İstinye University hosted another significant event aimed at increasing women's participation in the workforce through the 2025 Women’s Workforce Participation Workshop, organized with the support of TÜBİTAK 2237-A Scientific Education Activities Program. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ÖĞREM) and the Center for Economic and Political Research (EPAM), and was planned in alignment with the goals of the 12th Development Plan.
As part of the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Ayfer Ustabaş from İstinye University participated as the project coordinator on behalf of EPAM, while ÖĞREM Director Elif Vardar Solak contributed as the project researcher.
Experts from Key Sectors Met with Students
Distinguished women leaders in the fields of medicine, tourism, and agriculture came together with university students to share their knowledge and experiences, contributing to the development of the students’ professional perspectives.
Emphasis on Gender Equality
In line with its mission to contribute to societal development, İstinye University created a platform for addressing both local and global challenges through this event. Following the 2024 edition of the workshop, the 2025 Women’s Workforce Participation Workshop once again reaffirmed the university’s commitment to Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Gender Equality.
Distinguished Guest Speakers Attracted Strong Interest
The speakers included Op. Dr. Dilek Uslu from the healthcare sector; Günnur Diker, Co-Founder of Eurasia Tourism under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Namibia in Istanbul; and Ebru Baybara Demir, a leading figure in agriculture and gastronomy who was named a UNFAO Global Food Hero, recipient of the 2023 Basque Culinary World Prize, and a Yale 2025 Global Table Fellow.
Sectoral Insights and Experience Sharing from Female Leaders
The workshop brought together successful female professionals with directors of university research centers, academics, and student club presidents. Following their mini-presentations, the speakers engaged with students in an interactive Q&A session, aiming to foster the exchange of knowledge, experience, vision, and strategic insights.
Discussion on Glass Ceilings and Strategic Struggles
Topics such as "Why isn’t women’s workforce participation increasing in certain sectors?" and "What strategies do prominent female leaders use to overcome glass ceilings?" were discussed. The sessions also explored what needs to be done to promote modern approaches across the targeted sectors.
Strategic Roadmap for the Young Workforce
Acknowledging that empowering women in the workforce is only possible through raising awareness among young people, the workshop offered a comprehensive analysis of each sector through SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) frameworks. Based on real-world data from Turkey and globally, strategic advice was shared with students preparing to enter the workforce. The event also formed part of İstinye University’s “21st Century Competencies Course: Manifesto 2 – Career Journey,” providing students with valuable engagement and real-world experience as a graduation requirement.
A Milestone Event for Inspiring Students and Promoting Women’s Employment
The workshop served as an inspiring platform to encourage female employment and share impactful experiences with students. It stood out as one of İstinye University’s key contributions to society and a reaffirmation of its commitment to promoting women's participation in the workforce through similar initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals.
