Academic Evaluation of the GÜÇ Program by IGU: Youth Placed at the Center of Production

The Youth in the Age of Production (GÜÇ) Program, announced to the public by the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aims to usher in a new era in Türkiye with its comprehensive structure and multidimensional approach to youth employment. The program seeks to provide approximately 3.5 million young people with employment and social security within three years. Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) Career Guidance Application and Research Center Deputy Director, Asst. Prof. Kenan Akpınar, shared his evaluations of the program.

Youth in Production with a 10% Intern Quota

Asst. Prof. Kenan Akpınar evaluated the GÜÇ Program from the perspectives of universities, university students, graduates, public institutions, and the private sector, emphasizing that the program assigns a new and powerful mission to university career centers in particular.
Akpınar stated that the obligation introduced under the GÜÇ Program requiring companies and public institutions to employ interns at a rate of 10% will enable young people to engage with the business world at an early age and in a qualified manner. He noted that this regulation transforms internships from a voluntary practice into an institutional and sustainable career mechanism:
“This regulation is a structural step that enables university students to become involved in productive life while their education continues. At the same time, it makes university–industry collaboration permanent.”

Salary and Insurance Support for University Graduates

Pointing out that the program also offers significant opportunities for university graduates, Akpınar stated that the supports provided during the initial employment phase would reduce the so-called “experience barrier.” Within the scope of the GÜÇ Program, it is aimed to implement the following supports for graduates:

Coverage of the first six months of salaries by the state,
Updating professional skills through active labor force and adaptation programs,
Guidance toward sustainable employment areas aligned with individuals’ qualifications.

An End to Informal Employment, A Step Toward Social Security

Defined as a “Youth Employment Initiative,” the GÜÇ Program aims to prevent informal employment among young people, integrate them into the social security system, and implement a new income-based model for young people who cannot work continuously.
Providing an academic assessment of the program, Akpınar noted that although the main objectives of the program have been announced, the implementation regulations have not yet been published. He stated that once these regulations are clarified, the effects on internships and graduate employment can be analyzed more accurately.

Strong Support for Youth from IGU

With its robust career center infrastructure, sectoral partnerships, and practice-oriented education approach, Istanbul Gelisim University is preparing to become one of the strongest stakeholders of the GÜÇ Program in the field. By strengthening university–public–private sector collaboration, IGU aims to contribute to the effective and sustainable participation of young people in productive life.