Axalta Coating Systems in Turkey has announced a new cooperation initiative with the Sabanci University’s School of Management which will be an integral part of the three Masters programs the university offers. Through a variety of projects, students will be able to gain hands-on work experience with Axalta in Turkey during their MBA, Executive MBA or Master of Finance (MoF) courses. Sabanci University, an independent university, is located near Axalta’s Turkish manufacturing center in Sekerpinar.

“Axalta is a firm believer in the power of innovation and we’re passionate about nurturing young talent. We see collaboration between industry and academia as being absolutely vital, as it can ensure a continued source of innovation in the knowledge-based economy of the twenty-first century,” said Heinz Stolz, Director of Axalta’s refinish businesses across Turkey, the Middle East and Africa. “It is with this goal in mind that we are eager to mentor the leaders of tomorrow in order to build the expertise and graduate skills that will meet employer objectives.”

The joint program will be coordinated with Sabanci’s School of Management and allows participating students to take on actual projects at Axalta that are relevant to their studies and to the company. With Axalta’s growing footprint in Turkey, the company can offer students projects in manufacturing, management, sales or customer service, ensuring that students meet their course requirements, find the best match for their area of study and contribute to Axalta’s operations at the same time.

Dr. Yusuf Soner from Sabanci University said, “The breadth of Axalta’s activities in Turkey forms the basis of an excellent relationship between our school and the company. In addition, Axalta’s global reach means participating students will be able to gain insight into the workings of a truly multinational company. Not only that, they will also see what working life is like in a company that is active in an exciting industry sector and that uses strong R&D as the basis for developing commercial opportunities.”

Nurgün Kavlak, Head of Human Resources for Axalta in Turkey, said: “While the students can learn how to link theory to practical work during their time with us, we will gain value-adding perspective through our close collaboration with them. This program has great potential for everyone involved.”

At the end of each project, students will be required to produce a report for Axalta using the latest management methodologies and analytical techniques. This report will also satisfy course requirements for the student degree program.

The Axalta education program with Sabanci University is not a one-off activity, but forms part of a growing range of global education programs that Axalta has set up together with academic institutions around the world.