Strengthening Vocational School Teachers' Competencies Through Professional Development Programs

In addition to the obligations outlined in the Growth Plan aimed at developing human capital, improving the quality of vocational education, and strengthening teaching staff competencies, the Center for Vocational Education continued in 2026. The program covered topics including business idea development and business plan creation, SWOT analysis, establishing and organizing a practice company, working in various business sectors, accounting, marketing, preparing for a practice company fair, and the importance of company presence in electronic media. The program's particular value lies in its practical orientation: through workshops, working on concrete examples, group and team work, role-playing, and simulations, teachers are trained to enable students to acquire knowledge and develop competencies in an environment that simulates real business processes. During the training, participants engaged in interactive workshops to learn various methods and techniques that encourage active participation, creativity, and independence among students, including brainstorming, the 'Six Thinking Hats' technique, the cube technique, mind mapping, and project-based methods. By conducting three training groups involving a total of 60 teachers, the Center for Vocational Education contributes to achieving activities outlined in the Growth Plan and reform goals in vocational education. The conducted trainings also serve as a response to the identified need to strengthen practically oriented teaching approaches and further develop methodological-didactic competencies of teachers, with the aim of continuously improving the quality of vocational education and its connection to the demands of the modern work environment.