Accreditation
Accreditation is an external evaluation and quality assurance process conducted to determine whether a higher education program or institution meets the predetermined academic and field-specific standards set by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Accreditation can be carried out in two forms: institutional accreditation and program/department accreditation. For our department, institutional accreditation is granted by YÖKAK, and program accreditation is granted by both YÖKAK and STAR.
The Institutional Accreditation Program (IAP) is an external evaluation method that assesses the quality assurance, education and training, research and development, societal contribution, and governance system processes within higher education institutions, based on the “planning, implementation, evaluation, and improvement” cycle.
IAP is carried out by evaluation teams formed by the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK), in accordance with the Institutional External Evaluation and Accreditation Criteria and the Institutional External Evaluation and Accreditation Guide.
Each year, the higher education institutions to be included in the IAP are determined by YÖKAK, and evaluation teams are formed in accordance with the structure of the selected institutions. These teams conduct two visits to the respective institutions: a pre-visit and a site visit.
Following these visits, the evaluation teams prepare Institutional Accreditation Reports (IAR), upon which YÖKAK bases its accreditation decisions.
Under the IAP, YÖKAK issues the following accreditation decisions:
Full Accreditation (for five years)
Conditional Accreditation (for two years)
Rejection of Accreditation
Program Accreditation refers to the external evaluation and quality assurance process that determines whether a specific higher education program meets the predetermined academic and field-specific standards established by an accreditation body.
In Türkiye, the authorization and recognition of accreditation bodies fall under the responsibility of the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK). The authorization of national accreditation bodies and the recognition of international accreditation bodies are carried out according to the principles and criteria set by YÖKAK.
Since 2016, information regarding programs accredited by accreditation bodies authorized or recognized by YÖKAK has been included in the Higher Education Programs and Quotas Guide of YKS (previously ÖSYS).
YÖKAK: https://www.yokak.gov.tr/
STAR: https://www.star.org.tr/