Education Legacy Shaping the Future: Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Donation Schools
The Vehbi Koç Foundation took a major step in 1998 to advance education, which it regards as the most enduring path to social progress. Originally launched as the “13 Schools Project” to mark the 75th anniversary of the Republic, the Donation School initiative aimed to support uninterrupted eight-year education by building modern primary schools across Türkiye. Upon completion, each school was handed over to the Ministry of National Education. But this was only the beginning. The Vehbi Koç Foundation not only built schools; it also embraced their future. What started with 13 schools has grown over the years, touching the lives of thousands of students across the country. In 2026, the number of Donation Schools will reach 24, with each school continuing to nurture young people, the architects of tomorrow, in various regions of Türkiye.
Schools as Living Entities: Build, Hand Over, Foster
Guided by the ethos that “keeping a work alive is as important as creating it,” the Vehbi Koç Foundation regards these schools as “living entities,” rather than merely “built structures.” Accordingly, a new journey begins on the day the doors of a Vehbi Koç Foundation Donation School open. In addition to monitoring the physical needs of these schools, the Foundation also supports academic and socio-emotional development, working to continuously enhance the quality of education.
Transforming Learning Environments: Koç Model School
The Vehbi Koç Foundation addresses the needs of primary and middle school buildings in Türkiye while introducing a new perspective on education through design thinking solutions to the physical and social challenges of school environments. Beykoz Koç Middle School, opened in 2019 as part of the Koç Model School project, is among the Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Donation Schools. Its design was inspired by the book “The Third Teacher” (Üçüncü Öğretmen), which emphasizes the learning environment as a student’s third teacher and highlights its role in advancing education. Within this framework, both the physical environment, encompassing the entire school building, and the social environment, shaped by interpersonal relations, are considered integral components of learning. Students educated in such environments, designed to foster a sense of safety and productivity, are better equipped with the skills and confidence needed for life and the future.
Supporting Young People’s Dreams
For the Vehbi Koç Foundation, which has long supported social development through 24 Donation Schools across different regions of Türkiye, scholarships represent more than financial assistance; they offer an opportunity to help turn young people’s dreams into reality. Since its establishment, the Foundation has touched the lives of many accomplished students with limited financial means by providing scholarships. Since 2000, it has awarded scholarships to the top three students graduating from middle school, supporting them throughout their high school education. Each scholarship represents a meaningful step that enables a student to realize their full potential.
Inspiring Meet-ups with Koç Schools
Continuously enhancing the quality of education lies at the core of the Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Donation Schools journey. The Foundation collaborates with various organizations to organize seminars and professional development programs aimed at supporting school administrators and teachers. The “Hand in Hand with 17 Schools” Summer Seminar, held in collaboration with The Koç School in late 2014, brought this vision to life. School administrators and teachers came together to share their experiences and explore ways to improve educational quality. This was followed by the “Hand in Hand for Development” magazine, published annually through a collaborative project led by a different school each year, documenting efforts to push the boundaries of education.
The Koç School Meet-ups, organized since April 2025, take this journey a step further. Administrative teams from across Türkiye, together with the Foundation’s head office team, gather at these meet-ups to explore an educational journey that extends beyond the classroom and into every aspect of life. Planned to be hosted by a different school each year, these meet-ups underscore the idea that education is an experience that transcends boundaries and clearly reflect the Vehbi Koç Foundation’s long-term vision for sustainable education.
A Collaborative Culture of Finding Solutions to Common Needs
The connection among the Vehbi Koç Foundation’s Donation Schools extends beyond these meet-ups, growing stronger through regular communication and shared experiences. This interactive space, supported by Koç School Meet-ups as well as local and out-of-city events, encourages the exchange of ideas among schools and reinforces a collaborative culture of finding solutions to common needs.
Impacting the Present and the Future
Through ongoing communication with the Vehbi Koç Foundation’s head office team, a wide range of areas, from psychological support and educational processes to field practices and administrative needs, are closely monitored. This holistic system, shaped by the Foundation’s investments in education, corporate communications approach, and philanthropic initiatives, actively impacts both the present and future of the schools.
The continuous support of the Vehbi Koç Foundation and the Koç Family for education remains the strongest driving force behind this journey. Every aspect, from educational materials and physical infrastructure to the quality of learning environments and alignment with Ministry of National Education standards, is addressed with the aim of delivering a high-quality educational experience. In doing so, Vehbi Koç Foundation Donation Schools continue to be part of a system that is collectively shaping not only today, but also the future.
