The Professional Experience course, offered for the first time under the new curriculum and conducted online for fourth-year students of the Forest Industry Engineering Department, was held throughout the 2025-2026 Academic Year Spring Semester with the participation of expert guests in the field. The course aimed to raise students' professional awareness, enable them to establish direct contact with the sector, and help them gain knowledge about different professional fields before graduation.
Conducted with the contribution and participation of all department faculty members, the course featured weekly presentations and talks aimed at sharing professional experience. In addition to academic knowledge, topics such as sector experience, entrepreneurship, occupational health and safety, human resources, professional organization, and the current state of the wood industry were shared with students.
As part of the course, Entrepreneurship Academy Coordinator Mr. Özkan KIRIMLI shared his knowledge and experience on entrepreneurship and career planning with the students. Wood Association President Mr. Erkan KALAFAT offered assessments on the current state of the wood industry, sector developments, and the future of the profession. AGT Human Resources Manager Ms. Ezgi BATU informed students about job application processes, human resources practices, and post-graduation career opportunities. Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Mr. Murat AKTAŞ shared information on occupational health and safety culture, safe behavior awareness in working life, and sector practices, while ORFAMDER President Mr. Mehmet IRIZ conveyed information on professional solidarity, communication among graduates, the importance of professional organizations, and the various fields of work available to Forest Industry Engineering graduates.
Through this course, conducted by the Forest Industry Engineering Department, the aim is for students to gain a professional identity, develop a sector-wide perspective, and prepare more consciously for working life before graduation. Our department will continue to offer such course content and professional sharing processes that support students' professional and personal development alongside their academic growth.
We would like to thank all the speakers who contributed to the Professional Experience course throughout the semester, as well as our department faculty members who supported the course process.
