When Yade Doğan applied for a scholarship through the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) as a student, she was one of thousands dreaming of a better future. Years later, as a business analyst at McKinsey, she found herself on the other side—helping transform that same foundation to reach a new generation of hopeful students.
Founded in 1967, TEV has spent decades opening doors for young people across Türkiye, providing scholarships for vocational high schools, colleges, and universities. More than 320,000 students have benefited from TEV’s support. But in 2019, TEV saw an opportunity to go further. They wanted to improve the TEV scholarship experience and use digital tools to provide more support for students.
When we partnered with McKinsey, they pushed us to think bigger. Together we’ve created something transformative—and we’re just getting started.
That vision led to a partnership with McKinsey to identify how to move TEV into the next digital phase and ultimately the creation of Obigenç—a first-of-its-kind digital platform that revolutionizes how students apply for and receive scholarship support.
“Our mission has always been to support successful young people with limited financial means—and the education system that trains them—so they can make significant contributions to both our country and humanity,” says Banu Taşkın, general manager of TEV. “We didn’t just want to modernize. We wanted to break down barriers and expand the way we support students.”
To achieve this, the team used a design thinking approach—centering the solution around students’ needs—and adopted an agile working model to collaborate more efficiently. The team mapped the entire scholarship journey—from application to graduation—and identified areas for improvement in standardization, communication, automation and digitalization, data use, and innovation through surveys and interviews with applicants, current scholarship holders, and TEV graduates.
Building on these insights, Obigenç—which began as a digital application hub—is quickly evolving into something more ambitious: a national platform that now includes:
All of this is accessible from a mobile phone—making the process faster, easier, and more inclusive. In just one year, Obigenç has garnered over 200,000 downloads, processed 120,000 scholarship applications, and supported more than 100 active campaigns.
“TEV is a supportive foundation that always stands by us,” one student shared. “Even though their mobile app, Obigenç, is new, it’s very well designed and easy to use.”
At McKinsey, we aspire to work side by side with organizations to build strong foundations and equip people with the skills needed to succeed in jobs that raise their incomes and improve their lives. Because as organizations thrive, economies can prosper, providing the fuel needed to enhance lives and ensure everyone can progress.
That’s why this transformation went beyond the app. McKinsey worked closely with TEV to strengthen the organization’s internal capabilities—ensuring that this change is sustainable and scalable.
“Technology is an important part of expanding TEV’s mission, but there’s more,” says Bengi Korkmaz, a McKinsey partner. “We’re helping TEV build the operational muscle to manage, grow, and continuously improve Obigenç over time.”
That includes tailored leadership training for TEV staff. For example, the Obigenç product team now participates in McKinsey’s Ability to Execute (A2E) program, building new skills to lead product development and foster innovation within TEV.
“Nonprofits can multiply their impact via digitalization and digital platforms, but enhancing their digital skills and mindsets is the key to helping them go even further,” adds Bengi. “Our job is to equip TEV with the tools, capabilities, and strategies that honor that mission while delivering real impact to the students and communities they serve.”
Our programs share the best of McKinsey — at no cost — so nonprofits and individuals can achieve even more.
With a strong foundation in place, TEV and McKinsey are looking ahead. Plans are already underway to expand Obigenç’s features, including a digital community for students to connect, mentorship opportunities, and résumé support services.
“We are committed to continuously improving and expanding the platform,” says Ayşe Çiğdem Tunçkanat, product owner at TEV. “I’m proud that we are building a future where technology empowers students to achieve their dreams.”
Banu adds, “When we partnered with McKinsey, they pushed us to think bigger. Together we’ve created something transformative—and we’re just getting started.”
That sense of possibility is what keeps the team motivated.
“Helping a mission-driven organization exceed its own expectations is one of the most rewarding parts of my work,” says Bengi. “This isn’t just about digital transformation—it’s about using our firm’s unique capabilities to serve young people.”
TEV’s journey shows what’s possible when vision meets action—and when technology is used in service of people. Obigenç is not just a platform; it’s a catalyst for aspiration, opportunity, and human potential.
“TEV’s vision for Obigenç is a testament to the power of technology in driving social impact,” says Nergiz Özköse, an expert associate partner at McKinsey. “This digital platform is equipping students with the resources they need to succeed academically and improve their lives and communities—making support more accessible. It would be great to further scale our impact and be a lighthouse for nonprofits globally.”
As TEV continues to evolve, their story offers inspiration for others seeking to expand opportunity in lasting, scalable ways.
