Professional Standards in Livestock Farming in Turkey will be determined by MAKU!

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) continues to take important steps in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry.

As a result of the discussions with the Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK), agreement was reached in principle on two main issues. The first is the preparation of occupational standards for professions in the agriculture and animal husbandry sector that do not have a national occupational standard, and the updating of existing ones. The second was the steps taken towards the recognition of Burdur Development Center (BGM) as an accredited Certification Authorization Center (SEM).

The seminar held at Lavanta Tepesi Hotel was attended by MYK President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Necmi İlhan, Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar and his team, academicians, and students.

Within the scope of the work carried out by MAKÜ in determining and updating occupational standards in the field of animal husbandry, it started to work in cooperation with MYK on determining vocational qualifications in approximately 20 new professions to be defined in animal husbandry. The professions to be defined and updated under the coordination of Burdur Development Center are as follows: agricultural/agricultural drone operator, poultry farming assistant, hatchery operator, poultry gender separation assistant (to be updated), plant protection machinery operator, tractor operator, product and seed processing operator, greenhouse operator, greenhouse assembly assistant, animal production systems assistant, gardener, agricultural worker, harvest and threshing machinery operator, shepherd, animal caretaker, milking operator, milking assistant, veterinary health technical personnel, agricultural technical personnel, dairy processing assistant.

Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar made the opening speech. In his speech, Dalgar expressed that it is very meaningful for MAKÜ to provide qualifications in 20 undefined professions in the field of animal husbandry, as a specialized university in animal husbandry. It was stated that MAKÜ is in cooperation with MYK and this cooperation is important in the university's institutional accreditation and department/program accreditation processes.

Rector Dalgar emphasized the importance of an international perspective, stating that students should not limit their horizons to Turkey alone, but should have a perspective that encompasses the whole world. He underlined the importance of developing as a good global citizen and correctly analyzing the trends of professions in order to serve our country better.

International Validity Certificate

Rector Dalgar announced that they have started working on issuing an additional diploma with the Turkey Qualifications Framework (TQF) logo for students who attend vocational qualification courses alongside their diplomas. It was emphasized that the presence of this logo on diplomas indicates the international validity of these diplomas and that they provide education in line with world standards.

Emphasizing the importance of the concept of "micro qualifications" under the leadership of the Vocational Qualifications Authority, Rector Dalgar stated that the university has initiated a study called MAKÜ PLUS in this field and will soon introduce it. Highlighting the importance of students gaining additional qualifications alongside their traditional diplomas, Rector Dalgar said, "Do not let your diplomas limit you."

MAKÜ will be an Exam and Certification Center

Later, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Necmi İlhan, President of the Vocational Qualifications Authority, also made a speech, stating that higher education has evolved to a very different stage and that MAKÜ's work in the field of vocational qualifications is very important, and they saw this from the beginning and emphasized the importance of working in this field and the collaboration. İlhan, who praised MAKÜ, said, "It is one of the few universities that has received 5 years of institutional accreditation among its peers. Its success in this field is undeniable." Mentioning that the documents to be issued within the framework of the collaboration will be equivalent to those in Europe, President İlhan stated that the presence of the Turkey Qualifications Framework (TQF) logo on the documents means that they are also qualified in Europe. He said that there are more than 900 professions in Turkey with a Turkey Qualifications Framework certificate. İlhan stated that the State provides 5% support to businesses with Vocational Qualifications Certificates. Providing information about Europass, İlhan stated that Europass serves in 31 languages and the documents are prepared in 6 languages, which creates the possibility of working abroad. He said that there are 2.7 million people in Turkey with Vocational Qualifications Certificates and 79% of them are employed. Saying that education is the beginning of everything, İlhan said, "We will have cooperation to make MAKÜ an Exam and Certification Center in the context of vocational qualifications."

Later, a training session on European Standards CV, Cover Letter Preparation, and Access to European Opportunities with Europass Tools was conducted by trainer Emine Akyel from the National Europass Center.

The seminar ended with the presentation of Thank You Certificates.