Akreditasyon

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a quality assurance process that evaluates to what extent higher education institutions and academic programs meet predefined academic and field-specific quality standards through external assessments. This process ensures that the “quality level” of an institution or program is identified by independent evaluators.

Accreditation is generally carried out at two levels:

Institutional accreditation:
Covers all processes of a university or faculty (education and training, research, governance, societal contribution, etc.).

Program / departmental accreditation:
Evaluates each academic program based on criteria specific to its field.

In the context of tourism education in Türkiye, the accreditation process is conducted under TURAK (Tourism Education Assessment and Accreditation Board). TURAK is the national quality assurance agency authorized by the Higher Education Quality Council of Türkiye (YÖKAK) in the field of tourism.

Key Features of Accreditation for Tourist Guidance Programs

  • The evaluation covers the department’s curriculum, academic staff, infrastructure and practical training facilities, research activities, assessment and evaluation systems, and relationships with stakeholders (students, alumni, industry partners, and international collaborations).

  • The process typically begins with the submission of a Self-Evaluation Report (SER), followed by a site visit conducted by an evaluation team appointed by TURAK.

  • Possible outcomes include full accreditation, conditional (provisional) accreditation, or denial of accreditation.

  • Accreditation is valid for a defined period and must be renewed following a subsequent evaluation.

Why Is Accreditation Important?

Quality Assurance and Recognition

Achieving accreditation certifies the quality of education through external evaluation. This provides advantages in student preferences, graduate employability, and international recognition.

Continuous Improvement Cycle

The accreditation process promotes the “Plan – Do – Check – Act (PDCA)” cycle, enabling departments to continuously review and improve their internal processes.

Stakeholder Confidence

Accredited programs inspire confidence among stakeholders—industry partners, students, families, and collaborating institutions. The value of your graduates increases, and the reputation of your department is enhanced.

Competitive Advantage

Compared to other universities and programs, an accredited tourist guidance department becomes a preferred choice for prospective students and employers.