With its vision of “Staying One Step Ahead in the Future of Mobility,” Karsan plays a pioneering role in the transformation of public transportation worldwide, while also continuing to support social life and education. In this context, Karsan has signed a new cooperation agreement with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Borçelik Technical Academy. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of trade unions, the Bursa Provincial Directorate of National Education, and the Şehit Ömer Halisdemir Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. The project, which includes a comprehensive training and development program starting in February 2026 and ending in June 2026, aims to aims to develop the technical skills of female students at the Şehit Ömer Halisdemir Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School Electric Vehicles Laboratory, increase their self-confidence and leadership capacity, raise awareness about their rights in the workplace, and strengthen their employability in the industrial sector.
“We will prepare female students for working life in a powerful way“
Karsan CEO Okan Baş, who describes this project as a socially beneficial corporate social responsibility initiative, said, “This powerful collaboration contributes to preparing female students for the future as more visible, equipped, and courageous individuals in technical fields, while also reflecting Karsan’s determination to strengthen equal opportunities through its corporate social responsibility approach. Thanks to our corporate transformation journey that began with the ILO in 2019, we have become one of the industry’s benchmark brands in terms of an egalitarian and inclusive production culture. We are now extending this approach to the student level; we aim to support the professional development of female students so that they can start their careers more strongly. As Karsan, we will continue to fully support vocational education.”
Karsan Human Resources Director Mücahit Korkut said, “This protocol reflects the equality-focused transformation we have been pursuing at Karsan for years. With this project, we aim to support the development journey of female students, helping them prepare for the future of work and nurturing female role models.”
Supporting an equitable workplace
ILO Turkiye Director Yasser Ahmed Hassan commented on the matter: “This collaboration is a powerful example of how businesses can create tangible and positive change in people’s lives. It also reflects the ILO’s mission to ensure that all women and men enjoy equal rights in the workplace, free from discrimination. Discrimination does not arise by chance; it is fueled by unequal power relations in society and deep-rooted gender stereotypes. This situation particularly limits women’s access to opportunities in technical fields. By joining forces with Karsan and Borçelik, we support young women in gaining the skills and confidence they need. We also help companies remove structural barriers that hinder talent. This reflects a rights-based approach and creates strong value for the business world. Companies that advance gender equality achieve higher productivity, stronger innovation capacity, and greater competitiveness in global markets. I am also very pleased that Türk Metal and MESS are active social partners in this process. We believe this initiative will encourage more businesses to invest in equal opportunities and create work environments where young women can realize their potential.”
Borçelik, one of the project’s key partners, brings significant experience to this collaboration through its practices that strengthen the presence of women in the steel and heavy industry sectors.
Borçelik Human Resources and Corporate Communications Director Derya Demirer said, “At Borçelik, we implement our sustainability strategy in line with Borusan Holding’s focus on ‘Climate, People, and Innovation’; we consider gender equality to be a fundamental part of this approach. We see it as our social responsibility to ensure that women are more visible, stronger, and more equal in industry. This collaboration represents a direct investment in the female engineers, technicians, and leaders of the future. We are delighted to be able to provide young women with real production experience through the expertise of the Borçelik Technical Academy, boosting their self-confidence and professional competence.”
The training will be conducted under 4 different headings
The new project for 12th grade female students at the Karsan Electric Vehicles Laboratory at Şehit Ömer Halisdemir Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School is planned to take place in four modules between November 2025 and June 2026:
• Introduction and Awareness: Introduction to the ILO – International Labor Organization, Introduction to Karsan & Borçelik, Introduction to the Future Workshop Program, Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace and Ensuring Gender Equality
• Preparation for Working Life: Training on Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Management System, Quality Management System and Energy Management, Sustainability, CV creation, Basic interview skills
• Personal Skills: Effective communication skills, team roles and solidarity
• Mentoring: Panel: Inspiring female engineers, Female Engineers and Mentoring Program
Students, teachers, and parents will be included in the “Introduction and Awareness” part of the program, 25 students will be included in the “Preparation for Working Life” part, 25 students will be included in the “Personal Skills” part, and 10 students will be included in the ‘Mentoring’ part within “Personal Skills.”
