As part of its support for the Gastronomy High Schools Project led by the Ministry of National Education, Yıldız Holding has signed a protocol to establish the Ülker Gastronomy Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and a student dormitory with a capacity of 200 in Erzurum. The protocol for the construction of the school and student dormitory was signed at the Erzurum Governor’s Office with the participation of Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi; Süleyman Ekici, Erzurum Provincial Director of National Education; Murat Ülker, Yıldız Holding Board Member and Chair of the Boards of pladis and GODIVA; and İbrahim Taşkın, Yıldız Holding Board Member. The project aims to educate young people who will contribute to preserving and further developing the region’s culinary culture.

Yıldız Holding has become a supporter of the Gastronomy High Schools Project, launched by the Ministry of National Education with the aim of carrying Anatolia’s deep-rooted culinary heritage into the future through education. The protocol outlining Yıldız Holding’s contribution to the project was signed at the Erzurum Governor’s Office with the participation of Mustafa Çiftçi, Governor of  Erzurum; Süleyman Ekici, Erzurum Provincial Director of National Education; Murat Ülker, Yıldız Holding Board Member and Chair of the Boards of pladis and GODIVA; and İbrahim Taşkın, Yıldız Holding Board Member.

Under the protocol, Yıldız Holding will undertake the renovation of a building designated by the Ministry of National Education in Yakutiye, one of Erzurum’s central districts, to convert it for educational use. Yıldız Holding will also facilitate the construction of a student dormitory on the school campus with capacity for 100 female and 100 male students. The Ülker Gastronomy Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School will form part of the network of thematic gastronomy high schools being established by the Ministry of National Education across Türkiye. Classes are expected to begin in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Launched in May 2025 under the patronage of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and under the leadership of Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, the Gastronomy High Schools Project is based on a holistic educational approach that goes beyond culinary practice and places gastronomy in the broader context of geography, agriculture, history, and cultural heritage.

Murat Ülker: “Alongside our core business, we regard supporting education and contributing to society as one of our greatest responsibilities.” #makehappybehappy

Expressing his pleasure at supporting the Gastronomy High Schools Project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of National Education across Türkiye’s seven geographical regions to educate qualified young people who will carry Anatolia’s thousands of years of culinary heritage into the future, Murat Ülker said:

“One of the foremost values entrusted to us by our founder, Sabri Ülker, is working for the benefit of society. Sabri Ülker placed great importance on education and science. Following in his footsteps, we regard supporting education and contributing to society as one of our greatest responsibilities alongside our core business.

“Through our Make Happy, Be Happy philosophy, which is embedded in our corporate DNA, we aim to lead initiatives that create value for society. Over the years, we have successfully implemented a number of long-term projects together with the Ministry of National Education. Through the Balanced Nutrition Education Programme, carried out by the Sabri Ülker Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry, we have reached more than 6 million children, parents, and teachers.

“With the protocol we signed today, we have taken the formal step toward establishing both a Gastronomy High School and a student dormitory that support the education of qualified young people in the field of gastronomy. I would like to thank the Ministry of National Education for launching this valuable initiative and giving us the opportunity to support it.

“It is particularly meaningful for us to take part in the Gastronomy High Schools Project, which will contribute to passing our culinary culture on to future generations, together with Ülker, our leading food company. I believe this valuable educational project, which will help preserve Anatolia’s rich culinary heritage, will also play an important role in passing on to young people our tradition of gathering around the same table and creating together.

“With the conviction that every investment in education that equips young people with the knowledge and skills required by our age represents a long-term contribution to social development, I hope the Gastronomy High Schools Project will establish a lasting network at the intersection of both culture and education.”