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1. Policy Framework

2. Formal learning

3. Non-formal and informal learning

4. Educators support in entrepreneurship education

Policy Framework

Entrepreneurship is recognized as a key driver of economic growth in Türkiye, and policy efforts focus on strengthening entrepreneurial skills, fostering innovation, and improving access to financial and technical support.

The 12th Development Plan (2024-2028) prioritizes entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth and employment in Türkiye. The plan emphasizes supporting innovative and high-growth potential businesses, particularly in digital, green, and social entrepreneurship sectors. It also highlights the importance of increasing financial support mechanisms, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among youth, and strengthening the link between education and business creation .

KOSGEB, Türkiye’s leading institution for SME and entrepreneurship support, outlines strategic initiatives in its 2024-2028 Strategic Plan to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The plan focuses on:

• Enhancing entrepreneurship education and training programs to increase the number of skilled entrepreneurs .
• Facilitating access to finance by expanding grant and loan schemes for new businesses .
• Encouraging innovation-driven entrepreneurship, especially in high-tech and export-oriented sectors .
• Strengthening the participation of women, youth, and disadvantaged groups in entrepreneurship through tailored support programs .

Additionally, the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) 2024-2028 Strategic Plan integrates entrepreneurship into its vocational education and training policies. The plan includes:

• Developing entrepreneurship skills among students and graduates through partnerships with public and private sector organizations​
• Increasing the number of students receiving entrepreneurship training, with a target of 18,000 by 2028​
• Strengthening the education-employment-production link to better align vocational training with the entrepreneurial ecosystem​
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These policy frameworks aim to create a more dynamic and resilient entrepreneurship landscape in Türkiye by equipping individuals with the necessary skills, resources, and support to establish and grow their businesses.

Formal learning

One of the key objectives of the EU 2020 strategy is to integrate creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship into educational curricula to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among young people. In line with this goal, various countries have increasingly incorporated entrepreneurship education into primary, secondary, and higher education curricula. This trend is also reflected in the strategic plans of Türkiye, as outlined in the Turkish Lifelong Learning Strategy Document and Action Plan (2014-2018) and the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of National Education (2015-2019).

The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan of the Ministry of National Education continues to emphasize entrepreneurship education. One of the strategic objectives is to equip students in vocational and technical education institutions with entrepreneurial skills by strengthening cooperation with various institutions and organizations. The plan aims to increase the number of students and graduates benefiting from entrepreneurship training​

Under the Applied Entrepreneurship Training Cooperation Protocol signed between KOSGEB and the Directorate General of Vocational Technical Training of the Ministry of National Education students are provided with Entrepreneurship trainings.

One of the eight basic competencies tried to be achieved for students studying at educational programs from first to eighth class is the entrepreneurship. In the educational programs “entrepreneurship” is an intermediary discipline and its basic acquirements are provided by relating it to some courses.

Generation of entrepreneurial ideas, improvement of entrepreneurial ideas, business establishment and improvement modules are included in the vocational development lesson. In addition, the course “Entrepreneurship and Business Management” provided for 2 course hours per week and which is aimed at instilling “follow up of economic developments, selection of field of activity and development of business establishment ideas” competencies to students under the vocational training programs in vocational and technical education schools and institutions and students are provided with the opportunity to take this course electively at 11th or 12th class.

In the technology and design course provided for 7th and 8th classes in general education, students are encouraged to convert their knowledge into a product by developing creative ideas with an interdisciplinary manner and the project studies of students which are the outcome of their innovative and entrepreneurial skills are exhibited. Educational program of “entrepreneurship” course provided in general secondary schools has been developed and is still being applied.

Since 2012 KOSGEB validates the entrepreneurship courses provided in higher education institutions in accordance with the criteria determined by KOSGEB  as “KOSGEB Applied Entrepreneurship Training” upon request of such institutions. Therefore, students who took entrepreneurship courses in high school will have a "KOSGEB Applied Entrepreneurship Training Certificate" and they will be entitled to make an application for “New Entrepreneur Support” of KOSGEB when they establish a business. Such implementation led to a significant increase in the number of entrepreneurship courses opened at higher education. 

The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan of KOSGEB further strengthens entrepreneurship education by expanding digital learning opportunities. The plan highlights:

• The continuation of online entrepreneurship training, ensuring accessibility across Türkiye.
• Enhancing the effectiveness of entrepreneurship training through updated curricula based on sectoral needs.
• Strengthening the TEKMER (Technology Development Centers) mechanism to support technology-based startups​
• Increasing collaboration with public and private stakeholders to promote entrepreneurship education​

Non-formal and informal learning

Recent policy frameworks emphasize strengthening non-formal entrepreneurship training through partnerships between public institutions, private sector stakeholders, and educational organizations. The KOSGEB 2024-2028 Strategic Plan and the Ministry of National Education 2024-2028 Strategic Plan highlight the importance of fostering entrepreneurship education outside formal settings, expanding access to training programs, and equipping individuals with entrepreneurial competencies​.

The Law on the Establishment of KOSGEB No. 3624 assigns KOSGEB the responsibility of supporting entrepreneurship training and identifying training needs for businesses. Accordingly, KOSGEB provides Applied Entrepreneurship Training (Uygulamalı Girişimcilik Eğitimi) across Türkiye through its provincial directorates. This training aims to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to develop business plans and establish sustainable enterprises. The program consists of at least 46 hours of theoretical instruction and 24 hours of workshops, covering topics such as entrepreneurial skills, business idea development, and business planning. Participants receive an Applied Entrepreneurship Training Participation Certificate upon completion.

The Public Education Centers under the Regulation on Non-formal Education Institutions of the Ministry of National Education offer entrepreneurship courses as part of a broader set of non-formal education opportunities. The General Directorate for Lifelong Learning provides training in various fields, including handicrafts, journalism, marketing, transportation, hospitality, and information technologies. Additionally, ministries, agencies, and public institutions organize specialized entrepreneurship training tailored to their respective sectors.

For instance, Youth Centers affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports offer entrepreneurship training programs aimed at young people. These programs focus on developing entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and innovation, helping youth transition into self-employment and business ownership.

The Turkish Entrepreneurship Council, one of the key coordination mechanisms for entrepreneurship policy, plays a role in expanding entrepreneurship training across both formal and non-formal education systems.

The Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA) is responsible for recognizing prior learning and certifying non-formal and informal learning. The VQA ensures that learning outcomes are assessed and validated under the National Vocational Qualifications System (UMYS). Through accredited professional organizations, trade unions, universities, and independent certification bodies, individuals can obtain recognized certifications based on their competencies, regardless of how they acquired their skills.

Educators support in entrepreneurship education

According to the Law on the Establishment of KOSGEB, one of its core duties is “to establish Applied Technical Training Centers for the development of educational experts, train personnel for service centers in specialized fields, organize non-formal education programs, identify enterprise training needs, and provide necessary training.”

The Ministry of National Education 2024-2028 Strategic Plan emphasizes improving teacher training in entrepreneurship education. The plan outlines initiatives to integrate entrepreneurship competencies into teacher training programs, enhance cooperation between education and industry, and increase the availability of entrepreneurial education resources​.

In line with these objectives, the Cooperation Protocol for the Development of Entrepreneurship was established between the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Industry and Technology and TÜBİTAK. Under this protocol, educators receive specialized training in innovation and entrepreneurship to enhance their teaching competencies. As part of this initiative, vocational and technical education teachers across all 81 provinces are provided with entrepreneurship training programs, which include workshops on business model development, creative thinking, and commercialization of ideas. These trained educators then disseminate entrepreneurship knowledge within their institutions, strengthening entrepreneurial capacity nationwide.