A New Education and Development Platform Launched to Invest in the Future of Turkey’s Event Industry
The All Events and Organizers Association (TEODER) has taken an important step toward contributing to the sustainable development of the event industry by establishing “TEODER Academy.” Aiming to build a strong bridge between universities and the industry, TEODER Academy will bring a new vision to Turkey’s event industry through professional training programs, certification programs, panels, talks, workshops and industry development projects.
A Hub for Knowledge, Experience and Industry Solidarity
The event industry continues to develop as one of the strategic sectors that brings together dozens of different disciplines, from congresses and exhibitions to corporate events, festivals, brand experiences and stage productions, while providing significant added value to the economy and tourism. Technological transformation, artificial intelligence applications, sustainability, experience-focused design and changing visitor expectations are making greater expertise increasingly necessary across the industry.
In response to these changes, TEODER has decided to invest not only in the industry’s current needs but also in the competencies that will emerge in the future. Established as the most important step in this vision, TEODER Academy aims to become a center for education, development and knowledge sharing within the event industry.
TEODER Academy will operate as a permanent platform supporting professional development, bringing academic knowledge together with industry experience, fostering a culture of shared learning among professionals and helping young talent enter the industry.
Universities and the Industry to Meet Under One Roof
One of TEODER Academy’s primary objectives will be to bring university students and event industry professionals together on the same platform.
Students studying in a wide range of academic fields, including Faculties of Communication, Tourism, Business, Marketing, Public Relations, Media, Gastronomy, Performing Arts and Event Management, will have the opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals.
Through this approach, the Academy aims to enable students to become more familiar with the industry, gain real project experience, access internship and career opportunities, and build professional networks before graduation.
Through partnerships with universities, the Academy also aims to bring theoretical knowledge and practical experience together at the same point.
Building a Professional Culture, Not Just Providing Training
TEODER Academy’s fundamental approach will go beyond simply providing education, with the aim of establishing a shared professional culture within the event industry.
Within this framework, the Academy will organize:
- Professional and industry training programs
- Certification programs
- Leadership training
- Industry panels
- Inspirational talks
- Workshops
- Networking meetings
- Mentoring programs
- Career development training
- Digital education platforms
- Research and publication initiatives
These activities will support the continuous development of industry professionals.
Strengthening the sense of professional belonging among individuals working in the event industry, promoting an ethical working culture and increasing the industry’s visibility in society will also be among the Academy’s core missions.
A Strong Academic and Professional Structure
TEODER Academy was established with the vision developed by TEODER Chairman of the Board Umut Kaya and with the approval of the TEODER Board of Directors.
The organizational structure of the Academy includes:
Chairman of the Board
Umut Kaya
General Coordinator
Seda Kor
Coordinator
Sezen Akyazı
TEODER Board Member and Academician Didem Coşkun, Sociologist and Education & Development Specialist Hande Girgin, Program and Project Advisor Serdar Uğur Girgin, along with a strong team of experienced industry professionals, have undertaken the Academy’s organizational development.
In addition, faculty members from different universities, expert trainers and industry leaders will contribute to the preparation and implementation of educational content.
Investing in the Future of the Event Industry
TEODER Academy’s educational approach will focus not only on the present but also on the future.
In the coming period, comprehensive training programs will be developed around the following topics:
- Artificial intelligence and event technologies
- Experience design
- Sustainable event management
- Brand experience
- MICE management
- Festival organization
- Sponsorship management
- International event standards
- Event safety
- Leadership and team management
- Digital marketing
- Data-driven event management
The Academy will also work on national and international certification models.
TEODER Chairman of the Board Umut Kaya:
“We Will Build the Future of the Event Industry Not Only Through Projects, But Through Human Resources”
TEODER Chairman of the Board Umut Kaya stated that the establishment of TEODER Academy represents a strategic investment not only for the association but also for Turkey’s event industry, and said:
“The event industry is no longer simply a sector that organizes events; it has become a vast ecosystem that designs experiences, drives the economy, increases the brand value of cities and impacts millions of people. The sustainable growth of such a large industry is only possible with qualified human resources.
When we look at the world’s developed event markets today, we see that strong education systems, industry-academia collaborations and a culture of continuous development are at the heart of success. We want to lead this transformation in Turkey as well.
TEODER Academy will not be merely a platform providing education. It will become our industry’s knowledge center, a thought platform and a development ecosystem that nurtures the leaders of the future. Together with our universities, we will bring young people into closer contact with the industry at an earlier stage, while supporting the continuous development of our professionals.
I sincerely believe that the step we are taking today will make a significant contribution to the international competitiveness of Turkey’s event industry in the years ahead. Because we know that strong industries grow by developing strong people.”
TEODER Academy General Coordinator Seda Kor:
“We Have Established an Academy That Shares Knowledge, Multiplies Experience and Shapes the Future Together”
TEODER Academy General Coordinator Seda Kor Kapan stated that the Academy’s fundamental approach is not simply to organize educational activities, but to establish a lasting culture of learning within the industry.
She said:
“When designing TEODER Academy, we considered not only the needs of today but also the event professionals of the future. The primary purpose of our Academy is to facilitate access to knowledge, increase the sharing of experience and promote a culture of continuous learning within our industry.
The event industry has a multidisciplinary structure. Therefore, our approach to education will not be one-dimensional either. We are creating a dynamic structure that brings academics, industry professionals, young people and institutions together on the same platform.
From panels and certification programs to university partnerships and mentoring projects, we will contribute to our industry through a broad range of content.
Our greatest goal is to strengthen the sense of professional belonging. Because knowledge multiplies when it is shared, and experience gains value when it is passed on. TEODER Academy will grow precisely with this understanding and become the event industry’s common development platform.”
TEODER Academy to Mark the Beginning of a New Era
TEODER Academy aims to make a long-term contribution to Turkey’s event industry through the training programs, industry research, publications, certification programs, panels, talks and university partnerships it will organize in the coming period.
This new structure, which places knowledge at its center, shares experience and designs the future together, will bring students, academics, public institutions, the private sector and event professionals together around the same vision, making a significant contribution to the institutional development of the event industry in Turkey.
Operating under the umbrella of TEODER with the principle of “Knowledge, Experience, Future,” TEODER Academy aims to play a pioneering role in professional development, industry awareness and the creation of qualified human resources within Turkey’s event industry.
