Who is Gakken?
Gakken was founded in 1946 in Japan by Hideto Furuoka with the belief that “the way to rebuild societies is through education.” Today, with a legacy approaching 80 years, it is a global education and human development group.
Today, Gakken operates across 17 countries, with 110+ companies and 29,000+ employees, focused on lifelong learning.
The Turkey operation was launched in 2022 with the vision of “bringing the Japanese human development approach to Turkey.”
What Makes Gakken Different from a “Training Company”
Gakken’s approach focuses on building mechanisms that work within the organization, rather than just delivering content. Key differentiators include:
- Systems approach: Not content, but a development mechanism that operates within the organization
- Field and organizational strength focus: “frontline power” and “organizational strength” experience
- Long-term investment philosophy: Producing sustainable strength without sacrificing human development for short-term gains
- Cultural adaptation + localization for Turkey: Shared values such as Gemba, team orientation, and relationship-based culture
AsteraHR + Gakken Partnership
As AsteraHR, with the support of Gakken Turkey, we position the Japanese human development approach to meet the needs of organizations in Turkey:
- Needs discovery and proper scoping
- Appropriate program design (role/level-based)
- Implementation plan and measurement framework
- Internal dissemination and sustainability
When Gakken’s “system that works within the organization” approach merges with AsteraHR’s organizational transformation and people-centric design perspective, the goal is to make training investment visible as business outcomes.
Approach: 3-Step Operational Flow
The process at Gakken Turkey progresses in 3 steps:
- Company Needs Discovery
- Optimal Capability Design
- On-site Implementation
Goal: Not a “feel-good” event, but provable development outcomes within the organization.
4 Core Japanese Philosophies (Backbone of the Development System)
The framework that enables Gakken to produce sustainable results within organizations:
- OJT (On-the-Job Training): Transfer from senior to junior in the real work environment
- Rank-based: Role/level-based development with proper expectation and capability design
- Kaizen Culture: Improvement is everyone’s job; problem-solving is part of daily work
- Foundation (Common Language): Standard for “thinking, working, and communicating the same way” within the organization
Service Areas
Key service areas offered by Gakken in Turkey:
1) Gakken Insight Academy | Corporate Training: Programs custom-designed for the organization in soft skill areas such as time management, coaching, and effective business communication.
2) Gakken Field Academy | Engineering Training: Team development through 26+ specialized programs focused on technical challenges, recurring failures, and maintenance processes.
3) 5S / KAIZEN Consulting: Consulting focused on continuous improvement and lean production to sustainably increase efficiency.
4) Gakken ProSpeak English: AI-powered English program for building confidence in business communication and academic fluency.
Measurement and Reporting
At Gakken Turkey, training is measured through pre-tests/needs analysis before the program, post-tests after, application results, and assignments; reporting is provided to the organization.
Data obtained during and after training is analyzed using Gakken’s proprietary indicators, making the next development steps visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Does Gakken Turkey offer a “standard training package”? No. First comes needs discovery, then optimal capability design, followed by on-site implementation and embedding.
2) How are outcomes measured? Development is measured through pre-test/post-test, assignments, and application results; reporting is provided.
3) In which areas can we receive support? Corporate training, engineering training (26+ programs), 5S/Kaizen consulting, and AI-powered English program.
