The President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the "e-insan Program," remarked, "We are a government that has placed human beings at the heart of all our actions, following the principle 'let the human live so that the state may live.' The democracy and development revolutions we have implemented in our country are consistently based on the 'human first' approach."
President Erdoğan, emphasizing that the democracy and development revolutions they have brought to the country are always underpinned by the "human first" approach, continued as follows: "If one aspect of economic development is physical infrastructure and service elements, the other is a well-trained human resource. Without bringing these two together, development cannot be achieved. Therefore, it is an incomplete approach to look for Türkiye's development solely in roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, and buildings, although we are a government that has successfully carried out these initiatives. The real major development breakthrough has been demonstrated in advancing our human resources through education, training, health, sports, social support, and all other related elements."
President Erdoğan also recalled that the most significant reflections of the challenges Türkiye faced in the past were seen on its human resources. He explained that the so-called "tutelage" mindset was essentially about depriving the majority of people not only of decision-making and governance mechanisms but also of their basic rights and freedoms. President Erdoğan remarked, "For a long time, the vast majority of our nation was unable to access education services and thus was denied equal opportunities, unable to access health services and thus was deprived of the right to life, unable to access basic infrastructure services and thus could not live a quality life, and unable to access social supports and thus could not benefit from the security of the social state. Every single work and service we have introduced to our country over the past 20 years, which we believe have compensated for our century-old losses, was aimed at addressing these deficiencies."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated today that each of the 85 million citizens across Türkiye's 81 provinces enjoys a quality of life that surpasses a certain standard in all areas, including education, healthcare, transportation, and sports. Erdoğan stated that "For those who wish to educate their children, all educational channels from preschool to university are fully open and free of charge. We provide healthcare services at standards that far exceed even those of developed countries, covering every aspect of life from the first breath to the last."
“TÜRKİYE HAS NOW TAKEN ITS PLACE IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PROGRAM”
President Erdoğan underlined that Türkiye has ensured peace and security in all areas, from counter-terrorism efforts to border security and public order, enabling citizens to live their lives safely day and night. "Remember, there was a time when it was impossible to go out in the Southeast after a certain hour. But now, our citizens can walk freely, enjoying cafés and restaurants until midnight, even until 1 AM. This change didn't happen overnight. It was achieved through great determination and persistence," he said.
President Erdoğan also recalled the commitment made when coming to power: "We said that whatever is available in the West will also be in the East and Southeast. We have accomplished this. Because this is Türkiye. We are no longer in the ranks of underdeveloped or even less developed countries. Türkiye has now taken its place in the developed countries program.
Highlighting Türkiye's advancements in digitalization, President Erdoğan noted, "With over 900 institutions offering more than 6,800 services and reaching 61 million users, the e-Government gateway has positioned Türkiye among the top countries globally in this area." He concluded by stating that it would be impossible to list all the similar initiatives that have multiplied the achievements in the history of the Republic by five or tenfold in every sector.
President Erdoğan noted, "Türkiye, through its e-Devlet, which serves over 61 million users and provides more than 6,800 services from over 900 institutions, has positioned itself among the leading countries globally in the digitalization process." He mentioned that it is possible to cite similar initiatives in every sector, which have multiplied the achievements of the entire Republican history five or tenfold.
He added, "In the evolving, growing, and modernizing Türkiye, the working life, like other areas, has undergone significant changes in both the private sector and the public sector." Erdoğan acknowledged that reforming the public personnel system was one of the most challenging areas during their government and admitted that it has not yet reached the desired level. He stressed that the public sector, as in other areas, acts as a locomotive, is modern, and plays a decisive role in human resources management. With this understanding, they decided to establish a Human Resources Office directly under the Presidency to lead the human resource projection and direction for both the public sector and the country as a whole.
Erdoğan stated that they are striving to create a human resource culture based on values such as equal opportunity, transparency, accountability, innovation, and merit, in alignment with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.
He highlighted that the systems developed and implemented by the Human Resources Office are locally and nationally produced. He mentioned that every step taken aims to build a "Talent Management Model" that will empower and increase the self-confidence, skills, and competencies of young people and employees, thereby driving both the public and private sectors from one success to another.
President Erdoğan highlighted that the Nation's Library is among the most distinguished libraries globally. He emphasized that the library, fully equipped with all necessary facilities, operates 24 hours a day, providing services to citizens of all age groups. President Erdoğan also mentioned that during their visits, world leaders inquired, "Can we implement this project in our country?" to which they responded affirmatively, stating, "We can share the project with you."
Erdoğan emphasized that projects like the Nation's Library are envisioned as "for all humanity" and stated that they are "at the service of humanity."
President Erdoğan recalled that the number of universities across Türkiye was expanded to cover all 81 provinces, noting that this initiative was initially met with criticism, such as, "Why is there a need for more universities in all 81 provinces when 76 are already sufficient?" However, he emphasized that these criticisms have since subsided. President Erdoğan continued, "Why should a young person from Iğdır have to travel to Istanbul or Ankara for their university education?" He stated, "The decision was made to send professors to Iğdır, Muş, and Ağrı, where universities were established. As a result, professors now travel to these universities to teach, eliminating the need for young people from these regions to move to Ankara, Izmir, or Istanbul for their education. This initiative has ensured that knowledge is accessible, and the youth in these areas have begun to develop with much greater self-confidence."
He stated that the number of universities has increased from 76 to 208, and along with universities, the education system from preschool to primary and secondary education has been strengthened, establishing a distinct status, ensuring that there is no place where knowledge does not reach. President Erdoğan highlighted that recent regulations have significantly addressed the issue of vacant university seats, and this year, such a problem does not exist.
"WE HAVE SUFFICIENT UNIVERSITY CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY STUDENT"
President Erdoğan stated: "One of our primary reasons for increasing the number of universities was to address the accessibility challenges in higher education, which had been a significant issue in the past. By achieving this objective, we have not only enhanced accessibility but also ensured equal opportunities in higher education. This approach has allowed us to move beyond a selective perspective, making universities accessible to all segments of society, regardless of income level. Today, we have sufficient university seats to accommodate every student graduating from secondary education."
He emphasized that the focus of attention and resources has now shifted to enhancing the quality of education and increasing employment opportunities for university graduates. In order to support students preparing for university in making informed decisions regarding their choice of field and career, a collaboration involving over 40,000 guidance counselors is being facilitated through the "Advisor Information System."
Additionally, President Erdoğan mentioned the implementation of a system that regularly assesses the "graduate workforce participation" performance of universities. The reports generated from these assessments are distributed to universities and guidance counselors, providing all stakeholders with a clear and accurate understanding of the current situation.
NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
President Erdoğan highlighted the role of university career centers in bridging the gap between young people and the real sector. He mentioned that the "Talent Gate" initiative was introduced to connect the demands of the real sector with the career aspirations of young people. This platform has brought together over 1.2 million students and graduates with more than 8,000 employers and career advisors, all free of charge.
Addressing another significant issue faced by students, Erdoğan explained how the 'National Internship Program' has provided an equitable solution. The program’s talent pool, where personal information is kept confidential, has become increasingly popular among institutions for sourcing intern students. This system allows for the matching of intern human resources with institutional needs, free from intermediary involvement. Evaluations are based solely on individuals' abilities, experience, and vision. Over the past two years, more than 160,000 young individuals have had the opportunity to intern in public institutions through this program, with wages and insurance covered by the state. Recognition by the OECD as a model practice underscores the program's effectiveness.
Regarding regional career fairs, it was noted that these events have facilitated the participation of over 400,000 registered young people and more than 5,000 employers at 23 different locations.
Information was also shared about the "International Career Fair," which has been organized in 10 countries to attract talented Turkish citizens or blue card holders studying abroad. Türkiye has now become an attraction center, drawing back its well-educated citizens from abroad. Additionally, talents from other countries are increasingly choosing to work in globally recognized companies in Türkiye, with foreign companies issuing calls for the employment of thousands of Turkish citizens.
The launch of the "Career Gate" platform, an innovative system integrated into e-Government for public personnel recruitment, was also highlighted. This platform has been operational since last year, offering fully digital processes from application to placement, with its efficiency continuously improving. To date, over 100 public institutions have integrated into the platform, with 3 million applications submitted and 2,130 open positions successfully managed.
It was also mentioned that promotion and advancement processes within the public sector are now conducted through the Career Gate platform.
The development of public employees remains a key focus, with the implementation of a system that enables all public officials in central, provincial, and overseas organizations to receive training through digital platforms, regardless of time and location. Through the Distance Education Gate service, over 3.8 million public personnel affiliated with more than 1,000 institutions and 659 local administrations have accessed this platform, which includes over 30,000 educational materials.
"THE SERVICES HAVE GENERATED 20 BILLION LIRA IN ADDED VALUE FOR OUR COUNTRY"
President Erdoğan stated that, based on the results of the educational needs analysis, preparations are underway to elevate the current system to a higher level. He shared that the platforms launched, including the Distance Education Gateway, have attracted over 400 million visitors in the past two years.
Highlighting the significance of this progress, President Erdoğan noted, "The added value these services have brought to our country is estimated at 20 billion lira, with an annual reduction in carbon emissions calculated at 136,000 tons. These achievements are revolutions beyond the comprehension of those who, in the past, assigned public sector positions without even opening the sacks containing the exam papers, and who continue to allocate personnel to coalition partners based on percentages."
President Erdoğan continued his speech by stating, "Next year, we will increase the number of interns in our National Internship Program to 150,000. We will also allow the extension of internship periods up to three months, based on mutual agreement between the student and the employers. Our expectation from the private sector is to provide internship opportunities for 150,000 students under similar conditions, helping us reach a total of 300,000. We will join hands, stand in solidarity, and make a leap forward together.
On this occasion, I would like to give some good news to our youth. We are opening applications for the 2023 National Internship Program as of today. Additionally, we are increasing the stipend for summer internships, which currently amounts to 30% of the minimum wage, to the level of the minimum wage starting from 2023. Furthermore, we are expanding our Talent Management Model, developed to ensure that our students can continue to work part-time after their internships. We have also completed the preparations for Türkiye's human resources inventory, which has been long-awaited by both the public and private sectors. As the next step, we have started the work on the 2023-2027 Strategic Human Resources Planning, aiming to identify the skilled and competent workforce needed by the public and private sectors in the future. Our goal is to carry out a comprehensive plan, involving all stakeholders, to train the human resources Türkiye will need by 2053."
"ALL DATA ENTRUSTED TO THE SYSTEM BY OUR CITIZENS IS SECURELY PROTECTED"
President Erdoğan stated that they are conducting these efforts with the awareness that every model produced in Türkiye also illuminates the path for its friends across a wide geography, from the Balkans to Central Asia. He emphasized that every activity is implemented in line with the advice to "Make it easy, do not make it difficult."
President Erdoğan described the e-insan project as an integrated digital service platform that offers all these tools and more under one roof. "In terms of the services provided and the technological infrastructure used, this project stands as the most advanced mobile digital platform in the world. Thanks to the Blockchain technology integrated into e-insan—this is very important— all data entrusted to the system by our citizens is securely protected," he said.
President Erdoğan expressed the desire to elevate Türkiye's workforce to a level capable of competing globally by establishing the country's most significant talent pool here and securing international accreditation. He invited young people, institutions, and the real sector to use all the services offered through e-insan effectively.
"We are a nation that has suffered greatly from those who obstructed our country's progress while the world was advancing. That's why we are determined not to leave the field to those who will hesitate today," said President Erdoğan, expressing his confidence in the professors and young people.
President Erdoğan also extended his thanks to those who contributed to the implementation of the project.
During the program, President Erdoğan was presented with a gift by Atay, the Head of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office, in memory of the day.
President Erdoğan also presented awards to the institutions and individuals recognized under the National Internship Program, which was implemented by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office and provided internship opportunities to over 160,000 students.
The award for the institution with the highest internship satisfaction was given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received by Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The award for the institution offering the most internship opportunities under the National Internship Program was presented to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, received by Deputy Minister Veysel Tiryaki. The award for the local government offering the most internship opportunities was given to Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, received by Mayor Tahir Büyükakın. The award for the private sector organization offering the most internship opportunities was presented to Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), received by Board Member Mehmet Kalyoncu.
President Erdoğan also presented awards to İrem Gürel from Middle East Technical University, who received the most internship offers from employers, Erinç Utku Öztürk, who achieved the highest overall competency score based on evaluations across 29 categories, and Ahmet Emiroğlu, an employee of Kastamonu Social Security Provincial Directorate, who completed the most training on the Distance Education Gateway platform.
The award for the regional career fair most appreciated by students under the Talent is Everywhere Regional Career Fairs was given to the Eastern Anatolia Career Fair, hosted by Atatürk University, received by Rector Ömer Çomaklı. The award for the regional career fair most appreciated by employers was given to the Southern Career Fair, hosted by Süleyman Demirel University, received by Rector İlker Hüseyin Çarıkçı. The award for the employer with the most effective participation in the 2022 regional career fairs was given to ASELSAN, received by Chairman of the Board and CEO Haluk Görgün. The award for the university that most effectively supported its students' career development through the projects and tools of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Human Resources Office was presented to Ege University, received by Rector Necdet Budak.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, recognized as the leading ministry in conducting educational activities most effectively through the Distance Education Portal, received its award from President Erdoğan, presented to Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Representing the 160,000 interns who participated in the Presidential National Internship Program, an award was presented to President Erdoğan by a representative student.