Within the context of the “University-Industry Cooperation Protocol” signed between the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), an important evaluation meeting was hosted by Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. The meeting was chaired by Vice Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Musa Özata and attended by the directors of KAEU vocational schools, Ömer Şanal (Chairman of the Assembly of Kırşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Özgür Altay (Board Member and Secretary General of the CCI), Battal Çelik (Secretary General of the Kırşehir Commodity Exchange), as well as officials from the Mucur and Kaman Chambers of Commerce.

At the meeting, the foundational steps for establishing effective cooperation between the university and the business sector were discussed. Participants shared the current needs and expectations of the industry with university representatives and exchanged ideas on aligning academic programs with sectoral demands.

Speaking at the meeting, KAEU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Özata emphasized the university’s intention to build a strong connection with the local business community. He stated that the university is open to all types of cooperation that would enhance the quality of vocational education. Özata expressed the importance they give to channeling the university’s knowledge and expertise toward contributing to the regional economy, and said, “This meeting is a significant step toward achieving alignment between the university and the industry.”

At the end of the meeting, a consensus was reached on concrete actions to be taken within the scope of the CoHE-TOBB protocol, including the implementation of joint projects, internship and hands-on training opportunities, and the establishment of sectoral advisory boards.