The “Participation Banking and Career Conference”, organized by the Department of Business Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) of Afyon Kocatepe University and the Entrepreneurship and Career Society (GİKAT), was held at the Prof. Dr. Sabri Bektöre Conference Hall. The event was attended by FEAS Dean Prof. Dr. Gökhan Demirtaş, academic staff, and students.
In his opening speech, GİKAT President Ayberk Kulcanay emphasized that the conference aimed to provide students with the opportunity to learn about participation banking directly from professionals with practical experience in the sector. The moderator of the event, Prof. Dr. Kemalettin Çonkar, a retired faculty member of the Department of Business Administration, stated that participation banking does not represent a completely separate system from conventional banking. While it has certain distinctive features, it remains an integral part of the overall banking system. Çonkar also highlighted that in modern economic conditions, the banking sector can be considered the circulatory system of the economy, and it is almost impossible to imagine a functioning economy without banking institutions.
One of the speakers, Etem Meral, Branch Manager of Kuveyt Türk Afyonkarahisar, stated that participating in student clubs and societies during university years helps students build strong professional networks. He noted that access to information has become significantly easier today and encouraged students to follow experts, economists, and relevant platforms related to their fields of interest. Meral also emphasized the importance of learning foreign languages, stating that acquiring at least one foreign language before graduation would provide a significant advantage in students’ future careers.
Another speaker, Mehmet Selman Koçak, Individual Sales Specialist at Kuveyt Türk Afyonkarahisar, shared his personal academic and professional experiences with the participants. Koçak stated that he started his career by doing an internship with a certified public accountant and gained experience in various administrative processes. During the pandemic period, when courses were held online, he had the opportunity to participate more actively in student community activities. He explained that he applied to Kuveyt Türk’s “Campus at the Bank” program after seeing an announcement shared through the Finance Club. Following the written exam and interview process, he began working at the bank as a part-time employee in 2022. Thanks to the flexible working model, he was able to continue his studies while gaining practical experience in the banking sector.
The conference concluded after the question-and-answer session with the participants.
