History

At the meeting of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) General Assembly held on November 12, 2015, the establishment of a Faculty of Tourism in the district of Kdz. Ereğli was approved. This decision was published in the Official Gazette on April 8, 2016, under decree number 016/8555, officially establishing Ereğli Faculty of Tourism. Subsequently, on May 4, 2017, the General Assembly of Higher Education approved the admission of undergraduate students to the faculty.

With the decision of the Executive Board of Higher Education on June 22, 2016, the following departments were established under the faculty:

• Tourism Management

• Tourist Guiding

• Gastronomy and Culinary Arts

• Recreation Management

Department of Tourism Management

The Department of Tourism Management began admitting students in the 2017–2018 academic year. The language of instruction is Turkish, but the program also includes foreign language education. Additionally, students are required to complete a 60-day internship to apply the theoretical knowledge they gain in the program.

Moreover, under the Interdisciplinary Tourism Management Division, the proposal to launch both Thesis and Non-Thesis (Evening Education) Master's Programs and a Ph.D. Program in Tourism Management was approved by the Council of Higher Education's Education and Training Department on October 9, 2019.

Graduates of this department receive the title of Tourism Manager. They can pursue careers in various departments of accommodation establishments (such as front office, housekeeping, kitchen, service, bar, purchasing, marketing and sales, human resources, etc.), food and beverage businesses, travel agencies (including reservation, operations, ticketing, accounting, etc.), cruise ships, and ground services of airline companies. Additionally, they may find employment opportunities in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and its affiliated institutions.

Department of Tourist Guiding

The Department of Tourist Guiding admitted its first students in the 2019–2020 academic year under the Ereğli Faculty of Tourism. This department accepts students based on their foreign language exam scores. The language of instruction is Turkish, and there is no compulsory internship.

Throughout eight semesters, in addition to Professional English, students receive four hours per week of a second foreign language, such as German, French, Spanish, or Arabic.

Graduates of the Tourist Guiding program may become licensed professional tourist guides if they successfully participate in a total of 36 days of practical field trips organized by professional chambers and/or the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and pass the foreign language proficiency exam.

Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts

The primary aim of the Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts is to introduce students to a variety of flavors from both classical Turkish cuisine and world cuisines while also providing education on human health and food safety.

Another objective of the department is to train expert staff and executive chefs equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete internationally and specialize in national and international culinary cultures.

Throughout the four-year undergraduate program, students explore the intricacies of culinary arts from basic to advanced levels and gain communication and management skills necessary for their careers.

By the end of the program, students will not only be qualified to become managers in food and beverage businesses but also be equipped with the knowledge to establish their own enterprises.

Department of Recreation Management

The aim of the Department of Recreation Management is to educate managers who will develop, guide, and manage recreation activities and tourism services needed in our country.

Students of this department emphasize the importance of physical and mental renewal in people's lives and contribute to disseminating these benefits to society through tourism and other sectors.

The goal is to train qualified professionals and mid- to upper-level manager candidates who are well-equipped with both theoretical and practical knowledge in recreation management, fluent in at least one foreign language, and capable of analytical thinking to contribute to the social, economic, sporting, recreational, and technical development of tourism.