The Basic Refining Internship Program, initiated last year between Kırıkkale University and Türkiye’s leading energy company Tüpraş, will take place for the second time between July 20 and August 14, 2026. Designed for students of Kırıkkale Vocational School and the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the program aims to provide hands-on field experience in refining operations while supporting students’ technical development.
This year, the collaboration is being further strengthened through a significant academic addition. A Process Safety course will be introduced for the first time in the Spring Semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, formally integrating the partnership into the university curriculum.
Cooperation Protocol Signed
The continuation of the partnership was formalized at a signing ceremony attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sedat Aktan, Tüpraş Kırıkkale Refinery Manager Tolga Temur, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Prof. Dr. Murat Lüy, Director of Kırıkkale Vocational School Prof. Dr. Özgür Selvi, and Tüpraş Kırıkkale Human Resources Manager Seval Erdoğan.
During the ceremony, speakers emphasized that university–industry cooperation plays a crucial role in supporting students’ professional development and in cultivating qualified human resources for the sector.
Certification and Academic Competency Combined
Students who successfully complete the internship will be awarded the Tüpraş Basic Refining Certificate. Within the scope of the newly introduced Process Safety course, students will receive comprehensive training provided by Tüpraş on industrial safety culture, risk assessment methodologies, fundamental process equipment and control systems used in industrial facilities.
The course aims to strengthen students’ competencies in occupational health and safety, industrial awareness and risk analysis, thereby integrating theoretical knowledge with practical field experience.
Internship applications will remain open until March 9, 2026. As part of the application process, Tüpraş will also organize an information seminar at Kırıkkale University to present details about the program’s content and procedures.
“We Will Continue Supporting the Development of Qualified Human Resources”
Tüpraş Kırıkkale Refinery Manager Tolga Temur commented on the program:
“We are pleased to continue the Basic Refining Internship Program that we launched for the first time last year with Kırıkkale University. This year, by expanding our cooperation and introducing the Process Safety course into the curriculum, we aim to familiarize students with the equipment, control mechanisms and safety systems used in refineries and petrochemical facilities, which operate under high safety standards. We attach great importance to enabling young people to make a strong start to their careers and to reinforce their theoretical knowledge through practical field experience. We would like to thank the administration of Kırıkkale University and the academics who have contributed to the growth of our cooperation. As Tüpraş, we remain committed to supporting the development of qualified human resources in the regions where we operate.”
“We Observed the Efficiency of This Cooperation Firsthand”
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sedat Aktan highlighted the importance of the program for students’ professional growth, stating:
“At the certificate ceremony following last year’s Basic Refining Internship Program, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the operations of one of our country’s distinguished institutions and to feel the confidence and pride our students gained by becoming part of this ecosystem. The satisfaction we observed among both our students and the officials of Tüpraş Kırıkkale Refinery demonstrated that the intended outcomes had been achieved and that our cooperation was highly productive. We have decided to continue the program this academic year as well. Furthermore, in line with the decision of our University Senate, we have expanded the scope of our cooperation by introducing the Process Safety course for the first time.”
Model to Continue in Other Refineries
Tüpraş is also continuing to implement this successful internship model at its Batman Refinery. The company aims to sustain the program in the coming years and, through further university collaborations, support more young people in entering the energy sector.
