This year's phase of Applied Engineering Education (UME), which was implemented by Atatürk University Faculty of Engineering in order to enable students to participate in the activities related to the engineering undergraduate program in one semester and to gain practical experience based on the knowledge they received during their education, was completed with the participation of 400 students.

One of the regulations in the Faculty of Engineering, which regularly evaluates the education processes with its internal and external stakeholders and where necessary changes and improvements are made as a result of the feedback received, is the "Applied Engineering Education (UME)" model. In particular, the program was updated as a result of the suggestions from the stakeholders to eliminate the deficiencies in practice, and as of the 2018-2019 academic year, the 7+1 Applied Education Model was adopted in all departments. Students who are subject to this curriculum received UME in the 2021-22 spring semester and completed this education as of June 2022. It was emphasized that the initial feedback received from students, workplace officials and supervisory faculty members was positive, and that the improvements needed for the program to progress in line with its purpose will continue.

Students Reinforce Their Theoretical Knowledge with Applied Training

The purpose of UME; Stating that the aim is to reinforce the theoretical knowledge gained by the students about the engineering programs they study, to improve their skills and experiences in laboratory studies, to enable them to get to know workplace organizations, production processes and new technologies in the sector, Dean of Engineering Faculty Prof. Dr. Recep Sadeler said that students who apply by meeting the conditions for this purpose can receive Applied Engineering Education in private sector enterprises, technoparks, research infrastructures, R&D centers or industrial organizations in the last semester of their education.

Emphasizing that UME is not a compulsory program, Dean Sadeler stated that the basic condition for applying to UME is that the student should not have any courses that require attendance from lower classes during the period of UME, since it is not possible for the student to be at the faculty and at the workplace at the same time.

Dean Sadeler: “Students who meet this condition have to make a choice at the end of the 6th semester of their education. Although it is not compulsory, the fact that almost all of our students who meet the conditions have received UME, is an indication that this education model is also welcomed by our students. With these thoughts, We would like to thank our Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, and wish our students success in their business life after completing their education.”

Rector Çomaklı: “We Sign Protocols With Institutions From Which Our Students Can Benefit At The Highest Level”

Expressing that they want students to graduate not only with theoretical knowledge, but also by experiencing what they have learned during their university education, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı stated that in this context, the "Applied Engineering Education (UME)" model, which has been implemented since 2019, provides students with significant gains.

Rector Çomaklı stated that the workplaces where this model will be applied were previously determined by the relevant commissions in the faculty and announced on the faculty page by making protocols with these workplaces: For this purpose, protocols were signed with around 150 workplaces in approximately 30 provinces and collaborations with UME were made. Among these workplaces, there are important institutions and companies of our country such as TÜBİTAK, Vestel, Vodafone, Cengiz İnşaat, Kalyon İnşaat. Thus, it is aimed that our students gain experience in the biggest projects related to their field of study in practice.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE – 10.06.2022