National Competence Initiative

National National Competency Initiative is a project launched by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) of Türkiye aimed at enhancing the competency of human resources in Türkiye’s defence industry. strategic The project seeks to develop qualified workforce needed in the defence sector, disseminate competencies across the industry, and establish a sustainable competency ecosystem. Within this scope, engineers, technicians, experts, and managers working in the sector as well as high school and university university students are included in the project to reach a broad target audience.

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Objective and Scope

The National Competency Initiative focuses on developing and disseminating human resource competency inventories to achieve technological superiority in the defence industry. Within this framework, the project, implemented by Defense Industry Academy under SSB, centres on the concept of competency and aims to create a unified transformation across the sector. The project adopts a future-oriented human resource management strategy by encompassing not only current employees but also young talents who will join the defence industry in the future. place long

The key objectives of the project are as follows:

• Widening the transfer of knowledge, skills and expertise within the defence industry,
• Shaping workplace culture with new technologies and behavioural models,
• Developing sustainable solutions for talent management,
• Increasing job satisfaction and strengthening employee loyalty in the defence industry,
• Providing extensive competency development opportunities for young individuals capable of solving technological challenges,
• Enhancing human resource capacity to support the development of critical technologies,
• Establishing a common competency management platform across the sector.

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Strategic Approach and Implementation

Decided at the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 6 August 2024, the project adopts a model that promotes mutual complementarity among human resources in the ecosystem rather than competition. additional This model aims to enhance and better utilize the knowledge and skills possessed by individuals working in the defence industry through a competency-based approach. information active

Competency development processes are based on four key stages:

1. Awareness Building: Providing high school and university students with information about the defence industry, critical technologies within the sector, and technical competencies,
2. Operational Competency Development: Enhancing the professional skills of recent graduates and young professionals and accelerating their integration into the sector,
3. Leadership Competency Development: Strengthening the leadership capabilities of team managers and experts, and developing skills in team management and strategic thinking,
4. Strategic Competency Development: Delivering advanced training and development programs in areas such as strategic planning, crisis management and innovation management for senior executives.

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In line with this, processes for human resource and competency analysis, competency development and acquisition, and integration through competency sharing networks are being implemented. By 2028, the project aims to increase the number of defence industry employees to 158,000 with the right competencies. Additionally, identifying and disseminating the required technical functional, cross-functional, behavioural and leadership competencies is also a key objective. important

Activities and Initiatives Implemented

Under the National Competency Initiative, various activities and initiatives are organized to develop human resources and enhance competencies. These activities are designed to improve the professional and technical skills of individuals working in the defence industry, attract new talent to the sector, and strengthen international cooperation.

Main activities and initiatives include:

• Defence Industry Academy Training Programs: Comprehensive training programs are conducted for engineers, technicians and managers to develop technical skills. These trainings are delivered by sector professionals and participants receive competency certificates.
• Technology and Competency Forums: These events, held in Türkiye and abroad, bring together defence industry professionals and students to facilitate technical knowledge exchange.
• Defence Industry Career Days: Career days organized in collaboration with universities allow students to interact directly with defence industry companies and obtain information on employment and internship opportunities.
• Internship and Mentoring Programs: Internship opportunities are provided for undergraduate and graduate students within defence industry companies, and students receive mentoring support from sector professionals.
• Defence Industry Summer Camps: Technical summer camps for students deliver hands-on training on critical defence technologies.
• International Education and Cooperation Programs: Educational and career programs are organized to connect Turkish engineers and students abroad and facilitate their integration into Türkiye’s defence industry.
• Competency Development Workshops: Workshops are conducted with participation of sector representatives, academics and public officials to identify competencies required in the defence industry.
• Defence Technologies Hackathons: Competitions are organized to encourage university students and young professionals to develop innovative solutions to technological challenges in the sector.

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