Students met with the industry at the Tourism Career Days at MAKÜ.

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) Faculty of Tourism, in collaboration with the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), held a School-Industry Meeting as part of the "Career Days" event, bringing together representatives of the tourism sector and students.

At the event held in the Avşarhan Building, 17 hotels opened stands to provide students with information about career opportunities. Students had the chance to meet one-on-one with industry professionals and received direct information about internship and job opportunities.

“Tourism is an inter-cultural bridge”

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Murat Yeşiltaş, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, emphasized that tourism is not only an economic activity but also a dynamic structure that connects cultures. Yeşiltaş noted that the sector has gained momentum after the pandemic, stating that there is a need for qualified and visionary young people in areas such as digitalization, sustainability, and experience-oriented marketing.

Pointing out that tourism revenues have been increasing every year, Yeşiltaş highlighted the importance of a skilled workforce for Turkey to gain a stronger share of the growing tourism pie. Addressing the students, Yeşiltaş said that the event should be seen not just as a job-finding opportunity but as an inspiring step in their career journey.

“Aim to be a leader, not just an employee”

Speaking on behalf of POYD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bahar advised students to gain a vision of leadership. Bahar stated that making a difference in the tourism sector comes from professional knowledge and experience, and expressed that young people need to add meaning to their work and continuously improve themselves.

“Practical education is our priority”

Prof. Dr. Ömer Tekşen, Vice Rector of MAKÜ, also stated that the university places great importance on practical education. He expressed that they aim for students to develop theoretical knowledge in conjunction with the industry and mentioned that organizations like career days should be widespread across all faculties and departments.

Emphasizing that career planning is critical for individuals to determine their area of expertise and gain experience, Tekşen stated that the event would contribute to students clarifying their future goals.

The School-Industry Meeting, which took place with intense participation, concluded with productive meetings where students directly communicated with industry representatives.