Tüpraş and Ministry of National Education Team Up for Robotic Coding Competition

“Izmir Junior Highs Host Inaugural “Energy to the Future: I Code, I Model, I Produce” Competition

The “Energy to the Future: I Code, I Model, I Produce” project, a joint effort by Tüpraş and the Ministry of National Education’s Directorate General of Basic Education, held its first competition among Izmir junior highs. Thirty-two students from eight Izmir junior highs, equipped with robotics coding, 3D modeling, and wood design classes by Tüpraş, participated in the competition. Tüpraş continues to engage students with technological and innovative advancements through workshops in 45 junior highs across seven provinces in Türkiye.

Committed to fostering regional development through socially beneficial projects while producing Türkiye’s energy, Tüpraş held the first inter-school competition in Izmir as part of the “Energy to the Future: I Code, I Model, I Produce” project, run in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education since 2018.

The event, hosted by İzmir Refinery Manager Volkan Demirtaş, was held on May 27, 2024, at the Tüpraş İzmir Aliağa Refinery social facilities. Attendees included National Education Specialist Gürkan Gökhan Türker from the Directorate General of Basic Education, Branch Manager Zeynep Başdaş from the İzmir Provincial Directorate of National Education, and Erdoğan Akyüz, Ph.D., Aliağa District Manager of National Education.

Eight junior highs from Izmir, where Tüpraş introduced robotics coding, 3D modeling, and wood design classes, participated in the competition. Thirty-two students, forming teams of four with two girls and two boys from the 7th and 8th grades, used what they had learned in these classes to find solutions to important contemporary issues.

Energy-Efficient Smart Greenhouses and Innovative Energy Projects Honored with Awards

Student projects offering innovative technological solutions to combat climate change and enhance energy and water efficiency were thoroughly assessed by a jury comprising representatives from the Ministry of National Education and Tüpraş management.

Bayraklı Kaymakam Özgür Azer Kurak Junior High won first place in the Izmir competition. Bornova Hilal Necmiye Hüsnü Ataberk Junior High was awarded second place, and Aliağa Atatürk Middle School came in third.

The top winners received laptops, the runners-up were given tablets, and those in third place took home smartwatches. Certificates and awards were presented to the winning teams by officials from the Ministry of National Education and Tüpraş.

Children participating in the competition tapped into Tüpraş's energy, revealing their endless creative potential as the architects of tomorrow.

Aiming to enhance children’s design skills through early exposure to technology and innovation, Tüpraş provides ongoing robotics coding and 3D modeling training for 7th- and 8th-grade students, adhering to the technology and design curriculum in middle schools in Istanbul and the refinery regions of Batman, Kırıkkale, İzmir, and Kocaeli.

During the pandemic, these classes produced face shields and served as outreach centers for healthcare workers. After the February 2023 earthquakes, they have played a crucial role in providing thousands of children living in container cities, known as Umut Kentler (Cities of Hope), in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay with access to technology.

The Directorate General of Basic Education continues to collaborate with public institutions, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations on projects focused on a range of subjects including coding, digitalization, and environmental awareness for preschool, primary, and junior high school students.

Tüpraş will continue to develop and broaden the “Energy to the Future: I Code, I Model, I Produce” project to align with the new century’s requirements in order to contribute to the global commitments of its parent company Koç Holding at the United Nations Women’s Generation Equality Forum.