The TECH’24 Engineering and Technology Summit was held at Üsküdar University with the participation of experts in the field.
Speaking at the summit, Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that in the rapidly developing 21st century, it is very difficult to keep up with and surpass information and technology without acquiring certain skills. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that the first of these skills is teamwork, and the other is positive communication, adding, “Individual intelligences cannot surpass group intelligence.”
Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş, Vice President of the Presidency of Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey, who delivered the first session as a guest of honor, emphasized the importance given to talent management in the defense industry. Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş also touched upon important points that young engineers should consider in their career plans.
The two-day TECH’24 Engineering and Technology Summit, held at Üsküdar University Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, began with opening speeches by Üsküdar University Technology and Innovation Club President Sevde Ergün, Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci, and Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Technical transformation does not happen without mental transformation”
In his speech, Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the importance of techno-entrepreneurship in the 21st century. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated, “It is very difficult to catch up with and surpass information and technology without acquiring the skills of this century,” adding that the truth of each century is different, and new questions require new answers.
Stating that the first of the 21st-century skills is the ability to work in a team, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan continued:
“Individual intelligences cannot surpass group intelligence. That's why those who can work in teams make a difference.
“This era does not tolerate the ‘change and come’ mindset…”
Tarhan stated that the aim of the project is to form a team and have people with different temperaments and life views act similarly for the same goal, adding, “This era does not tolerate the 'change and come, think like me, understand like me, comprehend like me' mindset. In developed countries, those who think differently and unconventionally are rewarded, but in undeveloped countries, those who think unconventionally are told 'don't invent problems.' Technical transformation does not occur without mental transformation. Social transformation follows mental transformation. Therefore, the transformation in minds is very important.”
“Comparing ourselves with others pulls us down”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that one of the negativities affecting Eastern societies is 'despair,' saying, “We immediately fall into despair and pessimism. Recent neuroscience studies have shown that the feeling of hope and the expectation of recovery activate the internal pharmacy in the human brain by 40 percent. It strengthens the immune system and facilitates overcoming diseases. It also provides internal motivation.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who said, “There is internal motivation and external motivation,” likened external motivation to a ship sailing with the wind and internal motivation to a steamship. Emphasizing that it is very important for young people to motivate themselves and dream, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said the following:
“Many people around us criticize the work we do. We don't use criticism for ourselves or in search of truth; we use it to pull others down. Comparing ourselves with others also pulls us down. Set a goal for yourself and compare yourself to that. Comparing yourself with others lowers motivation.”
“Don't underestimate any step”
Stating that another 21st-century skill is positive communication, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “This is not talked about much, but as evils in the world increase, the importance of emphasizing positivity will become more evident. Being positive does not mean being a Pollyanna. You will see the negative, you will see the positive, and you will train yourself to be positive-oriented. There is a characteristic in lazy people with low motivation: they say 'I won't amount to anything.' They always make negative comments about themselves. Positive motivation emerges when a person sets goals for themselves, draws a roadmap, and solves emerging problems instead of avoiding them.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “It is very important to pursue challenges. You will pursue challenges, and as you overcome them, the small successes achieved are the biggest steps towards great successes. A long journey begins with small steps. Large fires also start with a small spark. Do not underestimate any step; taking steps on the path to your goal is very important. While doing this, prepare yourself for winter, but expect summer. If you prepare for winter and wait for winter, you cannot achieve anything. You work to preserve the existing, which causes you to miss many things.”
“If we increase our efforts, the centers of gravity in the world will change in 20-30 years”
Emphasizing the need to be able to dream to improve the existing, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan concluded his words as follows:
“Dreaming has an incubation period. You dream towards a goal, you do things in that direction. Then you start having dreams related to the dreams you've set. It also emerges at an unexpected time for you. This requires mental effort and labor, and then discovery emerges. If there is productive thinking and you dream, beautiful ideas emerge.
Currently, Western societies tend to become lazy. If we increase our work and effort, the centers of gravity in the world will change in 20-30 years. Therefore, young people should not be pessimistic and should not listen to those who say 'go abroad, escape from here.' We have young people who do wonderful things when they find opportunities. We need more young people who live and breathe projects. They will represent our future.”
Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci: “Our students achieve excellent results with TÜBİTAK projects”
Following the opening speech by Sevde Ergün, President of the Üsküdar University Technology and Innovation Club, Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci, Dean of the Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, took the stage and stated that courses aimed at research and scientific development have been added to the university curriculum.
Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci said, “From the first year to the fourth year, with courses like 'University Culture Course,' 'Entrepreneurship and Project Culture Course,' and project implementation opportunities, we enable our students to develop both project development and implementation skills.” He added, “We know that countries possessing knowledge and technology are strong countries. And strong countries in this field have a say in world politics. Our country also has a great need to be strong in this regard. Therefore, to achieve such power, science, technology, and research must come together. We provide knowledge to our students. Our students create projects. They participate in competitions with TÜBİTAK projects and achieve excellent results.”
“Currently, work is being done that we couldn't have imagined 10-20 years ago”
Stating that patent studies gain intensity every year within the university, Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci concluded his words as follows:
“As of last year, more than 20 patent studies were conducted. All of this is for our country to reach better levels and for our country to appear better on the stage in the technology race with other countries. Currently, work is being done that we couldn't have imagined 10-20 years ago. For example, great progress has been made in the defense industry. Technology is very important in every field. However, possessing technology in the defense industry is much more important.”
Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş: “We admire the human inventor of technology, not technology itself”
Following the opening speeches, the first session of the TECH’24 Engineering and Technology Summit was conducted by Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş, Vice President of the Presidency of Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey. In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Karataş explained the answers to the questions 'how do we view today's Turkey?' and 'how do we view talent?' from a defense industry perspective. Prof. Dr. Karataş also clarified how today's successes can be achieved by looking at engineering from a human perspective and setting out on a path with a specific purpose.
Emphasizing the importance given to talent management in the defense industry, Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş said, “As the defense industry, when we look at the platforms we produce, we don't admire the technology; the element we should admire is the human inventor of technology. Humans do these things if they are convinced. Our only question is, 'how does a human get convinced and reach this mental power?' Because it's not easy to convince a person, it's very difficult to take them on a journey or make them a partner in a venture. But when a person believes, makes it the center of their life, and correctly establishes the meaning and purpose, they can create such large systems.”
Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş: “We must understand young people”
Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş stated, “We in the defense industry believe that talent is very valuable and that we must build talent with the right competencies.” He added that companies have to expend a great deal of effort and resources when the right competencies, meaning, purpose, and passion are absent in talent.
Referring to a study he conducted among engineering students, Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş explained what young people want and don't want in their professional lives and what they actually need. Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş said, “A young population is coming; we have to understand them.” He continued, “It would be easy to say, 'Times have changed, young people are getting worse.' Young people are not getting worse; they are having problems adapting to adults. Those who have problems adapting become irritable.”
Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş: “The answer to the question 'Am I in the right place?' is important in your career journey”
Prof. Dr. Hakan Karataş also stated that young people entering professional life should ask themselves some questions, and concluded his words as follows:
“The answer to the question 'Am I in the right place?' is important in your career journey. Is the task-job assigned to you suitable for your interests? You should be interested in that job, and not count the time while doing it. Are you in a place that is compatible with your competencies? Does the work you do teach you anything? Are the results of your work visible, are you appreciated? If you can answer these questions positively, then intrinsically, that is the most suitable environment for you. However, after a while, these will not be enough; you will wonder what is outside. You will test if the work culture outside is the same as here. You will compare external technologies with your own technologies, and you will look for what's new. Most importantly, you will look at whether the work I do here today will be valuable outside if I leave tomorrow, does it have economic validity? This test is an important one that shows you whether you really need to be where you are.”
Industry leaders talked technology
In the other sessions of the day, Dr. Cihan Taştan, Director of TRGENMER at Üsküdar University, Daron Yöndem, Microsoft Application Innovation Technology Leader, and Ömer Ataş, TÜBİTAK Space Project Manager, delivered their presentations.
On the second day, Co-Print Founder Fatih Kazım Duymaz, Presidency of Defense Industries KAAN Avionics, Mission and Weapon Systems & HÜRJET Program Manager Muhammed Ali Yiğit, Bilişim Vadisi General Manager Erkam Tüzgen, Trendyol Technology Leader Emre Savcı, and TurkishTechnology AI Product Owner Ramazan Sarı shared information about current technologies.
The TECH’24 Engineering and Technology Summit concluded with a family photo session.
