About the Program
The Human Resources Management Program aims to prepare students for professional life through a field-oriented and practical educational approach that focuses on the current and future expectations of the business world. The program curriculum is designed to integrate academic knowledge with practical application and is supported by industry-academia partnerships and opportunities for professional training in the workplace (internships and practical training).
Through the program, students gain knowledge, skills, and competencies in areas such as recruitment and selection processes, labor law and regulatory applications, human resources information systems and digital HR technologies, talent and career management, performance and compensation systems, employee experience and satisfaction, training and development practices, and organizational development.
Through this program, the goal is to develop human resources professionals who are committed to ethical values, people-oriented, capable of analytical thinking, adaptable to digital transformation, and able to sustain their professional development with a commitment to lifelong learning.
History of the Program
The Human Resources Management (hereinafter referred to as HRM) Program was established to train mid-level human resources professionals needed by the business world and admitted its first students in 2024. The program’s initial curriculum was structured with consideration for human resources management processes, contemporary management approaches, and practice-oriented course/activity components.
In the program’s design, monitoring, and updating processes, the curriculum and ECTS workloads were reviewed with an eye toward alignment with the Bologna Process and the Turkish Higher Education Qualifications Framework (TYYÇ); an approach focused on strengthening practical training components was adopted. In this context, integration efforts were carried out to link the program with vocational training and internship processes in the workplace, adopting a practice-oriented framework that supports students’ early engagement with the industry.
In line with the requirements of the digitalizing workplace, content related to areas such as digital HR applications and HR analytics has been incorporated into the curriculum design. Program learning outcomes are monitored in line with industry expectations and stakeholder feedback (internal/external stakeholder meetings, student opinions, and graduate/employment tracking data), and course content and practical components are updated as needed.
The program began its academic activities in its inaugural year with three faculty members; as of the 2025–2026 academic year, the faculty capacity has been strengthened with the addition of one faculty member currently pursuing a doctoral degree. This development contributes to the more effective management of course delivery, advising, and practical training processes.
As part of monitoring the program’s appeal, student numbers are tracked annually; the number of students, which was 29 in 2024–2025, increased to 34 in 2025–2026; this increase indicates a positive trend in student demand for the program. Additionally, it has been observed that some students begin gaining work experience in human resources functions (e.g., recruitment, HR/payroll, training and development) and/or related administrative areas starting from their second year to enhance their interaction with the industry (through part-time work, internships, etc.).
As part of our quality assurance approach, the program’s teaching and learning processes are evaluated with a focus on continuous improvement. Since our university obtained the TS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification in 2023, the program’s planning, implementation, measurement and evaluation, and improvement processes are based on institutional quality standards and the PDCA approach.
Mission
By integrating academic knowledge with industry practices, we aim to cultivate professionally competent human resources professionals who possess the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by the digitalizing business world; who are committed to social values, people-oriented, participatory, and innovative; who have a strong sense of social responsibility and sustainability; who embrace lifelong learning; and who are capable of competing at both national and international levels.
Vision
To be an accredited and pioneering associate degree program that cultivates qualified human resources in accordance with national and international standards.
Program Objective
The objective of the Gedik Vocational School of Higher Education Human Resources Management Program is to cultivate human resources professionals who can keep pace with professional developments in human resources management, are equipped with professional competencies aligned with the demands of the workplace, possess high social sensitivity, are open to innovation and continuous improvement, can take initiative, and possess the qualifications sought by the industry; and to enhance the employability of graduates.
Program Objectives
In the Human Resources Management Program, educational activities are conducted in line with the following objectives to support students’ professional and personal development:
- To equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge regarding the fundamental concepts, processes, and applications of human resources management.
- To introduce human resources practices that can adapt to the digitalizing and evolving workplace and to develop professional competence in this field.
- To develop students’ analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- To develop teamwork, effective communication, and leadership skills.
- To support students in sustaining their professional and personal development with a lifelong learning mindset.
- To enhance students’ employability through education and training aligned with industry expectations and through sector partnerships.
- To cultivate individuals equipped with professional competencies capable of competing at national and international levels.
- To enhance awareness of sustainability, social responsibility, and ethics.
- To cultivate individuals capable of generating creative solutions in the field of human resources with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.
Who is eligible to apply?
The Human Resources Management Program is open to all applicants who have completed secondary education (high school or equivalent) and meet the requirements for admission to higher education.
The program is designed for students aiming for a professional career in human resources, interested in business and management processes, and seeking to develop their skills in human relations, communication, and organizational development. It offers an ideal educational foundation, particularly for individuals with analytical thinking skills, an interest in digital transformation, and a willingness to generate people-centered solutions.
Bachelor’s Programs Eligible for Vertical Transfer
Graduates of the Human Resources Management Program may qualify for admission to bachelor’s programs through the Vertical Transfer Exam (DGS) administered by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), provided they meet the conditions outlined in the relevant year’s guide. According to ÖSYM DGS Table-2 (2025), the bachelor’s degree programs eligible for vertical transfer from the “Human Resources Management” associate degree field are as follows:
Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
- Human Resource Management
- Business Administration
- Public Administration
- Political Science
- Political Science and Public Administration
- International Business Administration
Note: The list of undergraduate programs eligible for vertical transfer may be updated periodically in accordance with relevant regulations and the current DGS guide published by ÖSYM (Table 2).
Student Clubs and Social Activities
Our students can actively participate in student clubs within the university in line with their interests and individual skills, and have the opportunity to take part in activities that support their social, cultural, and professional development.
Club activities contribute to the development of 21st-century skills such as teamwork, effective communication, leadership, organization, and project management, reinforcing the social and professional competencies students will need in their professional lives.
Additionally, industry meetups, seminars, workshops, career days, and mentoring events organized by the clubs help students expand their professional networks, gain a closer understanding of the business world, and increase their awareness of internship and employment opportunities.
Through these activities, students are encouraged to actively participate in university life, and a sense of social responsibility and a culture of lifelong learning are fostered.
Career Opportunities for Graduates
Graduates of the Human Resources Management Program can be employed in the human resources departments of public and private sector organizations, where they perform duties related to the planning, implementation, and development of human resources processes. Graduates have opportunities to work particularly in the following areas:
- Human Resources Management units (HR planning, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, compensation and benefits)
- Employee relations and industrial relations units
- Organizational development and change management units
- Human resources information systems (HRIS) and digital HR applications
- Competency and career management processes
- Occupational health and safety and labor law compliance
- Consulting firms and organizations providing outsourced HR services
- Human resources departments of public institutions and local governments
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program can begin their careers in various positions within the human resources field, leveraging the professional knowledge and practical skills they have acquired. The primary positions in which graduates may be employed include:
- Human Resources Assistant / Human Resources Specialist Assistant
- Recruitment and Selection/Placement Assistant / Coordinator
- Training and Development Assistant
- Payroll and Personnel Affairs Assistant / Clerk
- Compensation and Benefits Assistant
- Performance and Career Management Assistant
- Employee Relations Assistant
- HR Reporting / HR Analytics and Digital HR Systems Support Staff
- HR Operations / Administrative Support Staff
- Relevant positions and titles in public institutions
Program graduates can also advance their academic and professional careers by transferring to Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Labor Economics, Industrial Relations, and other related bachelor’s degree programs through the Vertical Transfer Exam (DGS).