Education Bridge from Izmir to the Netherlands

In an effort to create new career opportunities for its students, the Faculty of Business at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), which is part of the IBSEN summer school program that includes some of the world's top universities, provided three students with an experience in the Netherlands. Students Kerem Kavruk, Nihan Karaküçük, and Ali Erdoğan Olguner attended a two-week program at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in Den Haag, Netherlands. IUE students not only learned the latest techniques in the business world but also met students and faculty members from around 15 different countries, building international connections and enjoying an unforgettable experience. They had the joy of discovering new cultures and making friendships while also improving their foreign language skills.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

Mentioning that it was her first time traveling abroad alone, Nihan Karaküçük, a third-year Business Administration student at IUE said that she felt more confident and open-minded. Karaküçük said, “I believe that the education I received in the Netherlands will greatly contribute to my professional life and broaden my perspective. This two-week period, during which we worked in groups and prepared presentations every day, was challenging but a truly wonderful experience. Although I struggled a bit in the first few days, once I got used to it, I thought, ‘I’m glad I’m here.’”

WE BUILT CONNECTIONS

Emphasizing that the summer school was particularly valuable for gaining experience in intercultural interaction and learning about the international business world, Kerem Kavruk, a third-year Economics student said, “The program, which lasted two weeks, focused on new techniques used in the business world and industry. None of the instructors at the summer school were regular academics; some were experienced business professionals from private companies. They shared how they applied these new techniques in their careers, and they even taught and supervised us in using them. The summer school also provided us with valuable cultural experiences. There were participants from Korea, the Czech Republic, and France, among others. Thanks to the summer school, we not only exchanged cultures but also benefited from the experiences of many professionals from different countries.”

WE LEARNED THE LATEST TECHNIQUES

Expressing that the Netherlands program greatly contributed to improving his foreign language skills, Ali Erdoğan Olguner, a fourth-year Business Administration student said, “Thanks to the summer school, I enhanced my English skills further. We also got to know many different cultures. Listening to the experiences of speakers from various sectors with international experience was beneficial for us. Whenever we learned something new, we immediately applied it in the next lesson. We worked in groups and had the opportunity to put what we learned into practice. We were given the chance to test and apply different techniques. Additionally, we were assigned to different regions. As part of the project, we interviewed local residents about the issues in the areas we were assigned to and worked on finding solutions. On the other hand, the city was also very beautiful. The school organized a day trip to Amsterdam, which we thoroughly enjoyed.”

WE HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM

Pointing out that universities from countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Canada, the USA, Finland, the Netherlands, France, and Italy are members of the IBSEN summer school network, Prof. Dr. Burcu Güneri Çangarlı, Dean of IUE Faculty of Business said, “As a faculty, we place great importance on international collaborations and work to enhance the opportunities we offer our students. We not only provide quality education; we also take steps to ensure our students engage internationally. We have great confidence in our students and believe they will succeed anywhere in the world. Being part of IBSEN is a wonderful example of the steps we are taking internationally. Our students had a very beneficial and successful two-week period in the Netherlands. I congratulate them.”