At a time when the demand for qualified technical personnel in the healthcare sector is increasing day by day, choosing a vocational school has become of great importance for prospective university students.
Prof. Mesut Karahan, Director of the Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) at Üsküdar University, stated that they are one of the most comprehensive schools in Türkiye and said: “As Türkiye’s first and only thematic health university, we prepare our students directly for employment with state-of-the-art laboratories, digital health systems, and strong industry collaborations.”
Prof. Karahan added: “As Üsküdar University, we continue to train our students to be healthcare professionals who are compatible with digital transformation, equipped with strong ethical values, and highly skilled.”
Addressing thousands of candidates aiming for a career in the health field during the university preference period, Prof. Karahan emphasized that they are among the most comprehensive schools in Türkiye.
Students become industry-ready individuals after graduation
Stating that as Türkiye’s first and only thematic university in the field of health and behavioral sciences they offer specialized and high-quality education in health sciences, Prof. Karahan said: “This allows us to prepare our students for the future with a solid foundation and strong qualifications in healthcare services. Our university’s strong applied laboratory infrastructure, along with practical opportunities at affiliated institutions and organizations, ensures that our graduates step into the sector as ready-to-work professionals.
Our well-equipped laboratories, experienced and dynamic academic staff, meticulous approach to quality and accreditation processes, strong collaborations with the sector, double major opportunities, and career and employment support for graduates are among the key elements that differentiate Üsküdar University’s Vocational School of Health Services.
Additionally, our central location in Istanbul, which offers great advantages in terms of transportation, is another important reason for students to choose us.”
Technology-supported education is offered
Highlighting that the school is one of the leading institutions in Türkiye in technology-supported education, integration with digital health systems, and industry cooperation, Prof. Karahan continued: “We have strong aspects that enable our students to quickly integrate into the business world after graduation. For example, in our programs such as First and Emergency Aid, Anesthesia, and Operating Room Services, our laboratories are equipped with patient simulators, intubation models, and emergency intervention kits, providing a technologically advanced infrastructure. This allows our students to gain experience through practical applications based on realistic case scenarios. In our classrooms and laboratories, we use smart board systems and digital content. Particularly in programs such as Health Information Systems Technology and Medical Documentation and Secretariat, we offer our students the advantages of technological developments through courses like hospital information management systems, database management, and health information systems.Furthermore, through our Professional Ethics courses, all our students are made aware of data privacy, ethical principles, and security protocols in digital health systems. Thanks to these opportunities, graduates of the relevant programs enter the sector not only with knowledge of devices and processes but also with digital health literacy and decision-making competence in technology-based systems.”
Artificial intelligence applications as an integral part of education
Prof. Karahan stated: “As Üsküdar University, we have made health technologies, artificial intelligence applications, and digital health systems an integral part of our education process. In this context, we continuously update our curricula to equip our students with the skills to master current technologies as well as to shape the healthcare systems of the future.
In many programs within our Vocational School of Health Services, topics such as medical device technologies, biomedical sensors, data collection, and digital patient monitoring systems have been integrated into course content. Particularly, the ‘Programming and Simulation in Nuclear Technology’ course added to the Nuclear Technology and Radiation Safety Program introduces students to software used in nuclear technologies and simulation-based analysis methods. In this way, students gain digital competence both in theory and practice, carrying their professional skills into the future. As Üsküdar University, we continue to train healthcare professionals who are compatible with digital transformation, possess strong ethical values, and are fully equipped for their profession.”
Training healthcare professionals with strong ethical values
In courses such as Research Methods and Project Preparation, students are guided on the correct and ethical use of artificial intelligence tools for literature review and data analysis. These skills particularly support a technology-equipped approach in contemporary academic research. Our students also have the opportunity to develop projects in areas such as healthcare AI applications, medical image processing, remote patient monitoring systems, and smart health technologies. Work in these fields is supported through our university’s multidisciplinary laboratories and collaborations with industry partners.
At Üsküdar University, we continue to train healthcare professionals who are well-equipped, aligned with digital transformation, and committed to strong ethical values.
38 healthcare programs available
Pointing out that the need for qualified technical personnel in healthcare is becoming increasingly important both in Türkiye and around the world due to factors such as population growth, an aging society, advancements in healthcare technologies, and expanded access to healthcare services, Prof. Karahan said: “In line with these needs, graduates of the Vocational School of Health Services, having received practice-oriented education, are integrated into the healthcare system as competent individuals with developed intervention and observation skills. For example, graduates of our First and Emergency Aid program take part in emergency interventions, graduates of our Medical Imaging Techniques program work in radiological examinations, and graduates of our Medical Laboratory Techniques program work directly in laboratory analyses. With these examples, we can state that we are the most comprehensive Vocational School of Health Services in the country, with 38 healthcare programs. In all our programs, we provide education compatible with the latest developments in healthcare technologies. As a result, our graduates contribute effectively to our country’s healthcare services as individuals with a strong sense of responsibility and professional competence in the institutions where they work.”
Internship opportunities are also available
In addition to theoretical training, the vocational school also offers practical laboratory courses, on-the-job vocational training, and/or summer internship opportunities, Prof. Mesut Karahan stated: “Thanks to these practical courses that support hands-on training, our students can carry out all kinds of case studies, applications, and experimental analysis processes either in our technologically advanced laboratories on campus or during training programs at affiliated institutions and organizations. The theoretical parts of our courses are taught in classrooms, while the practical parts are conducted in our fully equipped laboratories on campus. On-the-job vocational training and summer internships take place in relevant healthcare institutions where routine procedures are carried out. In these institutions, our students have the opportunity to observe and perform their job descriptions firsthand, thus becoming ready for the field.”
Students go to hospitals for practical training
Highlighting that they cooperate with and maintain protocol agreements with many hospitals, healthcare institutions, and technology companies, Prof. Karahan said: “We have protocol agreements with a large number of institutions. In particular, under the protocol signed with the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, our students are sent to hospitals for practical training. In these hospitals, they have the opportunity to directly experience digital health systems, patient registration systems, and similar processes. In the affiliated institutions where we send students for educational purposes, they are actively involved in comprehensive processes; thus, the application of the theoretical knowledge they have learned in class is ensured, their access to up-to-date technologies is enhanced, and they are supported in becoming fully equipped professionals.”
Scholarships beyond ÖSYM Grants
Noting that prospective students can primarily enroll in programs with 50% or 25% scholarships under the ÖSYM system, Prof. Karahan said: “In addition, our university offers various scholarship opportunities in different areas such as preference scholarships, sibling scholarships, and sports scholarships. Candidates can access detailed information about scholarships through our website, or they can visit our Vocational School during the preference and promotion period to receive one-on-one guidance from our academic advisors.”
What are the advantages of graduating in two years?
Prof. Mesut Karahan also pointed out that graduating from a two-year Vocational School of Health Services offers several advantages: “Especially the fact that the program can be completed in as little as two years and that, upon graduation, you will have built the foundational infrastructure of the necessary professional knowledge and skills, gives you the opportunity to enter the business world quickly. The need for qualified technical staff in the healthcare field has always existed worldwide. This clearly shows us that employment opportunities in the healthcare sector will continue.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)