On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the Gazi University Faculty of Technology Automotive Science and Technology Community (OBİTET) and the Career Planning Application and Research Center hosted leading defense industry companies and experts holding critical roles in these companies at the Taşkent Conference Hall. Delivering the opening speech of the program—which commenced at 09:30 with a Moment of Silence and the National Anthem—Prof. Dr. Mesut Düzgün, Head of the Department of Automotive Engineering, emphasized OBİTET's deep-rooted history established in 2003 and its position as one of the most influential student communities at Gazi University.

Touching upon the significance of the defense industry for Türkiye's economy and independence, Düzgün shared striking statistics regarding the current state of affairs and expressed his satisfaction with the roles today's Automotive Engineering graduates play in strategic fields such as defense and aerospace.

The sessions were managed with a precise flow where the 20 minutes allocated to each participant were divided into three main segments. In the first part of the summit, participants presented the vision and sectoral strength of their institutions from the podium. During this session, speakers representing HAVELSAN, the architect of digital units and simulation technologies; NUROL MAKİNA, a global brand in tactical wheeled armored vehicles; BMC, the steel force of land defense and indigenous engine technologies; MKE, the heart of our military’s firepower and ammunition production; TUSAŞ, the creator of our national wings in the sky such as Kaan and Hürjet; TRMOTOR, the center for power systems and turbine technologies of the national combat aircraft; TASECS, the engineering base for strategic aerospace equipment; OTOKAR, the pioneer of defense platforms with proprietary intellectual rights; and TEI, Türkiye’s seal of independence in aviation engines, detailed their high-tech projects. Guests inspired the students by reminding them that their own journey to success once began in those very same lecture halls.

The most eye-opening segment for the students was the career talks held in the second part through questions posed by the moderators, Prof. Dr. Mesut Düzgün and Prof. Dr. Tolga Topgül. Participants described the intense work atmosphere behind the scenes of projects, the delicate coordination required between mechanical and software teams in multidisciplinary projects, and how an engineer can stand out during recruitment processes not only through technical knowledge but also via soft skills. While detailing Candidate Engineering Programs and international internship opportunities— which serve as key gateways to the defense industry—they emphasized that grade point average is an important threshold, yet insufficient on its own. Technical English proficiency was highlighted as an essential requirement, alongside active participation in extracurricular activities for gaining team management skills and a sense of responsibility. The challenges lying behind the alluring exterior of the defense industry were also discussed. Spiritual satisfaction, described as the hardest yet proudest aspect of working in defense, was defined as the peace of seeing one's own signature in the success of an armored vehicle operating on the field.

Interest from the audience was exceptionally high during the interactive Q&A session, which formed the final part of the candid discussions. Guests arriving from various faculties and vocational schools across Gazi University campuses posed technology-focused questions alongside career-oriented queries. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the sectoral ecosystem, young engineer candidates were advised to maintain a broad vision regarding their fields of work and position choices. Noting that engineering is not merely a technical job but a matter of vision, experts reminded attendees that gaining interview experience is a process and that every opportunity during student years should be seized to overcome this nervousness. A common emphasis highlighted in the responses was that technical interviews evaluate problem-solving methods and approaches rather than memorized knowledge. The event transcended being just a panel, turning into a warm experience-sharing gathering where participants shared their regrets and triumphs along their career journeys.

Behind the seamless execution of this organization lay academic guidance and immense team effort.

Under the leadership of community advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onur Özdemir and the guidance of Research Assistant Çağatay Nacak, OBİTET members began preparations months in advance, attending to every detail throughout the summit and exemplifying true hospitality. This dedicated effort by the youth received full marks from the participants. Furthermore, supporting organizations including SAYE Sefars Organization, BACA Machinery Engineering Ltd. Co., and REPA Defense Machinery Auto. Ind. Trade Ltd. Co. contributed to bridging academia and industry.

At the conclusion of two major sessions totaling 240 minutes, both moderators presented a summary evaluation of the discussions. The sessions concluded as per tradition with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and plaques. Additionally, Alumni Cards provided by the university were presented to the graduates who took the stage as industry experts. These valuable engineers trained by Gazi Automotive returned to their alma mater, leaving a roadmap for their student peers who will inherit the flag, while sending a clear message: "We are here."