From the University Agenda

Higher Education Quality Council Accreditation Evaluation Team Visited Istanbul Gelisim University

As part of the “Institutional Accreditation Program” (KAP) implemented by the Higher Education Quality Council (YOKAK) to enhance the quality in higher education institutions and contribute to quality assurance, the YOKAK Accreditation Evaluation Team visited Istanbul Gelisim University between November 25-27.

The Higher Education Quality Council, which evaluates the quality levels of educational, research, and administrative services in higher education institutions based on national and international quality standards, as well as managing internal and external quality assurance, accreditation processes, and the authorization of independent external evaluation institutions, conducted a site visit to Istanbul Gelisim University from November 24-27. YOKAK Secretary General Mehmet Yilmaz participated as an observer, while the evaluation program, led by Ataturk University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Hasan Secen, included Erzurum Technical University Faculty Member Prof. Songul Duman, Yasar University Faculty Member Prof. Murat Komesli, Kirikkale University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Murat Luy, Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Icen, Ozyegin University Quality Assurance Manager Tugba Cubukcu, and Bilecik Seyh Edebali University student and Higher Education Quality Commission Member Berivan Cicek.

The site visit program, conducted to carry out external evaluations of higher education institutions and to internalize and promote a culture of quality assurance within these institutions, began with the YOKAK Accreditation Evaluation Team visiting IGU Rector Prof. Bahri Sahin and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Abdulkadir Gayretli in their offices. The visits were attended by Vice Rectors Prof.  Nuri Kuruoglu (Education-Training), Prof. Necmettin Marasli (R&D), Prof. Arda Ozturkcan (Quality, Accreditation, and Internationalization), and Quality Coordinator  Prof. Hasan Hakan Bozkurt. Subsequently, meetings were held with members of the Institution Quality Commission and Senate and Administrative Board Members.



The education, research activities of faculties, colleges, and institutes were analyzed

The team visited the deans and directors of academic units in their offices, thoroughly examining the education, research activities, societal contributions, and compliance with national and international quality standards of the faculties and colleges. Attention was given to topics such as the dissemination of quality processes to units, the goals of the units and their alignment with the institution's strategic goals, the participation of stakeholders in the processes, the learning outcomes of programs within the units, and continuous improvement efforts.

Meetings were held with academic staff and students

The YOKAK Evaluation Team also met with academic staff and students, gathering detailed information about the relationships between faculty members and senior management, the role of the quality assurance system in faculty members' activities, the internalization of the quality assurance system, policies on academic staff development, and motivation. Meetings were also held with administrative unit managers to discuss the dissemination of quality processes, the spread of a quality culture across all units, the goals of units, their place within the institution's strategic goals, and stakeholder participation in processes. The team visited the university's facilities, laboratories, libraries, and social areas.

Strengths and areas for improvement were discussed in the closing meeting

On the final day of the evaluation, a closing meeting was held with the participation of the Rector, Vice Rectors, Deans, and Directors. The meeting outlined the strengths and areas for improvement of IGU, providing overall feedback on the three-day audit. The YOKAK Evaluation Team praised the university's efforts to enhance and improve its quality system and processes, while expressing hopes and recommendations for strategies and plans for the future.