UNDP and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye to open vocational training centers across 45 urban provinces, targeting 4,000 students and youth in first round of digital courses

Ankara, 22 June 2023 – Aiming to give new job-friendly skills to 4,000 Turkish youth in cities across the country, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) today announced an ambitious four-year effort to close the digital divide in Türkiye by opening fully-equipped digital classrooms in municipality buildings in 45 provinces for students and young people seeking to acquire career-related technology skills.  

The “Today’s Youth, Future Jobs” initiative will offer training and career mentoring to prepare young women and men for jobs in Türkiye’s growing digital and innovation economies. The initiative will also upgrade the skills of trainers, municipal employees and NGOs that work with youth, creating ecosystems for improving digital vocational skills and facilitating job transitions for young people. 

The new EUR 7.9 million digital training initiative is funded by the European Union.

“Youth joblessness is a major challenge for Türkiye, with nearly one-third of young people (and more than half of young women) not currently in employment, education or training,” said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “Digital proficiency offers a way to close this gap, especially in the earthquake-affected provinces, where digital skills can help to dynamize the recovery of the local economy.”

The digital centers, to be established within existing municipal youth centers, will provide training on information technologies, robotics, coding, e-transformation, digital marketing, and social innovation. The centers will be established in Türkiye’s 30 metropolitan municipalities, and in all 11 provinces affected by the 6 February 2023 earthquakes. 

“We aim to increase the number of digital youth centers in our country. These centers are places where young people learn about competition and socialize while developing their skills. In 45 digital centers, 10 of which will be mobile, training, awareness raising activities, and employment matching will be provided,” said Yücel Yılmaz, President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye.

More than 200 training sessions will offer spaces for 4,000 trainees in groups of young people aged 20-29, and students aged 10-19. Furthermore, a digital e-learning platform will provide blended on-line learning and training opportunities for youth. 400 young people will be supported through mentoring programs and 95 people by internship programs to facilitate employment opportunities. 

“Digital transformation and skill development are at the top of the EU social policy agenda and this year is the European Year of Skills. The project we are launching today is of great importance, as it addresses some of the main global challenges of our time: Digital transformation, skill development and youth employment,” said Angel Gutierrez Hidalgo, Acting Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Türkiye Representative.

The young participants will receive certificates upon completion of training. A center of excellence will be established within the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye to provide regular training on digital skills development for municipal personnel. 

“Employment opportunities will increase as young people are equipped with digital skills. Therefore, initiatives that bring supply and demand together are crucial,” said Prof. Dr. Lütfihak Alpkan, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security. “I believe that the services that local governments will provide in their own regions under this project are significantly important. Strengthening the capacity of municipalities will also reveal employment opportunities at the local level.”

For more information: 

Bahar Paykoç, Communications Officer for UNDP in Türkiye, bahar.paykoc@undp.org