Koç Schools Across Türkiye Convened for the Future of Education

The first Koç Schools Meet-up, organized by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, brought together representatives from 21 Koç Schools across Türkiye along with schools from the Hope Cities. Held in Istanbul on April 10–11, the meeting created space to share experiences, listen, learn, and draw inspiration, reminding us all that education goes far beyond the classroom and extends into every moment of life.

The event took place at Beykoz Koç Middle School, a model school designed and established by the Foundation in 2019, and opened with a speech by School Principal Bayram Atakoğlu. Expressing his enthusiasm, Atakoğlu remarked that the meet-up offered a great opportunity to unite diverse voices and stories from across the country. Beykoz District National Education Director Sevcenur Özcan also emphasized the impact of the Foundation’s “build, transfer, protect” approach in shaping the future of education.

Vehbi Koç Foundation General Manager Oğuz Toprakoğlu echoed the words of the late Vehbi Koç - “I exist if my country exists” - and described the meet-up as an important step toward achieving sustainable education quality. He added that the Koç Schools Meet-ups will become an annual event and noted, “We aim to introduce you, our valued administrators and teachers, to schools that are recognized as exemplary models in their provinces, to explore opportunities for collaboration and to inspire one another by sharing best practices.” His words further energized the room.

Guest speaker Assoc. Prof. Emre Er, Ph.D., offered his perspective by describing Beykoz Koç Middle School not just as a school building but as an educational ethos. He introduced the “Third Teacher” concept, underlining the importance of embracing a collective mindset and empowering teachers rather than relying on centralized systems. His call to “think together and produce together” resonated deeply with the attendees. He noted that Koç Schools Meet-ups represent a strong step in this direction.

Over two full days of sessions, the agenda covered many important topics. Participants discovered the inspiring educational contributions of Koç Group companies - Opet, Ford Otosan, Tüpraş, and Yapı Kredi. Assoc. Prof. Yavuz Samur, Ph.D., detailed the impact of technology in education and presented examples of initiatives that support psychological resilience in schools. Workshops such as “Artificial Intelligence Use and Applications in Education” and “Transforming Schools into Life Centers” provided insights. Participants also engaged with key stakeholders including KODA, Teachers’ Network, Suna’s Daughters, and TEGV to learn more about their educational and teacher-focused projects. The event concluded with a stage performance by the Beykoz Koç Middle School Choir.