Career opportunities for university students and graduates have been brought together at Hacettepe University. Organised under the coordination of our University’s Career Centre and in collaboration with student societies, the Hacettepe Career Fair ’26 commenced with an opening ceremony held at the Beytepe Campus. Taking place under the theme ‘Global Horizons’, this year’s 15th edition of the fair is expected to welcome approximately 16,000 visitors at the Tunçalp Özgen Congress and Culture Centre. The opening ceremony of the event, which will run for two days, was attended by our University’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, Hacettepe University administrators, academics and students, as well as numerous executives from the companies participating in the fair.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Öztürk: “Every interaction is an opportunity”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Serhat Öztürk, Director of the Career Centre at Hacettepe University, emphasised that they were building a bridge between students, graduates and the industry. Highlighting the importance of this event for students, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Öztürk said, “Every interaction is an opportunity. The companies here have come for you. Please speak to them and get to know them. Make the most of this wonderful opportunity,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran: “We place great importance on equipping our students with skills suited to the business world”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, our University Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, emphasised that preparing students for the business world is a strategic priority at Hacettepe University, stating:
“As Hacettepe University, we prioritise ensuring our students can adapt swiftly to the changing labour market and are equipped with skills that meet the needs of the business world. Within this framework, our university aims to facilitate our graduates’ entry into the workforce, support employment opportunities suited to their talents, enhance job satisfaction, and ensure our graduates leave with competencies aligned with sectoral expectations. These initiatives are comprehensively supported by our university as a strategic priority.”
Highlighting the importance of university-industry collaboration today, Prof. Dr. Güran continued his speech as follows:
“In this regard, we are pursuing initiatives such as curriculum development with the participation of industry stakeholders, monitoring educational content to ensure it meets current skills requirements, and innovative approaches such as AI-assisted CV preparation and interview simulations, as well as efforts to strengthen lifelong learning processes such as micro-credentials. Through these initiatives, we are enhancing our university’s processes within the framework of a vision to establish a multi-stakeholder, holistic and dynamic skills development ecosystem that makes university-industry collaboration stronger and more sustainable.”
“We hope this will be a major step in shaping your career path with resounding success”
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Güran emphasised that the contacts made over the two days of the fair would be crucial in helping students solidify their career choices, gain a proper understanding of the business world, and formulate sound career plans. Stating that this fair should foster a holistic awareness among students, Prof. Dr. Güran continued:
“We expect you to keep your curiosity alive, invest in self-discovery, and continue to build on your strengths, whilst developing a strategic perspective on how these strengths can lead to greater success in specific fields. I invite you to actively follow the fair’s programme, attend the sessions, and make the most of this opportunity. We hope that every connection you make during the fair will not merely be a polite interaction regarding professional life, but a significant and powerful step that will help shape your career path with magnificent achievements.”
Following his speech, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, was presented with a plaque by Melisa Öztürk, Chair of the Hacettepe Career Fair ’26 Organising Committee. Prof. Dr. Güran visited the company stands located within the fair grounds.
