IN THIS SECTION
Dear
Students, Esteemed Prospective Students, and Valued Stakeholders,
On behalf of the Olive Growing and Olive
Processing Technology Program within the Department of Plant and Animal
Production at Edremit Vocational School of Balıkesir University, I am pleased
to extend my respectful greetings to you.
Located in Edremit, one of the world’s
distinguished olive-producing regions at the foothills of the Kazdağları (Mount
Ida), our program offers a unique educational environment where a deep-rooted
olive culture meets strong academic expertise. Our region is widely recognized
at national and international levels, particularly for the geographically
indicated Edremit Gulf Olive Oil, which provides significant advantages to our
program in terms of both practical training and research opportunities.
The primary objective of our program is to
educate well-equipped technical professionals with strong analytical skills and
a high level of awareness regarding quality and sustainability in the fields of
olive cultivation, harvesting, storage, olive processing techniques, and olive
oil production technologies. Our educational approach is based not only on
delivering theoretical knowledge but also on reinforcing this knowledge through
practical applications. Our students enhance their professional competencies
through laboratory practices, fieldwork, technical visits, and industry
internships.
In line with our student-centered approach, we
consider it our foremost responsibility to support each student according to
their individual potential, interests, and career goals. Through academic
advising, practice-oriented course content, and close collaboration with the
sector, we aim to strengthen our students’ employment opportunities after
graduation. We also attach great importance to fostering an entrepreneurial
mindset and guiding graduates who wish to establish their own businesses.
Our academic vision is to become an educational
center that embraces innovative practices focused on quality, efficiency, and
sustainability in the olive and olive oil sector, closely follows scientific
developments, and contributes to shaping the industry. Accordingly,
contemporary issues such as good agricultural practices, organic production,
the effects of climate change on olive cultivation, waste management, and
environmentally friendly production technologies hold a significant place in
our curriculum. Our goal is to prepare our students not only for today’s needs
but also for the agricultural and food systems of the future.
Our research activities focus on generating
solutions to the challenges faced by regional producers, improving quality
parameters, and developing new processing techniques. Studies conducted on
topics such as the adaptation of olive varieties, yield and quality analyses,
and sensory and chemical quality criteria of olive oil contribute both to
academic literature and to direct sectoral development. We aim to enhance our
students’ scientific thinking skills by actively involving them in these research
processes.
National and international collaborations play an
important role in the development of our program. Joint initiatives with sector
representatives, producer associations, cooperatives, and public institutions
enable our students to become familiar with real production environments. In
addition, through international exchange programs and project partnerships, we
provide opportunities for our students and academic staff to observe and
experience practices in different countries. Educating graduates who possess a
multidimensional perspective and closely follow global changes in agriculture
and food policies is among our primary objectives.
Our institutional identity is built upon
adherence to scientific ethical principles, transparency, continuous
improvement, and social responsibility. Olive cultivation is not only an
economic activity but also a cultural heritage. With this awareness, we attach
importance to conveying the historical, cultural, and socio-economic dimensions
of olives to our students. We adopt an educational approach that contributes to
regional development, respects the environment, and prioritizes social benefit.
I warmly invite all students who aspire to play
an active role in the future of the agriculture and food sector, contribute to
sustainable production models, and specialize in olive cultivation to join our
program. We would be delighted to welcome you as part of our academic community
flourishing in the fertile lands of Edremit.
On this occasion, I wish success to prospective
students considering our program and extend my sincere gratitude to our current
students and all stakeholders for their valuable contributions.
Sincerely,
Asst. Prof. Dr. Tuba ÖNCÜL ABACIGİL
Head of the Department of Plant and Animal Production
