Entrepreneurship programme at EMU to explore business models across sectors

Entrepreneurial experiences in gastronomy, healthcare, culture and technology will come together in a programme organised by the Eastern Mediterranean University (DAÜ) Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre (GİMER) from 12 November to 4 December. The centre, which will be the first official partner organisation of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW 2026) in the TRNC, will host sessions covering everything from developing business ideas to marketing and digital transformation.

According to a statement from DAÜ, the programme aims to connect students with hands-on experience and put the process of developing new ideas into practice. Alongside sessions in Turkish and English, the events will also include an entrepreneurship gathering in French.

Programme to open with business ideas and marketing

The programme will open on Thursday, 12 November, at 13.30 in room CL-118, with a presentation by Fahri Han Pınar on modern professionals, crises and human relations. At 14.30 on the same day, Ilgın Çelik will discuss cultural entrepreneurship and marketing strategies in music courses in the Choir Hall of the Department of Art Teaching.

An English-language business idea development workshop will be held on 17 November at 10.30 in room BEA-2, moderated by Dr Bakiye Yalınç, Lecturer in the Department of Business Administration.

Sector experience to be shared

• At 10.30 on 18 November, a social entrepreneurship panel in room CLA-13 will explore inclusion for people aged over 60 and technology-based models, with Şirin Damdelen Özkaynak and Assistant Professor Dr Ayşe Aydındoğmuş.
• At 14.30 on 19 November, Sılay Dal of Sparklin Kitchen and Tanya Kilitkayalı of Epic Burger will share their experiences in gastronomy entrepreneurship in the Kitchen Classroom of the Faculty of Tourism.
• At 14.30 on 20 November, Dr Fzt. Batuhan İ. Dericioğlu, Dietitian Budak Ulugün and Beauty Specialist Dr Serpil Çağlıyan Payas will discuss innovative business models in the healthcare sector at the Şampiyon Melekler Amphitheatre.
• At 14.30 on 23 November, GİKAD President Dr İçim Çağıner Kavuklu will share the experiences of GİKAD and GİKA-KOOP in women's cooperatives and entrepreneurship in room BEA-5.

Digital transformation and regional development also on the agenda

GİMER President Associate Professor Dr Burak Erkut will speak about regional development in the context of entrepreneurship at 10.30 on 21 November at the MASDER Building. An English-language session with Dr Beste Sakallı and Assistant Professor Dr Kemal Haşim will take place at 15.30 on 25 November in room CLA-13, covering rapid change, digital transformation and sectoral disruptions.

An entrepreneurship day for students in French will be held in collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot-French Cultural Association at 17.30 on 26 November at the Activity Centre. The programme will continue with pop-up events from 27 November to 4 December.

Episodes of the entrepreneurship programme presented by Burak Erkut, produced in collaboration between DAÜ and BRTK, will also be dedicated to the week and broadcast on BRT-1 at 11.15 on 13 and 20 November. In the first episode, Associate Professor Dr Tuğberk Kaya will assess innovation in the public sector.