Entrepreneurship Education and Perception Change: The Preliminary Outcomes of Compulsory Entrepreneurship Course Experience in Turkey

The importance of entrepreneurship is increasingly emphasized worldwide especially after the decline of centrally planned economic systems. The trends toward reducing the domination of governments in the economy put the entrepreneur, the sole actor who makes the markets work by starting and growing the businesses in any scale, in the center of the economy policies. In this context, the policies toward making entrepreneurship widespread and thereby achieve the aim of economic growth and wealth have been very common in both developed and developing countries for decades with a few exceptions worldwide. On the other hand, despite the increasing popularity of entrepreneur and entrepreneurship research, the number of entrepreneurs who undertake the risks of starting a business and grow it by innovation and thereby create new jobs is not that much in reality. It is not easy to motivate people to become entrepreneurs in the presence of different employment alternatives. So, the governments that chose free market economy system based upon entrepreneurship have been starting policies toward motivating individuals to choose entrepreneurship as a career alternative. Entrepreneurship education is one of the most common tools in this sense and has been used widely both in schools and out of school education. In this direction, programs supporting the entrepreneurs and people who have intentions to start their own businesses in Turkey is a government policy today. Aksaray University, a state university in Turkey, started a compulsory four hour Entrepreneurship course covering all undergraduate departments in Aksaray University. The senate of Aksaray University agreed on the compulsory entrepreneurship courses, which will be effective to all departments beginning from September 2012 -only selective for the departments which have curriculums determined centrally by the Ministry of Education or Higher Education Council of Turkey- and there is also an agreement between KOSGEB Republic of Turkey, Small and Medium Entreprises Development Organzation and Aksaray University to provide students a certificate which gives them the right to apply for certain financial incentives to start their own businesses. The aim of this research is to find out the perception change of students towards entrepreneur and entrepreneurship. A survey was conducted among 925 students who participated in these courses and who did not in Aksaray University and the results show that the compulsory courses have positive impacts on perceptions toward Entrepreneurship, along with the intention to start their own businesses. We hope that similar studies which will focus on the context of the course, the qualifications of the lecturers, the practices of students after graduation, their innovative behaviours in their business life will contribute to the Entrepreneurship Education fiel

The conceptualization of agricultural residues: unlocking potential for sustainability

Agriculture has been a cornerstone of human civilization for millennia, providing sustenance, raw materials, and livelihoods. However, it also generates vast amounts of agricultural residues, often overlooked but holding immense potential. These residues, ranging from crop stubble to fruit peels, are typically considered waste. However, as the world grapples with the challenges of sustainability, there is a growing need to conceptualize agricultural residues differently – as valuable resources that can contribute to environmental, economic, and social well-being. By recycling these residues into valuable resources, farmers can enhance soil fertility, reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable agricultural ecosystem. In this study some ways of utilizing these residues like energy media, organic manure and compost and as lightweight bio-composite materials are shown

DETERMINATION OF SOLID BIOFUEL PROPERTIES OF LAVENDER PLANT’S AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES

Large amounts of waste are produced as a result of agricultural activities. A large amount of these wastesis not used and are disposed of. Therefore, making these released raw materials usable has recentlybecome important in terms of recycling. One of these recycling methods is the compression processesof biomass. In this study, the research was carried out on the evaluation of agricultural residues of thelavender plant grown in Kayseri province and its surroundings. The obtained agricultural residues weredried to 10-12% moisture level and pellets were obtained in two different grinding fineness’s (5-8) - (8-10). The physico-mechanical properties and thermal values of the obtained pellets were determined. Thephysico-mechanical properties and calorific values of the pellets obtained were determined and thecalorific values of these pellets were compared with other fossil fuels.</p

Determination of solid biofuel properties of hazelnut husk briquettes obtained at different compaction pressures

Hazelnut husk residues have a big energy potential. In this study, the possibilities of using the agricultural residues released after the harvesting and threshing processes of the hazelnut plant as solid biofuel were investigated. A new design hydraulic type of press with an adjustable compaction pressure between 0 and 240 MPa and a mold diameter of 50 mm was used in this study. Solid briquettes were obtained at six different compaction pressures (25, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 MPa), two different particle sizes (2–5 mm and 7–10 mm), and approximately 8–10% moisture content. Compaction process was performed without using any additive material. The densities of the briquettes varied between 705.49 and 1348.65 kg.m−3 on a wet basis. The physical parameters of the obtained briquettes were determined, including density, tumbler and shatter resistance, briquette firmness, capacity, and specific energy consumption. The data obtained as a result of the study were subjected to statistical analysis results (PCA and ANOVA) and tried to be evaluated. The results of physical and mechanical tests showed that the briquettes are of extremely high quality. The compaction pressure and moisture content values were found to be significant on the volume weights of the briquettes (p < 0.01). The average highest briquette density (1325.21 kg.m−3), briquette firmness (1742.30 N), tumbler test (95.16%), and shatter test (86.90%) values were obtained at 150 MPa compaction pressure and 2–5 mm particle size compaction. The average highest capacity (6.45 kg.h−1) values were obtained at 125 MPa compaction pressure and 2–5 mm particle size, and the average lowest specific energy consumption (0.19 kWh.kg−1) values were obtained at 150 MPa compaction pressure and 2–5 mm particle size. According to the results obtained, it was concluded that the pressure and particle size had a significant effect on the solid biofuel properties of the hazelnut shell briquettes; the most effective pressure value was 150 MPa, and the most effective particle size was 2–5 mm

POSSIBILITIES OF USING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

With the development of technology and the use of the concept of sustainability in all areas of our lives,innovative applications have started to gain momentum. The fact that our country is an agriculturalcountry and the acceleration of these innovative approaches has enabled the use of precision agriculturepractices in agricultural activities in the recent period. Precision agriculture; it is a new managementapproach and a method that aims to minimize the damage in agriculture. One of these precisionagriculture applications is unmanned aerial vehicles, in which aircraft and image processingtechnologies are used and provide great convenience in estimating both before and after the managementof these activities. The use of these vehicles in agriculture forms the infrastructure of the data to be usedin precision agriculture. Remote sensing and plant monitoring techniques; Detection of diseases andpests in plants, water stress, detection, yield/maturity estimation, weed, flora detection, control of waterresources and surveillance of workers are also passive practices. With the help of high-resolutioncameras on these vehicles, information can be obtained on many subjects. Thus, faster, more accurateand low-cost data can be produced in agricultural areas. Considering agricultural activities, yieldestimations and weed predictable applications can increase the productivity of these activities. In thisstudy, the general characteristics, studies and usage possibilities of these unmanned aerial vehicles thatcan be used in agricultural activities are examined. In addition, information was given about the role ofunmanned aerial vehicles in the future of sustainable agriculture and agricultural production potentialsin achieving the desired targets.</p

DETERMINATION OF EMISSION VALUES OF PELLETS OBTAINED FROM CHICKPEA PLANT RESIDUES

Environmental pollution and the effects of the resulting global warming have become one of the most important issues that have been emphasized recently. It is thought that the effects of global warming will be prevented worldwide by reducing environmental pollution and preventing the use of fossil fuels. In this sense, it is of great importance to increase the use of renewable energy. Agricultural activities are carried out intensively and it has a large agricultural residue potential in our country. In this study, pellets were obtained from the agricultural residues of chickpea plant in Kayseri and its surroundings. These pellets burning and the flue gas emission values were determined and compared with the emission values of fossil fuels.</p