YKS Preferences Start Tomorrow: What to Pay Attention to

The excitement of YKS preferences starts tomorrow. Educators recommend that millions of candidates carefully examine the 2026 preference guide of ÖSYM. The Chairman of the Higher Education Council (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, made recommendations to students before the preferences. The Chairman of YÖK, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, advised the candidates in the 2026 Higher Education Institutions Exam (2026-YKS) preference period, "The decision you make today will not determine all the stages of your life. However, a well-made university preference will provide you with a strong starting point, a qualified education environment, and valuable opportunities to prepare for your professional life." According to the written statement from YÖK, Özvar stated that university preference is not just about choosing a department, and that young people are on the threshold of an important decision that will shape their approximately 40-year working life. Stating that the working life is undergoing a major transformation, Özvar mentioned that areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, green transformation, digital production, and financial technologies have created new professions. The Chairman of YÖK recommended, "Do not make your preference in a hurry, just based on the opinions you hear around you or the programs that seem popular this year. Get to know yourself, examine the programs carefully, and think long-term." Stating that they have carried out a comprehensive transformation process in recent years, Özvar explained that they have restructured the higher education system according to changing technology, production model, and labor force needs. Özvar stated, "We are building a structure that will prepare you not only for today but also for the future. In the future, the most valuable diploma will be the accumulation of knowledge of a person who can continuously improve themselves." Expressing that Turkish higher education has a strong academic ecosystem with 208 universities and approximately 7 million students, Özvar stated that universities offer a competitive education environment globally with their research, entrepreneurship, and production capacity. Emphasizing that having a diploma is no longer sufficient in working life, Özvar stated that the business world expects graduates with experience, teamwork, problem-solving, digital competence, and communication skills, in addition to field knowledge. In this context, Özvar stated that they have expanded the workplace-based training model, which lasts one or two semesters, instead of short-term internships, and that students spend a significant part of their education in businesses, factories, health institutions, laboratories, and institutions related to their field. Stating that the pilot application in Gaziantep, Konya, Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Izmir, and Ankara covers 185 programs and approximately 120,000 students, Özvar reported that the employment rate of graduates from Organized Industrial Zone Vocational Schools has exceeded 90%. Pointing out that the need for qualified technical human resources is rapidly increasing in many areas, from robotic systems to cybersecurity, digital production, energy, health, defense industry, pharmaceutical production, smart agriculture, and logistics, Özvar asked candidates to carefully evaluate associate degree programs with strong application infrastructure. Saying, "What matters is not the duration of the program, but the knowledge, skills, experience, and relationship it establishes with working life," Özvar emphasized that qualified technicians will play critical roles in the future production world. Making recommendations to candidates who plan to study abroad, Özvar stated that it is essential to check whether the preferred university is recognized by the Higher Education Council before starting education. Stressing that it is not possible to provide equivalence for diplomas obtained from unrecognized higher education institutions, Özvar underlined that no "equivalence guarantee" can be given in advance for any university or program. Emphasizing that families should support their children in shaping their preferences based on their interests and abilities, rather than the profession perceptions of past periods, Özvar said, "Let's listen to our young people, guide them, but not put pressure on them."