ODAŞ aims to bring young talents to the sector with its 'Transform the Future with Your Energy' Internship Program, which offers hands-on learning and training opportunities. With its protocol with Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, ODAŞ sets an exemplary model for industry-university collaboration and involves young people in innovation studies.
In today's rapidly changing and evolving business world, companies are pursuing active human resources policies to attract young talents to their organisations and to integrate new generations into the workforce. Many studies show that the young generation just entering the workforce (Have different set (s) of values. Deloitte’s ‘2023 Generation Y and Z Survey’ reveals that the new generation is more concerned than other generations with work-life balance, prioritises career advancement opportunities, and prefers to stay connected with leaders and work with mentors. For example, Generation Z, which has been in the workforce for some time, is a generation that believes in teamwork and collaboration, and values learning with a guiding leader and mentor rather than a hierarchical order. At this point, it is very important for companies and leaders to meet their expectations and accompany them on their discovery of the business world.
Operating in the energy, mining, and tourism sectors, ODAŞ closely follows the expectations of the young generation and develops agile, dynamic, and result-oriented solutions that facilitate the adaptation of talent and align with evolving competencies.
In this context, ODAŞ says "Hello" to the new talents who will shape the future of the company with the 'Transform the Future with Your Energy' internship programme. This programme aims to help new talents become aware of themselves.
Young people who start their internship at ODAŞ, which develops solutions that meet the needs of new generations, are assigned a mentor from within the company. This ensures that while they are adjusting to the organisation, its departments and the responsibilities they are taking on, they are working with an advisor whom they can comfortably ask questions and consult about anything they are curious about business life. With this method, ODAŞ develops a cooperation with young talents and "cares about togetherness".
One of the company's most valued corporate competencies is 'Learning Agility,' which creates an environment where everyone within the organization benefits from each other's knowledge. This approach aims to help new joiners quickly adapt to this culture. Those who are included in the internship programme can also benefit from the contents of the ODAŞ Development Platform, which is prepared for the personal and professional development of ODAŞ employees and where hundreds of training contents are offered free of charge.
In addition, the project task, which allows them to experience responsibility and success, aims to give young people a taste of the order of working life, even if it is for a short time.
"We Understand Generation Z"
ODAŞ People and Culture Director İnci Arıkan said: "Development is an important part of our culture. Our goal is to contribute to the continuous development of our expert human resources, (which is )our greatest strength. To this end, we take a targeted approach by providing our young talents with continuous training content through our management and professional development programmes. We not only attract new talent to our company, but also support them with programmes that enable them to take an active role in projects, accompanied by a mentor, and contribute to their development. Our culture, which values the ideas of our colleagues and encourages their participation in business processes, is an important part of our strategies.
"Great Interest from Young People"
Arıkan said, "Within the framework of the Transform the Future with Your Energy Internship Programme, we received nearly 2,500 applications in the 2024 season, 62 people participated in the evaluation centre application, which is the last stage of the programme application, and 12 people completed the orientation training this year and started their internship in the organisation." Arıkan noted that the young people who started their internships under the programme will be assigned to different units within the company, such as ODAŞ Headquarters or ÇAN2 Thermal Power Plant, according to their skills, adding that the interns will be involved in practical projects in the field and that their training will continue while they are working at ODAŞ.
Exemplary model of university-industry cooperation
In addition to the internship programme, ODAŞ also cooperates with universities to encourage young people to work and gain experience in the sector. In this context, Çan2 Thermal Power Plant, an ODAŞ Group company, signed a cooperation protocol with Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 2023 to share information and develop projects for the sector. The protocol, which will set an example for industry-university cooperation, aims to contribute to the regional economy by bringing together the university's knowledge and Çan2 Thermal Power Plant's experience in the sector.
In this context, this year a total of 10 students, 6 students from the Occupational Health and Safety Department and 4 students from the Energy Management Department, participated in the 5-month internship programme, accompanied by mentors. During the internship, the students gained experience by witnessing the practical application of their theoretical training. In addition to this experience, the students' final assignments were also monitored and supported by their mentors. ODAŞ continues to create projects that will shape the future with its programmes that focus on young people.
