At the programme “R&D and University-Industry Cooperation in the Aviation Sector”, organised through the joint initiative of the Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences, the channels for developing education and training cooperation and creating joint R&D projects between TUSAŞ (Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc.) and the university were introduced.
At the programme, hosted by HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli, TUSAŞ Academy President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Pınarbaşı, TUSAŞ R&D and Technology Director Prof. Dr. Erdal Çelik and TUSAŞ University Relations Manager Dr. Süleyman Demir shared detailed information about the projects and work TUSAŞ has carried out in its areas of responsibility and the important opportunities it offers.
The programme, held at the HKU Law Amphitheatre, was attended by HKU Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Lütfi Yola, Dean of the Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences Prof. Dr. Fatih Hasoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Hanifi Aslan, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Şener Büyüköztürk, TUSAŞ Vocational Training Specialist Rahime Kurnaz, academics and students.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS
Beginning his opening speech by congratulating the TUSAŞ family and all its stakeholders, who designed, developed and produced KAAN, the fifth-generation fighter aircraft, a national and domestic success story and one of the sources of pride of the Turkish aviation sector, HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli said: “With the protocols we will sign today, we are crowning and institutionalising the relations and cooperation efforts that we have long been trying to mature with TUSAŞ. I hope it proves beneficial. Very useful internship and career opportunities are emerging for the students of our Faculty of Aviation and Space Sciences, our Faculty of Engineering and our Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operation Department. Likewise, our teaching staff will be able to use the R&D channels opened by TUSAŞ. We will also mobilise the resources we have so that a TUSAŞ R&D Centre can operate at HKU. Our greatest wish is for our academics and students to benefit to the maximum from the HKU-TUSAŞ cooperation. For this, it is of great importance that applications are made on time and qualified projects are proposed.”
TUSAŞ Academy President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Pınarbaşı, who began his speech by emphasising that we are one of the four countries that produce a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, and by talking about TUSAŞ’s work in the field of aviation and space and the ‘Engineer Development Programme’ within TUSAŞ, said: “I can proudly say that our National Combat Aircraft KAAN is the apple of our eye and is truly domestic and national in every respect. We continue our work with all our strength and keep developing ourselves. Thanks to the cooperation we establish with universities, we are trying to further increase TUSAŞ’s R&D capacity, knowledge and experience. We would like Hasan Kalyoncu University also to be an important partner of TUSAŞ. We would like to see you among us with the cooperation we will carry out.”
TUSAŞ R&D Director Prof. Dr. Erdal Çelik, who spoke about the work carried out at TUSAŞ as the R&D Directorate, the details of R&D processes, how an R&D project emerges and is managed, and provided information on how the technological roadmap is determined and how R&D activities are shaped, said: “The cooperation we carry out with universities plays an important role in bringing our projects to life. While the prototyping process constitutes our starting stage, once the actual prototype is completed our R&D team steps in intensively. At this stage, additions and manufacturing processes play a critical role in the success of our projects and are managed meticulously at every stage.”
TUSAŞ University Relations Manager Dr. Süleyman Demir elaborated on TUSAŞ’s close cooperation with the world of education and science, telling the students that, through the various projects they carry out with universities, career opportunities and academic cooperation, they aim to bring qualified professionals into the sector, while TUSAŞ Vocational Training Specialist Rahime Kurnaz gave the students information about internship opportunities at TUSAŞ.
After the programme, which ended with the mutual presentation of plaques, TUSAŞ R&D and Technology Director Prof. Dr. Erdal Çelik, TUSAŞ Academy President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Pınarbaşı and TUSAŞ University Relations Manager Dr. Süleyman Demir visited HKU Rector Prof. Dr. Türkay Dereli in his office. Following the visit, bilateral cooperation agreements between Hasan Kalyoncu University and TUSAŞ were signed in the senate hall.
