Seminar on “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labour Market and the Need for New Human Capital Competencies” Held in Collaboration with Kapadokya University and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry
The seminar titled “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labour Market and the Need for New Human Capital Competencies” was held in Istanbul through the collaboration of Kapadokya University and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO).
Hosted at the ISO Odakule Assembly Hall, the event focused on how artificial intelligence is transforming the labour market, its implications for human capital, and the evolving role of education systems in responding to this transformation. Our Chair of the Board of Trustees, Funda F. Aktan, represented the University at the event, while our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar, was among the opening speakers.
Emphasising Lifelong Learning and a Skilled Workforce
Former Minister of National Education and Member of the TURKPA Commission on Education, Culture, Social and Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Özer, highlighted that accurately understanding the transformation brought about by artificial intelligence in the labour market has become a strategic necessity. He stated that AI literacy is no longer essential only for students but also for employees and employers, stressing that education systems must adapt to this transformation in a comprehensive and simultaneous manner. He further underlined that lifelong learning is no longer a matter of choice but an essential responsibility for both individuals and institutions.
Kapadokya University’s Human-Centred AI Vision
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hasan Ali Karasar, emphasized that Kapadokya University is not merely following developments in artificial intelligence but is actively producing knowledge, shaping the field, and setting the national agenda. He noted that through the National Artificial Intelligence Meetings held in Ürgüp in 2024 and 2025, the University brought together academia, public institutions, the private sector, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem, taking a leading role in addressing the technical, ethical, social, and economic dimensions of AI in Türkiye. He also highlighted that, by integrating artificial intelligence into both academic curricula and administrative processes, the University embraces a transformation that empowers people rather than replacing them.
Artificial Intelligence and Education from an Industrial Perspective
Speaking at the seminar, Erdal Bahçıvan, Chairman of the Board of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, stressed that a qualified workforce is the most critical factor for the sustainability of industry. He noted that this need can only be met through a dynamic education system closely integrated with industry and centred on lifelong learning. Bahçıvan also stated that the Istanbul Chamber of Industry continues to carry out extensive initiatives ranging from vocational education to university–industry collaborations. Describing artificial intelligence as more than a productivity tool, he emphasized that it fundamentally transforms business culture and that preparing for this transformation can no longer be postponed.
Throughout the seminar, panel discussions examined the opportunities and challenges created by artificial intelligence in the labour market, as well as emerging skills and competency requirements from a multidimensional perspective. The sessions were moderated by Barış Karakullukçu, AI Strategist and Founder of Aionire, and Prof. Dr. Altan Çakır, faculty member in the Department of Data Science and Analytics at Istanbul Technical University and Co-Chair of AITR.
The panels featured contributions from distinguished representatives of academia and industry, including Bayram Tuzcu (Board Member and General Manager of Ziraat Technology), Didem Duru (General Manager of Cisco Türkiye, Romania and CIS), Hilmi Koçak (Chief Information Officer, Eczacıbaşı Holding), Mehmet Fırat (CEO of SabancıDX), Sevgi Çakmak (Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence at Beko), Aşkın Tören (President of the Vocational Qualifications Authority), Barış Karadenizli (Deputy General Manager of Strategy and Business Development at Kariyer.net), Deniz Emre Dağ (Deputy General Manager of Strategy and Business Development at Borusan), Prof. Dr. Özgür Özlük (Faculty Member, MEF University), and Prof. Dr. Veysel Bozkurt (Head of the Department of Economic Sociology, Istanbul University).
The institutional expertise and leadership that Kapadokya University has developed through its nationally recognised work in artificial intelligence once again found strong resonance within the industrial sector through this collaboration with the Istanbul Chamber of Industry.
