Participation Finance Education And Employment

The star of the participation finance sector shines with its strong growth trend worldwide. The participation finance ecosystem, which has grown and expanded, especially with the effect of government support, continues on its way by drawing a better graph every year. This growth, which continues visibly in our country and on a global scale, also brings the sector's demand for qualified human resources to the agenda.

Every sector in the economic field creates a workforce need as it grows and begins to serve more people. At first glance, this seems like an equation between the demand for human resources and the job seekers to meet this demand. However, when we consider a sector, in particular, it requires taking into account many factors such as the human resource personnel profile, training processes, 

and the employee's adaptation to the developments in the sector, which will meet the needs of the sector.

The participation finance sector operates with a system that differs from conventional banking activities primarily in principle and methodological features. The sector has its instruments and products, as the system, which is based on the principle of no interest , creates the use of financial tools, fundraising and financing forms within the framework of this principle. In this context, participation finance has different literature from the conventional financial system.

Considering the unique factors of the system, it is possible to understand that human resources also need a unique profile. From this point of view, the education of people who will work in the participation finance sector, policies regarding education, support, academy-industry collaborations and scientific studies also become the subject of employment in the sector.

PARTICIPATION FINANCE EDUCATION IN TÜRKİYE

Islamic finance, which has a history of nearly 40 years in Turkey, has become a rapidly developing field that we call the participation finance model today. In the beginning, there was not enough academic study on this field in Turkey, and the existing standard education in economics, business, finance, banking, etc., did not meet the sector's unique needs. This situation necessitated the integration of participation finance sector employees into the sector through in-house training. Especially as a result of the breakthroughs made in the last 20 years, many academic institutions provide education for the sector today.

According to the report of University-Sector Cooperation Detections, Problems and Suggestions in the Field of Islamic Economics and Finance in Turkey, published last February (2022), in partnership with the Research Center for Islamic Economics (IKAM) and Foundation for Science Culture and Education (İLKE), there are 3 undergraduate programs, 16 graduate programs, 11 doctoral programs, 12 research centres and 1 institute providing the appropriate education for the participation finance model in Turkey.

If we look at it in the light of this data, it is seen that the process carried out has gone a long way when compared 

with the sector’s internal trainings. Students studying at universities climb the career ladder with a good command of participation finance and have the qualifications to meet the needs of the industry.

THE ROLE OF PARTICIPATION BANKS AND TKBB

Six participation banks operating in Turkey are working to enrich their staff's knowledge and keep their employees up-to-date in the changing world. In addition, we witness that they have developed various projects to attract young people to the sector.

The Participation Banks Association of Turkey (TKBB), which is the roof of the sector, plays an essential role in the cooperation and coordination of the stakeholders in the ecosystem. While TKBB continues training for the existing human resources with the programs it has created, it also carries out studies such as scholarship and incentive programs for various organizations to increase academy-industry cooperation and to encourage young human resources in the sector.

Not fully satisfied with all these developments and studies, the stakeholders of the participation finance ecosystem continue to develop new collaborations and projects in academia and the sector. This indicates that the industry is acting with the awareness and purpose of establishing its future with solid steps.