You can join İSMEK’s most popular courses to gain skills that will benefit your career and social life. İSMEK, established under Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, stands for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Art and Vocational Training Courses. There are over 230 courses offered within İSMEK. Some of these courses provide certificates while others are non-certified. Those who wish to attend İSMEK’s most sought-after courses register at the start of the academic period and begin classes on the specified date.
İSMEK offers courses tailored to different age groups, so every family member can find a suitable program. Classes are scheduled on specific days and times of the week, with many courses available during daytime or evening hours and, in some cases, multiple time options.
Course duration varies depending on the program. You can enroll in classes to develop yourself, pursue an interest, or train for a new profession.
Which Courses Are Held at İSMEK?
İSMEK’s courses are grouped into several categories, including:
- Vocational training
- Personal development
- Fine arts
- Handicrafts and trades
Vocational training courses are designed to prepare participants for employment. Those who learn a trade in depth gain the competence needed to work in that field.
Some of the vocational training courses at İSMEK include:
- Information technologies
- Child development and education
- Gastronomy and culinary arts
- Graphic and technical design
- Beauty and hair care services
- Technical vocational training
- Fashion design and textile technology
- Accounting and finance
- Robotics and innovation
- Tourism and hospitality
- Management and services
- Agriculture
İSMEK also provides many personal development courses. Language training is especially diverse, with programs in German, English, Arabic, French and other languages offered at various proficiency levels. In addition, classes such as public speaking, translation, and text analysis are available to meet different needs.
Examples of personal development courses include:
- Parenting school
- Body language
- Conscious reading workshop
- Digital radio broadcasting
- Diction
- Effective communication skills
Beyond the courses listed above, İSMEK offers many additional training options across its programs.
What Is İSMEK?
Founded in 1996, İSMEK is an institution that organizes vocational courses. The number of participants grows every year, and thousands of students receive training annually. İSMEK helps people improve professional, technical, social and technological skills, making it ideal for those seeking a new occupation or hobby.
A pervasive modern problem is a sense of emptiness that can come from lack of engagement. Retirees or those who leave work may experience difficulties due to idle time.
İSMEK addresses these issues by offering courses that also provide psychological satisfaction. At the same time, unemployed individuals can acquire new skills to find work in different sectors.
Are There Courses for Children at İSMEK?
İSMEK’s programs include offerings for children as well. Courses for young learners allow children to pursue training appropriate to their potential. İSMEK’s youth programs typically target the 12–16 age group. Sending children to these classes helps them develop skills and interests.
Participants under 18 need parental consent to enroll. Because classes have limited capacity, some courses may require a pre-course interview. Drama, language courses and diction training are among suitable options for 12–16 year olds.
İSMEK Language Courses
İSMEK offers many language course options. The table below shows some of the alternatives available among İSMEK’s most popular language programs.
| English | German | Arabic | Persian | French | Italian |
| How To Write Formal E-mail | A1 Level | Arabic Alphabet Workshop | Persian Alphabet Workshop | A1 Level | A1 Level |
| IELTS | A2 Level | A1 Level | A1 Level | A1-A2 Conversation Club | A1 General Review Workshop |
| A1 Preparatory | A2 Grammar | A1 General Review Workshop | A1 Text Reading Workshop | A2 Level | A2 Level |
| A1-A2 Conversation Club | B1 Level | A2 Level | A2 Level | A2 Grammar Workshop | A2 Grammar Workshop |
| A1-A2 Speaking Practice | B1 Grammar | A2 General Review Workshop | A2 Text Reading Workshop | B1 Level | B1 Level |
| B1 Preparatory | B2 Level | B1 Level | B1 Level | B1-B2 Conversation Club | |
| B1-B2 Conversation Club | B2 Level | ||||
| English Beginner Workshop | C1 Level | ||||
| C1 Level | YDS Preparation | ||||
| Literary Translation Workshop | A1-A2 Conversation Club | ||||
| YDS Preparation | |||||
| Hospitality English | |||||
| Accounting English |
The table above shows alternatives for English, German, Arabic, Persian, French and Italian courses. In addition to different proficiency levels such as A1, A2, B2 and C1, there are specialized options like conversation clubs and text reading workshops.
| Japanese | Kurdish | Laz | Ottoman Turkish | Russian | Turkish |
| Japanese Alphabet Workshop | A1 Level | A1 Level | Reading Istanbul through Ottoman Archive Documents Workshop | A1 Level | A1 Level |
| A1 Level | A2 Level | Beginner Workshop | Introduction to Evliya Çelebi’s Travelogue in Ottoman Turkish | A1-A2 Conversation Club | A2 Level |
| A1 Beginner Workshop | A1-A2 Conversation Club | Ottoman Turkish Advanced Level 1 (Archive and Literary Texts) | A2 Level | B1 Level | |
| A1-A2 Conversation Club | A2 Text Reading Workshop | Ottoman Turkish Advanced Level 2 (Diplomatics and Paleography) | A2 Grammar Workshop | Turkish for Foreigners A1 Level | A1-A2 Conversation Club for Foreigners |
| A2 Level | Ottoman Tombstone Reading Advanced | A2 General Review Workshop | Turkish for Foreigners A2 Level | ||
| B1 Level | Ottoman Tombstone Reading Basic | B1 Level | Turkish for Foreigners B1 Level | ||
| B1 Text Analysis Workshop | Ottoman Turkish Intermediate 1 (Easy Texts) | B2 Level | Turkish for Foreigners B1 Text Reading Workshop | ||
| B2 Level | Ottoman Turkish Intermediate 2 (Arabic and Persian Rules in Ottoman Turkish) | Turkish for Foreigners B1-B2 Conversation Club | |||
| C1 Level | Ottoman Turkish Basic (Spelling of Turkish Words in Ottoman) | Turkish for Foreigners B2 Level | |||
| JLPT N5 Preparation | Turkish for Foreigners Beginner Workshop | ||||
| Conversation Workshop with Japanese | Turkish for Foreigners C1 Level | ||||
| Pronunciation Workshop for Foreigners | Turkish for Foreigners C2 Level |
The table above lists options for Japanese, Kurdish, Laz, Ottoman Turkish, Russian and Turkish courses. There are many classes focused on reading historical Ottoman texts and inscriptions. Specialized workshops like conversation practice with Japanese speakers and pronunciation workshops cater to specific interests.
İSMEK Courses Focused on Specific Professions
İSMEK’s profession-oriented courses are organized by field. The table below presents sample course options by area.
| Field | Programs | |||||
| Information Technologies | Data Science | Web Design and Programming | Software | Basic Computer Use and Applications | System Network Technologies | Digital Marketing |
| Technical vocational training | Air Conditioning-Refrigeration Basic Level Technical Staff Training | |||||
| Fashion design and textile technology | Styling | Clothing | Pattern Making | Textile and Weaving | ||
| Accounting and finance | Accounting | Foreign Trade | Finance | |||
| Robotics and innovation | Robotics | Electronics | ||||
| Tourism and hospitality | Front Office Staff (HOREKA) | Food and Beverage Management | ||||
| Management and services | Justice Services | Property Management | Office Management | Marketing Management | Health Services | Retail Management |
| Agriculture | Animal Husbandry | Farming and Gardening | ||||
| Graphic and technical design | Construction Technology | Graphic Design | Mechanical Technology | |||
| Beauty and hair care services | Skin Care and Epilation | Hand and Foot Care | Hairdressing and Hair Care | Makeup | Massage | |
| Gastronomy and culinary arts | Pastry | Chef Training | Beverage | Bakery | ||
| Child development and education | Child Development and Education | Children and Play |
Each of the sections above includes a wide range of courses. For instance, the child development department offers around 25 distinct trainings.
Does İSMEK Offer a Cooking Course?
İSMEK’s cooking courses are part of the gastronomy and culinary arts department. One of the main programs in this area is chef training.
Examples of courses within the culinary department include:
- Artisan cheese-making techniques
- Chef apprenticeship
- Assistant cook
- Baklava-making workshop
- Festival desserts
- Chemical reactions in food
- Pastry varieties workshop
- Seafood workshop
- World cuisines
- Home cooking preparation
- Sushi-making techniques workshop
- Art and design in gastronomy
- Gaziantep cuisine
- Istanbul flavors from past to present
- Traditional Turkish cuisine
- Italian cuisine specialties
- Breakfast snacks workshop
- Kebab techniques
- Pasta and sauce-making workshop
- Ottoman palace cuisine
- Pide making
- Pizza making
- Jam and marmalade workshop
- Healthy and diet food preparation workshop
- Cold food preparation
- Sous-vide technique
- Mass catering chef
- Pickling
- Yacht and ship cooking
- Local gastronomy tourism
- Occupational health and hygiene
- Regional soups
As shown above, the culinary field offers many options. You can choose a single course or follow several in sequence to build comprehensive expertise.
İSMEK Hairdressing Course
İSMEK also provides hairdressing courses. Examples of these courses are:
- Natural hair care
- Men’s skin care workshop
- Men’s hair and beard coloring workshop
- Blow-drying
- Quick styling with blow-dryer and curling iron workshop
- Advanced cutting techniques
- Special occasion hair design
- Special occasion hair and makeup workshop
- Special occasion scarf and shawl design
- Hair care and styling
- Hair coloring and cutting techniques
- Hair extension techniques
- Hair braiding techniques
- Hair coloring
- Beard and mustache trimming techniques
- Updo techniques
- Blow-dry applications
- Temporary and permanent styling techniques
- Beard and mustache shaping techniques
- Chignon techniques
İSMEK Graphic and Technical Design Courses
With İSMEK’s graphic and technical design courses you can learn software used in design and technical drawing. Programs such as 3ds Max, After Effects, AutoCAD, CorelDRAW and Illustrator are among those taught. These tools enable you to create technical drawings and designs, opening opportunities to work in various industries or take on freelance projects.
İSMEK Handicraft Courses
İSMEK’s handicraft courses let you create designs for hobby or commercial purposes. You can work with wood, jewelry, knitting, embellishment, fabric painting and more. Popular classes include amigurumi, embroidery, lace, and needlework.
A recent trend is macramé accessory making. Wire dolls and stone painting also appeal to those who want unique handmade creations. By choosing one of İSMEK’s most popular courses, you can make better use of your time or develop a new profession.