Graduation of the Fourth Term of Shell Türkiye’s “İLERİDE” Program: A New Step in Youth Employment

Today, June 30, 2026, Shell Türkiye released a report announcing the conclusion of the fourth term of its strategic program, “İLERİDE.” The ceremony, held on June 27, marked a turning point in the professional paths of 100 young students from 66 different Turkish universities who successfully completed this intensive course [1]. Implemented in cooperation with the educational entity “Bilim Virüsü,” the program is designed to bridge the gap between academic education and the real-world needs of the modern labor market.

Educational Structure and Key Skills In its fourth year, the İLERİDE program focused on three main pillars: the “Learning Module,” “Business Simulation,” and the “Project Production Step.” Over the past six months, participants received specialized training in fields such as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, Design Thinking, creativity and innovation, and critical thinking [2]. This approach allows young people to not only become familiar with modern theories but also experience solving complex team problems in simulated environments.

Top Projects and Support for Innovation In the final phase of the program, participants formed 10 different teams to develop projects based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus of these projects was on topics such as clean energy, reduced inequalities, climate action, and sustainable cities [3]. Based on the jury’s evaluation, four top projects—including “Giyiver” (a textile circular economy platform), “SesVer” (LoRa communication technology for crisis times), “SkillBridge,” and “WattKütüphane”—succeeded in receiving “First Step” financial support from Shell Türkiye [1]. This support helps students transform their innovative ideas into real business models.

Shell Türkiye’s Commitment to Sustainable Development and Employment Meltem Okyar Perdeci, Director of Corporate Relations at Shell Türkiye, emphasized the importance of investing in youth during the graduation ceremony. She stated that supporting the development of youth skills is the most valuable investment for the country's future [3]. By implementing this program, Shell Türkiye provides graduates with a network of mentors and experts in addition to corporate social responsibility, smoothing their entry into the professional world. The program has now become one of the most prestigious talent development initiatives in Turkey, based on a “peer-to-peer learning” model and professional networking [2].