Manisa Celal Bayar University Continuing Education Application and Research Center (MCBÜSEM) and the Turkish Karate Federation (TKF) have signed a pioneering cooperation protocol based on a scientific and pedagogical approach to coach education.

Within the scope of the protocol, the "Educational Coaching and Pedagogical Competency Training Program for Karate Coaches" will be launched as the first program in Türkiye to be conducted under university supervision with an academic foundation.

The signing ceremony was attended by Turkish Karate Federation President Ercüment Taşdemir; Director of Manisa Celal Bayar University Continuing Education Application and Research Center Dr. Cenk Yoldaş; Turkish Karate Federation Vice President Ali Sarıaydın; Turkish Karate Federation Deputy President Hayrettin Hamurcu; Turkish Karate Federation Board Members Mucip Uludağ and Erol Kutlu; Turkish Karate Federation Secretary General Hacı Beşabadem; Director of the School of Foreign Languages at Manisa Celal Bayar University, World Karate Federation (WKF) and Turkish Karate Federation Central Refereeing Board Member Prof. Pınar Güzel Gürbüz; and Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture at Manisa Celal Bayar University Prof. Murat Taş.

The program aims to enhance coaches’ professional competencies based on educational sciences, introduce a scientific perspective to coach education in Turkish sports, and establish a sustainable training model that can serve as an example for other sports federations.

The program, which will be delivered by the academic staff of Manisa Celal Bayar University with expertise in educational sciences, is designed to strengthen coaches’ abilities in teaching, mentoring, effective communication, and supporting the holistic development of athletes. Through this initiative, participants will be trained as educators who embrace contemporary educational approaches, work on a scientific basis, adhere to ethical values, and possess strong pedagogical competencies.

Within the framework of the program, participants will receive training from university academics in fundamental disciplines of educational sciences, including developmental psychology, teaching principles and methods, instructional planning, classroom and educational management, and assessment and evaluation. Upon completion of the program, coaches are expected to further develop their professional skills as individuals capable of considering the developmental characteristics of children, youth, and adult athletes, creating safe and effective learning environments, applying contemporary teaching methods, and possessing the pedagogical qualifications required to work in public institutions.

The five-module training program will be implemented through a hybrid model combining face-to-face and online education methods. The educational content prepared by the University will integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, providing a sustainable and high-quality coach education model.

This historic collaboration between Manisa Celal Bayar University and the Turkish Karate Federation stands out as an important model that brings a scientific perspective to coach development in Turkish sports and sets an example for university–federation partnerships.

As the first initiative of its kind in Türkiye, the project aims to raise the standards of academically based coach education, create a sustainable training model applicable across different sports disciplines, and serve as a guiding example for other sports federations. In this respect, the project represents a significant step toward quality-focused transformation in sports education and will contribute to the development of future generations of coaches.