Fespa is helping fund a new training programme for printers in Turkey. As part of its ‘Profit for Purpose’ commitment in Eurasia, Fespa - working through its Turkish National Association, Ared - has invested 50,000 Turkish Lira (approximately 18,000 Euro) in Mersinli Technical and Industrial Vocational College, Izmir, Turkey.
This move progresses Fespa's commitment to the region through a two-phase programme. The first phase earmarked 115,000 Euro to support the gathering of regional market intelligence and develop pan-regional links. The second phase, instigated by the Fespa Eurasia Partner Committee, allocated a further 100,000 Turkish Lira to local projects to promote wide-format print. The creation of the new college course in Izmir accounts for half of the funds assigned to the second phase; the remaining 50,000 Turkish Lira will be spent on activity to spur print demand in the region (details of which are still being finalised).
The new technical course in Izmir on industrial advertisement materials and digital print will cover areas such as CAD, industrial design, digital printing, metal surface treatment and basic electrical and lighting training. The course will be available to 25 students in the 2014-2015 academic period.
Fespa CEO Neil Felton said: "By investing in grass roots print education in Turkey we hope to inspire the next generation of Turkish printers. With technology rapidly changing, the course will play a great part in providing students with knowledge of the industry as well as first-hand experience. Youth education and development is vital to our industry's growth. Students bring new thoughts and creativity, helping to invigorate the wide format industry with fresh ideas."
Ismet Uslu, executive vice president, Mersinli Technical and Industrial Vocational College, added: "We are very excited that Fespa and Ared will open this educational programme in our college. It is a new chapter that allows students to get the right training to become employed within the industry."
Students enrolled on the course will also have the opportunity to tour Ared members' companies in order to familiarise themselves with the day-to-day running of a print business. Ared will support students to gain internships and practical experience in order to support their studies, as well as assisting them with employment once they have completed the course.
Birol Fedai, president of the Educational Relations Committee, Ared, added: "In Turkey, there are problems fulfilling print sector jobs with educated staff. After similar activities implemented by Ared in Istanbul and Ankara, opening a class in Izmir will help to increase the pool of trained personnel for the industry. The decision by the Fespa Eurasia Partner Committee to support education is great news for our community. Local businesses are aiding this by employing students and supplying them with scholarships. It really is helping to bring new blood to the industry and increase standards."
Felton concluded: "Profit for Purpose is about giving back to our global community. We're also continuing to invest heavily in the Eurasia region, working with local stakeholders to develop industry relationships and gathering regional market research. This investment helped us to make the inaugural Fespa Eurasia 2013 a truly pan-regional event, and we are committed to building on that success with the second Fespa Eurasia this December."