Preparations for the Third Elevator Academy Completed

Preparations have been completed for the opening of “Kayseri Turkey ASFED Elevator Academy,” which is being organized by Turkey Elevator Industrialists Federation (Turkey ASFED) and its affiliate Kayseri Elevator Industrialists Association (KAYSAD).

Based on the protocol signed by ASFED and the Ministry of National Education Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education on March 28, 2018, it was decided to open departments of elevator in Vocational and Technical High Schools.  Following the opening of the first academy in Ankara in October 2018, the second academy was opened in Eskişehir on December 18, 2019. Preparations have now been completed for the third leg of the project, opening “Kayseri Turkey ASFED Elevator Academy” in September 2020. 

The third leg of the project carried out by Turkey Elevator Industrialists Federation (Turkey ASFED), which points out the start of an important transformation and which creates awareness for training related to elevators, continues rapidly despite the pandemic. Industry staff who have still worked 24/7 during this period also have worked hard to complete the Kayseri leg of the project organized by Turkey ASFED and KAYSAD.   

“Students from Kayseri and all of Turkey are admitted”

Ahmet Hakan Altan, the principal of the Kocasinan Ayşe Baldöktü Vocational Education Center, where Kayseri Turkey ASFED Elevator Academy classes will take place, and teacher Salih Kartoğlu gave information about the transformation process.

Salih Kartoğlu stated that the school was opened in 1986, and said, “We moved to our current premises in 1990. Although we have space and equipment for 27 fields and 142 branches, our approximately 400 students currently study in 17 fields and 60 branches.”  He stated that they had the potential to open other branches in case of need, and said, “Approximately 200 students are apprentices in the electric-electronic department, while around 30 of them study in the elevator department. Another feature of our school is that we have a hostel where boarders stay. Our hostel has a capacity of about 144 students. We admit students from all around Turkey, not from Kayseri only.”

Students can receive both a certificate for mastership and vocational high school diploma

Principal Ahmet Hakan Altan (A.H.A.) and Teacher Salih Kartoğlu (S.K.) answered the questions of Yeliz Karakütük (Y.K.) from ASFED press.

Y.K: One of the most important features of Kocasinan Ayşe Baldöktü Vocational Education Center is that it provides dual degrees for its students. Could you please give information about it?

S.K: Many things have changed in the apprenticeship system since we became subject to the law of secondary education institutions in 2017. Following the law amendment, our school has become qualified as a secondary education center, and the students who attend our school after secondary school are exempt from the last four years. The students who excel in the examination after the 11th grade receive a journeyman’s certificate, and the students who excel in the examination after the 12th class receive a certificate of mastership. These students are exempt from the vocational lessons they studied in open high schools. This means, when a student comes to our school in the 9th grade, if he also enrolls at an open high school simultaneously and completes common courses of 110 credits, he is then exempt from vocational courses.  In this way, he may receive both a certificate of mastership and vocational high school diploma. 

“Our students will get the rewards of elevator education they receive from Turkey ASFED Academy”

Y.K.: Your school is important in terms of apprenticeship education, but you did not have a workshop on elevator field up to now. How have you compensated for this need?

S.K: We are one of the earliest and best-established schools in Turkey in terms of apprenticeship education. The Electric-Electronic Department is one of our oldest departments. If I am not wrong, there are 336 vocational education centers in Turkey, and we are in the top five in terms capacity, number of students and education. However, we did not have the place for hands-on training for the Elevator Department students. Therefore, Turkey ASFED’s academy project is very valuable for us. We used to provide hands-on training for our students in cooperation with the employers under very difficult conditions. For example, we used to take our students to the premises of a company for hands-on training. However, it was too risky. For us, providing a comfortable, good and state-of-the-art education and the proper environment for hands-on practice for our students through our academy is very important. It improves the motivation of our students and provides better and more proper practical skills. If you cannot combine theoretical training with the proper hands-on practices, then the students acquire the wrong skills. However, by teaching the theory and providing the hands-on training through the academy, we will be able to correct some problematic issues and contribute to the industry.  Our students will get the rewards of the elevator education they receive from Turkey ASFED Academy. Otherwise, the students would only have limited skills, which they only learn from the masters they work with.

Academy will provide training for the development of industry workers

S.K.: We will also use this workshop for “Growth and Adaptation Courses.” For example, if the maintenance and installation technicians working in the industry need any training for their development, then we will plan micro trainings of 30-40 hours. With the support of Turkey ASFED and KAYSAD, the trainings will be given by professionals who are experts in their skills. Thus, we will be contributing to the growth and development of employees who are currently working within the industry. 

Y.K.: As far as we know, the Academy will also be an exam center. Could you please give some information about it?

S.K: Unfortunately, there is not a healthy place to carry out the hands-on exams related to elevators in this region of Anatolia. After the completion of this academy, we hope it will also be the only exam center of the region. In 2017, the Ministry standardized and published the theoretical and hands-on exams criteria for those who want to receive journeyman’s and mastership certificates.  However, we had difficulties in finding proper test locations for elevator departments that comply with the standards. After 2017, we had to hold our elevator exams at construction sites or completed buildings. There were various risks here.  Additionally, conditions of the hoistway, machines, etc., were not always proper. So, the Kayseri investment of the federation is really very important for the industry. Thanks to the academy, we will be able to hold 6 exams a year. Holding the exams on our premises will provide safety and security, which is very important for us. We would like to thank Turkey ASFED and KAYSAD for this initiative. 

Academy will provide employment opportunities

Principal Ahmet Hakan Altan emphasized the importance of providing employment opportunities for graduates in the fields in which they are trained:

A.H.A: As stated by Mr. Kartoğlu, these features indicate the importance of the academy for our education system and our region. I also need to mention another issue. According to official figures of the Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education for the year 2018, only 10-15% of the students are employed in the fields they are trained in. 100 students are educated in one branch for 4 years and lots of investments are made, but a maximum 15 of them work in that field. In our school, this figure reaches 70%. We hope we will increase employment of the students in the fields they are trained. I believe it will also make positive contributions for the Kayseri industry. As far as we know, there are 135 elevator companies in Kayseri but there is no school that gives education in this field in Kayseri and its surroundings. We also show importance to cooperating with civil society. We care about educating more qualified, more skillful and in-demand staff. So, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the academy.

Nuri Kazan, a member of ASFED Education Committee who follows the Kayseri lead of the Project and who is responsible for the physical features of the Academy, said: “The most important feature that distinguishes our school in Kayseri from other projects is that it is also an Apprenticeship School because of its incorporation in Kocasinan Ayşe Baldöktü Vocational Education Center.  As this school offers night classes, it also appeals to the employees of the industry. We enrolled one of our employees at this school; he attends the school one day and works with us for four days. Here, elevator training can be given from two different tracks: one as a vocational and technical high school, and the other as an apprenticeship school. In terms of its physical features, our school is 300 square meters in size. It will have two hoistways and an elevator in service. There will also be a platform lift, as there are stairs that lead to the workshops. So, the students will also learn about the installation and maintenance of platforms. As we also need an elevator in the school, an elevator will also be installed in the school for the use of everyone in the school.”