development Section Sector Manager Prof. Dr. Mustafa Balcı stated that Türkiye prepared the infrastructure by establishing the Vocational Qualifications Authority in 2006. Balcı said, "There are currently 26 vocational competence centers. One of these centers is located in Alanya. This is a beginning. We expect at least 15 of the 26 centers supported by the EU to be successful. One of these centers is the ALTSO Voc Test Center. There are vocational training institutions for employment. Alongside this, there are employer expectations regarding employment. It is being said that the expectations of students graduated from vocational high schools regarding hotel management cannot be met. Hotel tourism vocational high schools are the vocational high schools with the longest internship periods…
These schools are the most successful. In other schools, the situation is a disaster… Employment will no longer be based on the diplomas provided by schools. A young person graduating from a vocational high school in Alanya can develop very easily due to the contact they have here. In contrast, a young person in Ardahan may not be as knowledgeable or skilled as a young person in Alanya. Individuals can train themselves very well, independently of institutions. The system evaluates individuals not according to the institutions they graduated from, but through the education and knowledge provided by centers established by industry representatives. The center established within ALTSO will be the voice of the sector. Our meetings with Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı are continuing. There is something wrong in Turkey. There is a barrier in the ninth grade of vocational high schools. Students entering the ninth grade do not take any of the vocational courses. This problem is at its peak in tourism vocational high schools. In Turkey, due to the inability to succeed in the ninth grade, the dropout rate in vocational high schools is 51 percent. This dropout rate in vocational schools is 56 percent. We are sacrificing incoming students without introducing them to vocational training. Antalya and Alanya possess standards above European standards. Every part of Turkey is not Alanya or Antalya. Vocational schools established in different provinces and districts are being set up without a social environment for students. Students in those provinces and districts do not want to stay there any longer after one year. Students in vocational schools are leaving due to the absence of a sector," he said.
“THE TARGET IS 50 BILLION DOLLARS”
stated, "Within the framework of the EU harmonization acquis, our country has also become a party to determining national standards. To date, we have determined competencies in 33 branches and 17 standards. Tourism is, above all, a service sector. Service is at the forefront of the sector. Education is very important in tourism. The employment of those with tourism education is at a rate of 15-20 percent. This rate is not sufficient. We must move towards compensating for this. One of our 2023 targets is 50 million tourists and 50 billion dollars in tourism revenue. We aim to increase the quality of the necessary services and to make improvements in this regard."
'YOU WILL RECEIVE IT FROM THE STATE'
The warning was stated as follows: "There is no situation of playing with prices in the tourism sector. It is a matter of individuals playing with costs. Labor costs constitute one of the largest costs. Some turn to informal employment to escape this situation. Those who do this are actually harming themselves the most. Tax is a problem for the sector. There are incentives provided by the state in this regard. If you employ someone who has obtained a certificate from the Vocational Qualification Authority, you will receive the insurance share from the state for 48 months."
(altso.org.tr)