The TÖDEB Fintech Apprentice Program, executed in collaboration between Marmara University and the Association of Payment and Electronic Money Institutions of Turkey (TÖDEB), has commenced its third academic year with an opening event. Hosted by Marmara University, the event featured opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Ali Murat Kırık, Head of the Department of Visual Communication Design at the Faculty of Communication; Tarık Tombul, Vice Chairman of the Board of TÖDEB; and Semih Kumsal, Licensing Director of Payment Systems at the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye.

The Fintech Ecosystem Grows at Marmara University

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Ali Murat Kırık emphasized that Marmara University is not only an institution engaged in academic production but also one that actively connects knowledge with the industry. Kırık noted that university-industry collaborations significantly contribute to students' career development and stated that the Fintech Apprentice Program allows young people to gain practical experience in the field of financial technology.

Tarık Tombul, Vice Chairman of TÖDEB, mentioned that TÖDEB aims to share its knowledge and expertise in the fintech sector with young people and to contribute qualified human resources to the ecosystem. He expressed that such programs enable students to understand the industry's operations not just theoretically, but also practically, thereby boosting employment potential in financial technology.

Semih Kumsal, Head of Payment Systems Licensing at the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, highlighted the necessity of managing the rapid transformation in financial technologies concurrently with regulatory processes. Kumsal stated that the Fintech Apprentice Program offers an educational model that develops students' technical skills as well as their awareness of the legal frameworks of financial systems.

The TÖDEB Fintech Apprentice Program, which aims to bring young talents into the financial technology ecosystem this year as well, integrates academic knowledge with industry experience. Within the scope of the program, students will continue to receive comprehensive training on fintech technologies, payment systems, digital transformation, and regulatory processes.