Educational Collaboration Between Bilgi University and Derimod
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Istanbul Bilgi University has launched an educational collaboration with Derimod as part of its branded courses. Within the scope of this partnership, which aims to reinforce students’ academic knowledge with real industry experience, students from the Bilgi Textile and Fashion Design Department developed projects for Derimod.
As part of the collaboration carried out under the branded courses framework, students of the Istanbul Bilgi University Textile and Fashion Design Department prepared their final projects specifically for Derimod, with the goal of gaining hands-on industry experience.
The projects, developed by students who selected either “The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Fashion Marketing” or “Marketing Communication Strategy,” were evaluated through a competition organized within the course. Students who ranked among the top gained the opportunity to intern at Derimod.
In the course led by Dr. Faculty Member Evrim Büyükaslan Oosterom, Derimod executives—including Human and Culture Director Metin Usta, E-commerce Director Uğur Kargı, and Retail Director Tarık Tekden—participated as guest speakers, sharing their experiences with students and contributing to the development and evaluation of the projects.
“We Adopt an Education Model Integrated with the Industry”
Dr. Evrim Büyükaslan Oosterom from the Bilgi Textile and Fashion Design Department stated:
“One of the most frequently discussed issues in the fashion industry is that graduates enter professional life without fully understanding the sector. In our department, we design our education model in close integration with the industry, enabling our students to engage with the business world before they graduate. Over the past two years, we have implemented this collaboration with Derimod. After providing the theoretical foundation within an academic framework, Derimod executives join our courses to enrich this knowledge with real case analyses. Our goal is for our graduates to step into the industry not only with a diploma but also with experience, a strong network, and practical knowledge of business life.”
Oosterom added: “Through our industry collaborations, our students develop solutions tailored to sector needs. During this process, there is an intensive exchange of knowledge and experience. Students have the opportunity to visit company offices and production facilities and engage directly with senior executives. These collaborations also open doors for internships and employment. In today’s environment, where finding a job is increasingly challenging, such direct interactions provide a significant advantage for students.”
“We See This Collaboration as an Investment in the Future of the Industry”
Derimod Human and Culture Director Metin Usta commented: “As Derimod, we see this collaboration not only as a transfer of knowledge but as a strategic investment in the future of our industry. In today’s retail world, it is no longer enough to simply know the product; we need visionary minds who can integrate technology—especially artificial intelligence (AI)—into business processes and think in a data-driven way. Throughout this process with Istanbul Bilgi University students, we combined the students’ proficiency in digital tools with our industry experience to develop innovative solutions across a wide spectrum, from fashion to e-commerce. Our aim is to ensure that graduates enter the industry not as candidates at the beginning of their journey, but as professionals who speak the language of business, analyze trends, and generate solutions.”
