What is this project?
The “Developing a Model for Women’s Empowerment in Manufacturing Project”, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Turkish Employers’ Union Confederation (TİSK) and the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology and funded by the European Union, aims to create a replicable model in Turkey using pilot transformation examples with a focus on empowering women in manufacturing through upskilling and reskilling for jobs of the future.
What happened?
As of May 2024, preparations for the first component of the project, a desk study and detailed on-site survey, have been completed. In addition, the list of companies included in the project, transformation agents consisting of white-collar workers, and operators consisting of blue-collar workers has been finalized. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the project implementation partner, has begun a Digital Maturity Assessment (SIRI) survey for selected companies.
In addition, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Technology Center has launched a comprehensive four-month training program developed specifically for the project for 200 white-collar women graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, known as “change agents.”
The training program, aimed at 200 blue-collar women known as “operators,” is scheduled to begin in June and run for two months.
Going forward, candidates who complete the training will be matched with companies where the SIRI assessment has been completed and employed for 12 months.
Activities will be focused on pilot provinces determined within the scope of the project: Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli, Manisa, Bursa, Tekirdag, Adana and Gaziantep.
What is our mission?
The purpose of this project is to
Ensure active participation of women in manufacturing by establishing capacity building and reskilling initiatives with a focus on cognitive, social and technical skills; Energize the efforts of relevant stakeholders and institutions, such as the Chamber of Industry, Organized Industrial Zones (OSB) Administration, TİSK affiliated unions, universities, trade associations and companies operating in the manufacturing sector in the pilot provinces; Accelerate the digitalization process of companies operating in the manufacturing sector, especially SMEs that have difficulty accessing technology or face challenges in changing their existing business models; Develop a nationally replicable model for the future and outline a strategy and roadmap for implementation.
How do we achieve this?
As part of the project, a desk study on “Current Status and Future Jobs in Manufacturing” will be conducted followed by a detailed field survey to identify demand and supply driven needs. After completion of the field survey, a needs analysis for the target states will be prepared and a comprehensive work on the planning model will be completed.
In addition, in line with the transformation agenda, a capacity development guide will be prepared for the project’s beneficiaries, which include white-collar STEM graduates from universities, referred to as “change agents,” and blue-collar women, referred to as “operators.” A digital platform will also be created, including a toolkit for knowledge sharing focused on digital and green transformation.
In this context, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Technology Center will organize a free training program to develop the technical knowledge and skills of transformation agents and operators who will be matched with companies operating in the manufacturing industry. During the training period, candidates will receive financial assistance in addition to support for travel and accommodation expenses during the face-to-face training sessions.
Upon completing the training program, the change agents and operators will be employed by the matched company for 12 months, during which time the company will receive salary support for their employment.
Digital and green transformation practices will be initiated in project companies. Related pilot transformation applications will be carried out using the SIRI (Smart Industry Readiness Index) Digital Maturity Assessment and COSIRI Sustainability Maturity Assessment methodologies adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The SIRI and COSIRI assessments will be carried out free of charge and awareness-raising initiatives on work-life balance and gender equality will also be carried out as part of capacity building activities.
How will Turkey benefit?
The project aims to accelerate the digitalization and greening of companies operating in Turkey’s manufacturing sector, making them more internationally competitive. To achieve this success, it will empower women working in STEM fields, enabling them to realize their full potential, generate positive economic and social impact, and ensure their fitness for the professions of the future.
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