OEDAŞ Meets Future Engineers: A Step Toward Equality and Innovation in the Power Industry

Osmangazi Electricity Distribution Company (OEDAŞ), responsible for power distribution across a vast region of Turkey, has organized a series of specialized meetings titled 'Meeting with Future Engineers' as a strategic move to support young talent. This event, organized on the occasion of International Women in Engineering Day and within the framework of the long-term 'Our Energy is Equal' (Enerjimiz Eşit) project, emphasizes the importance of the new generation's presence in the structural transformations of the energy industry [1].

The 'Our Energy is Equal' Project and Support for the New Generation Since 2019, OEDAŞ has launched extensive efforts to increase women's employment in the energy sector and create equal opportunities through the 'Our Energy is Equal' project. In the latest phase of this initiative, company officials traveled to the provinces of Afyonkarahisar, Bilecik, Eskişehir, Kütahya, and Uşak to meet with students from vocational and technical high schools. During these visits, a total of 425 male and female students became closely acquainted with sustainability concepts in the power industry and the principles of equal opportunity [3]. Female engineers working at OEDAŞ played a crucial role in inspiring these students to choose engineering career paths by sharing their real-world experiences and success stories.

Hosting Top University Students at the Eskişehir Headquarters Another part of this program was dedicated to hosting graduate and undergraduate students. Twenty-five female students from prestigious universities, including Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGÜ), Eskişehir Technical University (ESTÜ), and Kütahya Dumlupınar University, attended the company's headquarters in Eskişehir [2]. These students, studying Electrical and Electronics, Industrial, Computer, and Civil Engineering, gained firsthand knowledge of power distribution operational processes, network management strategies, and modern technologies in the field.

Commitment to International Standards and Sustainable Development OEDAŞ executives emphasized during these meetings that as a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), the company has placed gender equality at the center of its corporate culture [1]. The primary goal of these sessions is not only to transfer technical knowledge but also to create a comprehensive perspective on the future of renewable energy and digital transformation in the power distribution network. At the end of these sessions, students had the opportunity to explore industry challenges and internship and employment opportunities at this large company during Q&A sessions [3]. This event demonstrates OEDAŞ's deep commitment to training specialized human resources tailored to the needs of the 21st century in the Turkish energy industry.