Strengthen Communities. Together Projects

The main outcome of the programme is “School-Company Collaboration Model” which puts forward the major components of collaboration such as on-the-job trainings, mentorship opportunities as well as establishing labs at schools with up-to-date technologies.

Yet, with the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, there is an emerging need to update the Model and support students learn 21st century skills. In order to achieve this, Koç Holding is partnering with the Ministry of National Education and IBM to develop a sustainable business-school partnership model and strengthen the vocational training ecosystem in line with 21st century skills.

Accordingly, in specifically designed workshops, students, teachers and industry representatives from Koç Group companies and IBM work together to develop innovative solutions to complex problems with design thinking methodology. As an important outcome of the process, students had the chance to apply this approach in real life with the industry representatives. In 2019 they designed a washing machine in these workshops. Throughout the process, a specific physical space need has emerged to conduct these workshops. Therefore, a design thinking lab has been designed in the context of vocational training for the first time and it will set an example to other vocational schools.

As a HeForShe Champion, we initiated a movement within the Koç Group companies, where creating role models could play a significant role in changing people’s minds. Our Group companies developed programs in line with the needs of their respective sectors, including outreach activities to attract and retain women for manufacturing and engineering jobs, as well as specially designed trainings to support women reach senior management positions.

Also, as part of a global movement, we were able to leverage the power of our brands to reach out to consumers with gender-sensitive communications. It was the first step to position gender inequality as one of the top priority areas within the Group and to that end develop a holistic approach to address the challenges and overcome gender biases. In this context, we developed a Guide to Gender Equality in Communications. We reached out to an extensive audience including our employees, individuals in the value chain, as well as specific groups like marketing and communications experts and agencies to shift gender norms in Turkey. In order to mainstream the approach introduced by the Guide, we partnered with the key stakeholders including Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), Advertisers Association, Advertising Foundation, Association of Communications Consulting Companies, Public Relations Association of Turkey and Association of Corporate Communicators.

In 2019, we received Sustainable Business Awards by Sustainability Academy Turkey, in the field of Sustainability Communications with the works carried out in Gender Equality in Communications.