Vocational School

      The importance of members of profession has become more apparent especially during the industrialization and EU membership processes of our country, and this need is sure to be met by vocational high schools. Now is not a time when people learn professions and crafts through traditional methods by working with master professionals.

      In developed countries, people are trained in manufacturing sector and service industry, which correspond to the vocational schools in our country, and then begin to work. The position of technicians within the Worker-Technician-Operator-Engineer pyramid is critically important when the conveyance of engineers’ designs and requirements is concerned. As it is well known, the 1980s were the years when our country got into close contact with international markets. During this period, the importance of vocational schools was perceived and they were revived via certain international projects which later turned out to be quite successful. Vocational schools are still an indispensable employee source to production and service industries and they still continue to gain more importance. Our country has naturally received its share from the multi-dimensional interactions in a world that has become a global village. It has also started to apply contemporary education models via these schools.

      Vocational Schools provide two types of diplomas: Technician Diploma and Member of Profession Diploma. The programs that award the title of technician provide application-oriented information in certain fields of engineering.

      These programs are generally opened in fields that are directly related to a certain engineering branch. The purposes of such programs are

• to motivate and manage the technical personnel who work as workers (who are expected to carry out certain defined jobs) or operators (who graduated from Vocational High Schools),
• to express the demands of engineers more simply so that workers and operators can understand them,
• to carry out jobs according to the demands and requirements of engineers, and
• to act as a support member to the engineers, particularly in Research and Development works.

      When the rates of technicians that work along with engineers in such industrialized countries as the USA, Japan, and Germany are analyzed, it is seen that these rates cover an important proportion within the educated population.

      On the other hand, those who graduate with the title of Member of Profession rather work in service industry and are employed in relevant sectors according to their area of expertise. These programs aim to educate the people to support the personnel who have received undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in the fields of social or medical sciences.  As in departments that are related to Office Management and Secretary Services, Tourism and Hotel Management as well as Business Administration and Finance, members of profession who possess the core knowledge and required skills in addition to practical and technical knowledge are indispensable to service industry.