After the university exam results, students and parents started to search for possible universities and add them to their lists. Students, who try to learn about the departments they can attend according to their scores and rankings, tour the universities one by one as part of the selection and promotion days. The students, who still cannot find answers to the questions in their minds and are confused due to environmental factors, are undecided. In this sense, Istanbul Gelisim University Vice Rector, Dr. Nail Öztaş warned about making the right choice of university that affects their future and said that otherwise, young people usually quit their departments in the first year without being sure.
“SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC INCOMPATIBILITY CAUSE QUITTING”
Prof. Dr. Nail Öztaş continued his explanations by emphasizing that in order not to make this mistake, students should visit the universities they will choose one by one and do a good research if necessary;
“It is very important for young people to visit universities, to travel, to see, and to determine in advance what kind of social life they will live in. According to the research reports, a considerable number of students in Turkey usually quit the universities in the first year. There are two reasons for this, the first is social incompatibility and the second is academic incompatibility. Academic incompatibility arises as a result of the student's being enthusiastic, sometimes with the guidance of family or friends, and when they meet the chosen department or the field, they realize that it is not suitable for them, that they cannot do it, that they cannot be satisfied or happy. This is a situation that can be experienced even in the highest rated departments. The second is social incompatibility, that is, the student who has moved away from their family, city and friends cannot adapt to the new environment. Sometimes it happens due to the fluctuations in their family or personal life, sometimes because their individual life skills are not enough. Therefore, a balance must be struck between the two. For this reason, they should go and see the academic and administrative staff working on the preference promotion days about the field, and they should question factors such as their devices, workshops, working and application areas. After all, anyone can recognize the taste of a place, good or bad. This is an important decision, so good research should be done.”
“APPROXIMATELY 7 THOUSAND NEW OCCUPATIONS AWAIT GENERATION Z IN 15 YEARS”
Stating that the new university generation has many differences from the previous young generations, but they also have great advantages await them, Nail Öztaş stated that around seven thousand new professions are waiting for them in the next 15 years. Underlining that universities should shape their equipment and infrastructure according to these occupational groups, Öztaş said, “Generation Z has many differences from the previous generations. For example, this generation does not want to pay off debts and own a house for years. It is obvious that they will change professions very often, and they will change places very often. They are all children of the digital age, and they have a very important advantage. Currently, according to OSD estimates, around 7,000 new professions are expected to emerge in the next 15 years, and so many professions are expected to disappear. These will not be jobs that governments, university administrators, bureaucracy or bosses will reveal. These will be revealed by the younger generation, whose characteristics we have just mentioned. Today, successful people are no longer determined only by the money they earn, they are not the iron and steel factory owners, automakers or bankers we are used to, but people who have come up with new ideas. Such people are seen as successful people. That is why the generation Z will name 7 thousand new professions when they start their careers.”
Öztaş added, “The university should also be transformed into a higher education institution compatible for these requirements. Universities cannot continue to be the universities of the 20th century, that is, the industrial society. How can universities educate students in the business world and social life, whose name we do not know yet? Universities should make this possible. In other words, you need to create an institution and higher education mechanism that will allow the student to reveal his/her interest and talents based on that multiple intelligence theory, and that will reveal the infrastructure, way of doing business, ease of learning, personal differences and competencies. You can't do it any other way.”
“BEING EMPLOYED MATTERS TO ME”
Semih Mert Türk, a university student candidate who did research with his family for the preference period, said that the most important thing for him was not to be unemployed after his education life, and said, "I am undecided about the department I will choose, so I get information by visiting universities one by one. There are those I find reasonable and those I eliminate. I care about the courses offered by the schools and the job opportunities, which is of interest to me after graduation because frankly, I do not want to be unemployed.”
His mother, Türkan Kale, reminded that the most important thing is the education that the students receive rather than graduating from the university, and said, “When choosing a university, I look at the accreditation, education system and curricula. I care about the application laboratories and the existing infrastructure of the school. Because the goal is not just to finish school, but when you get a real education there, you can do your job. Self-education and a good education system at school are important.”
