ISOV Technical and Industrial Vocational High School

1. Founding and Original Function (1884–1923)

The structure that forms the nucleus of the school was built in 1884 as a summer hunting lodge for Crown Prince Yusuf İzzettin Efendi, son of Sultan Abdülaziz. This building emerged as one of the notable architectural examples associated with palace structures of the Ottoman period.

With the proclamation of the Republic, from 1923 onward it took on the function of an orphanage-school for the children of soldiers who had fallen in the Balkan Wars, First World War and Gallipoli Campaign; the building thus took on the identity of a socially oriented educational institution.

2. Republican Era and Transition to Vocational Education

In later years the building served under the name Hürriyet-i Ebediye Primary School, and in the 1939–1940 academic year it switched to vocational education as the Yapı Usta Okulu (Building Crafts School). This stage represents the school's transformation from classical basic education to a structure centred on practice-based technical education.

Over time numerous new buildings were added to the school's site of approximately 40 dönüm; the school grew physically and functionally into a comprehensive educational campus.

3. Formation of Institutional Identity: The ISOV Period

In 2000, as a result of a cooperation protocol signed between the Istanbul Governorate and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Foundation, the school took the name İSOV Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi (ISOV Technical and Industrial Vocational High School). With this process the institution turned toward a contemporary vocational education approach based on industry-education cooperation.

4. Field of Education and Social Role

The school's core mission is to train qualified technical personnel in fields that directly affect people's safety, above all the construction sector. The loss of life and property that can result from buildings not being constructed in line with project, implementation and production standards has been clearly demonstrated, especially by recent earthquake disasters. In this context the school assumes an institutional role aimed not only at providing vocational skills but at training a workforce that is conscientious, responsible and technically competent.

5. Social and Institutional Activities

Organisations that have become traditional at the school, such as the İTEM Sector Fair, alumni day and graduation ceremonies, have been supported since 2013 with contributions from the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Foundation. These events are evaluated as important tools strengthening the school-sector-alumni relationship.

6. Current Goals and Educational Vision

With the support given to projects developed by the school administration, the aims are:

• to bring the education provided up to European Union standards,
• to increase teachers' professional knowledge and experience,
• to achieve a balance of quality education and quality workforce.

In line with this approach, İSOV Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi carries an institutional identity shaped through the transformation of a historical structure and aiming for continuity and specialisation in the field of technical education.