Near East University provides vocational training and continuing professional development opportunities beyond formal degree programmes through its academic faculties, Lifelong Education Centre (YABEM), and specialised educational initiatives. In 2025, the University organised practical workshops and professional training activities in education, first aid and agricultural production, alongside offering structured vocational and certificate programmes. These initiatives support professional skills development and provide learning opportunities for individuals beyond the University's enrolled student community. The following examples present ad hoc vocational training activities and structured training opportunities, together with established institutional initiatives supporting lifelong learning. May 2025 | Atatürk Faculty of Education, Near East University Near East University's Atatürk Faculty of Education and Graduate School of Educational Sciences organised four applied professional development workshops alongside ICIER 2025. The sessions covered sustainable effective communication, bibliotherapy, statistical applications in education and qualitative data analysis using QDA Miner. The four professional development workshops were led by Ayşem Tomgüsehan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şengül Başarı, Prof. Dr. Murat Tezer and Dr. İslam Suiçmez, combining expert instruction with interactive learning and practical activities. Participants explored effective communication strategies, the use of bibliotherapy to support emotional and cognitive development, statistical methods for educational research, and computer-assisted qualitative data analysis using QDA Miner. The workshops aimed to strengthen professional competencies by introducing practical methods and tools applicable to teaching, educational practices and research activities. A total of 80 participants, including teachers, academics and postgraduate students, attended the training sessions and received certificates of participation. These activities provided opportunities for continuing professional development and practical skill enhancement beyond regular academic programmes. These workshops provided opportunities to develop practical skills in communication, teaching methods and educational research, separate from the conference's scientific presentations. September 2025 | Near East University Near East University hosted the 17th International Congress of Educational Research (ICER 2025), in cooperation with the Turkish Educational Research Association, under the theme "Shaping Education with Artificial Intelligence: Research, Innovation, and Ethics." Alongside the scientific programme, practical professional development workshops were organised for teachers. According to the University's official report, 40 teachers received hands-on training through these workshops. The training component provided opportunities for teachers to strengthen their professional competencies and engage with contemporary educational approaches. These activities represented a practical professional development initiative distinct from academic conference presentations. April 2025 | İrfan Günsel Congress Center, Near East University Near East University's Faculties of Nursing and Tourism jointly organised a Basic First Aid Workshop focused on the emergency-response knowledge and skills relevant to tourism and hospitality settings. The workshop combined theoretical instruction with practical approaches to first aid. Educational sessions addressed the assessment of injured persons, basic life support, bleeding and shock, fractures and trauma, choking, burns, freezing and responses to animal bites or stings. Through contributions from nursing academics and healthcare professionals, the activity connected first aid education with workplace safety needs in tourism-related services. It supported the development of emergency preparedness skills among students and future hospitality professionals. 2025 | Near East University Campus Near East University's Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Food Engineering, and the İrfan Günsel Research Center organised the "Olive Producer Meetings," bringing local olive producers together with researchers and agricultural experts to discuss techniques for improving olive cultivation and productivity. The educational presentations featured Dr. Mehmet Güler, President of the Adana Olive Production and Marketing Cooperative, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şebnem Güler from Near East University. Participants received technical information on productive olive variety selection, pollinator compatibility, fertilisation methods, plant nutrient deficiencies, adaptation to local growing conditions and strategies for improving crop yields. By sharing research-based agricultural knowledge directly with olive producers, the University provided professional learning opportunities relevant to cultivation decisions and everyday agricultural practices. Near East University announced a new intake of its General Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Training programme in May 2025, providing an opportunity for individuals to pursue structured professional education in workplace health and safety. The announced programme comprised 200 hours of training, including 152 hours of theoretical instruction and 48 hours of practical education. The programme was designed to develop specialist knowledge relevant to occupational health and safety practices. Public applications were invited through the University's lifelong education provision, with a reduced participation fee available to Near East University employees. The 2025 announcement documents the University's provision of an organised professional training opportunity. Records of the announced cohort's attendance, training delivery and completion should be added to confirm implementation during the reporting year. YABEM Programme Catalogue | Four Days, Eight Hours Near East University's Lifelong Education Centre (YABEM) offers a structured certificate programme titled "21st Century Learning and Teaching Skills," providing opportunities for participants to develop competencies relevant to contemporary education and professional life. The programme consists of eight hours of instruction delivered over four days. Its curriculum includes critical thinking and problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, effective communication, technology literacy and the collection and use of information through digital tools. The publicly accessible programme description provides an advance registration opportunity and specifies that participants receive a certificate of participation. This programme demonstrates the University's structured short-course provision in transferable learning and teaching skills. Dated training delivery and participation records are required to establish the programme's implementation during 2025. A collaborative program between Kyrenia University and Near East University, the 60+ Refreshment University offers free courses to promote active aging and lifelong learning for individuals aged 60 and above. Esteemed lecturers from both universities provide a wide-ranging curriculum that includes internal medicine, gerontology, orthopedics, healthy nutrition, emergency medicine, endocrinology, culture, arts, interior decoration, yoga, communication, and literature. This initiative fosters social engagement and continuous learning among senior citizens free of charge. GÜNSEL Academy, part of Near East University's wider educational ecosystem, provides vocational training and practical learning opportunities in automotive and electric vehicle technologies. Through programmes such as "Mesleğim Elimde," the Academy enables vocational high school students to gain hands-on experience in automotive production and development. It also offers specialised technical training and professional development opportunities, helping participants acquire industry-relevant skills and prepare for future careers.Ad Hoc Vocational Training and Professional Development
Practical Professional Development Workshops for Educators – ICIER 2025
Practical Teacher Development Workshops – ICER 2025
Basic First Aid Workshop for Tourism and Hospitality
Technical Knowledge Sharing for Olive Producers: Variety Selection and Agricultural Productivity
Structured and Programmed Vocational Training Provision
General Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Training
21st Century Learning and Teaching Skills Certificate Programme
60+ Refreshment University
GÜNSEL Academy
2025