Leading in "entrepreneurship" with 35 projects

Students of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) made a mark in “Bu Gençlikte İş Var” entrepreneurship program organized by the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) in order to help young people gain an innovative perspective and steer students toward entrepreneurship. In the program where 183 universities participated this year, IUE managed to become the university where the most projects were produced with 35 new ideas developed. In the award ceremony held online due to coronavirus, Rector Prof. Murat Aşkar was congratulated on behalf of the university for the first place in the number of projects and support for young people.

This year 2 thousand 694 project applications across Turkey were made to TUSIAD’s entrepreneurship program which allowed many young people to carry their projects into effect until now.  IUE students took action for the preparation of special projects under the guidance of IUE Vocational School Director Burçin Önder, and Lecturers Taylan Demirkaya and Serdar Savaşan of Faculty of Business.  

PROJECTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS
Students, who worked intensely throughout the semester, got involved in the entrepreneurship program by developing projects in different fields such as health, nutrition, production and psychology. Pairing with the relevant sector representatives, students also had the opportunity to transfer their projects and meet the business world while they were students. IUE Technology Transfer Office also provided the necessary support in terms of coordinating the process, communicating with the business world and creating the conditions needed by young people.

WE ARE THE FIRST SINCE 2015
Prof. Burcu Güneri Çangarlı, Dean of IUE Faculty of Business, stated that in addition to academic education, it was very important to provide the environment for young people to implement what they have learned and to develop projects freely. Prof. Çangarlı said, “We have Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation course in our curriculum. The course is offered to all departments within the scope of general education courses under the coordination of the Faculty of Business. Kudos go to academics Taylan Demirkaya, Burçin Önder and Serdar Savaşan, who came together with students in the entrepreneurship classes. As IUE, we are the university with the highest number of project applications since 2015. In 2019, our team ranked in third place in Turkey. In February, we also hosted the " Bu Gençlikte İş Var Entrepreneurship Program Aegean Camp". 59 young people from 19 teams received training on entrepreneurship ecosystem, customer acquisition and market entry strategies, entrepreneurship law, secrets, and contract procedures for two days. As a university, we will continue to take part in every project for the development of our students.”

HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS 
- Social platform that brings together extra food in food organizations with the people in need.
- Memory glasses and headset with Face ID scanning system for Alzheimer's patients.
- Mobile application where elementary and high school students can get guidance and psychological help.
- Building portable huts using recyclable materials to find solutions to animal shelter needs.
- Digital platform that allows users who want to camp to find the place that suits them.
- An application, which can also be used by experts as well, that will solve the problem of obesity especially in children and prevent them from experiencing mental problems.