The IEEE Region 8 Volunteer Training Workshop (VLT) 2026 was successfully held on 27–28 June 2026 at Point Hotel Barbaros in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together current and future IEEE leaders and volunteers from across IEEE Region 8. The workshop provided an opportunity for volunteers to collaborate, share best practices, develop new skills, and strengthen their leadership capabilities within IEEE.
Opening Speech: Dušanka Bošković, IEEE Region 8 Director 
Opening Speech: Nizamettin Aydın, IEEE Türkiye Section Chair 
Opening Speech: Habib M. Kammoun, IEEE Region 8 Vice-Chair, Member Activities 
Opening Speech: Tiziana Tambosso, IEEE Region 8 Vice-Chair, Technical Activities 
Opening Speech: Theodoros Panagiotis Chatzinikolaou, IEEE Region 8 Vice-Chair, Student Activities
The workshop officially commenced with welcome remarks by IEEE Region 8 Director Dušanka Bošković, IEEE Türkiye Section Chair Prof. Nizamettin Aydın. The opening sessions provided an overview of IEEE Region 8 activities, covering Member Activities, Technical Activities, and Student Activities.
Throughout the workshop, participants had the opportunity to learn about various IEEE volunteer tools and resources, including IEEE vTools and OU Analytics. Sessions on IEEE funding opportunities also introduced volunteers to support provided by the IEEE Foundation, IEEE Students, IEEE Young Professionals, IEEE Women in Engineering, IEEE Life Members, IEEE Entrepreneurship, and other IEEE initiatives. An additional session on IEEE AI Ethics highlighted the importance of ethical considerations in the development and use of artificial intelligence.
A significant part of the workshop consisted of dedicated training sessions for different volunteer groups. The Student Activities sessions focused on strengthening IEEE student activities, strategic planning, Student Branch administration, financial management, and supporting Student Branches. Participants also discussed the role of Sections in student success and explored ways to build sustainable and impactful student activities.
The Chapters sessions addressed key aspects of running successful IEEE Chapters, including Chapter vitality, committee responsibilities, recruitment and elections, event and committee reporting, and collaboration between Chapters, Sections, and IEEE Societies. These sessions provided participants with practical knowledge and best practices that can be applied within their respective Sections and organizational units.
Membership Development was another major focus of the workshop. Participants explored strategies for member recruitment and retention, the use of IEEE membership tools and analytics, and approaches to developing effective Membership Development plans. The sessions encouraged volunteers to exchange experiences and develop practical strategies tailored to the needs of their Sections.
The workshop also included sessions dedicated to IEEE Young Professionals and the transition from Student to Young Professional. These discussions highlighted opportunities for students and young engineers to remain engaged with IEEE throughout different stages of their professional development and emphasized the importance of collaboration between Student Activities and Young Professionals.
Networking opportunities throughout the workshop, including social activities such as a Bosphorus boat tour, allowed participants from different countries and IEEE organizational units to exchange experiences, establish new connections, and strengthen existing collaborations. The interactive nature of the sessions encouraged participants to actively contribute, share their own experiences, and learn from fellow IEEE volunteers across Region 8.
The IEEE Region 8 Volunteer Training Workshop 2026 concluded as a valuable platform for leadership development, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among IEEE volunteers. By bringing together volunteers from across the Region 8, the workshop contributed to strengthening the IEEE volunteer community and empowering current and future leaders to create greater impact within their Sections, Chapters and Student Branches.
IEEE Türkiye Section is proud to have hosted the IEEE Region 8 Volunteer Training Workshop (VLT) 2026 in Istanbul and extends its sincere appreciation to all IEEE Region 8 leaders, speakers, volunteers, and participants who contributed to making the workshop a successful and memorable event.