The YÖKAK Accreditation Evaluation Team visited Istanbul Gelisim University from November 25-27, 2024, as part of the “Institutional Accreditation Program” (KAP), which aims to enhance the quality of higher education institutions and contribute to quality assurance.

The Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) is responsible for evaluating the quality levels of higher education institutions' education-teaching, research activities, and administrative services according to national and international quality standards. It also manages the internal and external quality assurance processes, accreditation procedures, and the authorizations of independent external evaluation institutions. Between November 24-27, the YÖKAK team visited Istanbul Gelisim University. The team was led by Prof. Dr. Hasan Seçen, a faculty member from Atatürk University, and included Prof. Dr. Songül Duman from Erzurum Technical University, Prof. Dr. Murat Komesli from Yaşar University, Prof. Dr. Murat Lüy from Kırıkkale University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat İçen from Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Tuğba Çubukçu, Quality Assurance Manager from Özyeğin University, and Berivan Çiçek, a student from Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University and a member of the Higher Education Quality Commission.

The site visit aimed to evaluate the external quality of higher education institutions and to internalize and spread the culture of quality assurance in higher education institutions. The visit began with the YÖKAK Accreditation Evaluation Team's visit to the Rector of Istanbul Gelisim University, Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Abdülkadir Gayretli, at their offices. The meeting was attended by Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Nuri Kuruoğlu (Education-Teaching), Prof. Dr. Necmettin Maraşlı (R&D), Prof. Dr. Arda Öztürkcan (Quality, Accreditation, and Internationalization), and the Quality Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Hasan Hakan Bozkurt. Afterward, a meeting was held with the members of the Institutional Quality Commission, Senate, and Board of Directors. The organization of the program was managed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Tozlu Öztay.

The evaluation of the faculties, vocational schools, and institutes’ education-teaching, and research activities was conducted. The delegation also visited the deans and directors of academic units at their offices, where they examined in detail the education-teaching, research activities, societal contributions, and national and international quality standards of the faculties and vocational schools. Topics discussed included the spread of quality processes within departments, the goals of the departments and their alignment with the institution's strategic objectives, the participation of stakeholders in processes, learning outcomes of the programs within departments, and continuous improvement activities.

Meetings with faculty members and students were held The YÖKAK Evaluation Team also met with faculty members and students, obtaining detailed information about the relationships between faculty members and senior management, the role of quality assurance systems in faculty members' activities, the internalization of quality assurance systems, and policies related to academic staff development and motivation. The team also met with administrators of administrative units to discuss the spread of quality processes within the units, the dissemination of quality culture throughout the units, the goals of the units, and their alignment with the institution’s strategic objectives, as well as the participation of stakeholders in processes. The team visited the university’s facilities, laboratories, libraries, and social areas as well.

Exit meeting addressed strengths and areas for development An exit meeting was held on the last day of the evaluation, attended by the Rector, Vice Rectors, Deans, and Directors. The meeting discussed the strengths and areas for development of Istanbul Gelisim University, with feedback provided on the three-day inspection. The YÖKAK Evaluation Team positively assessed the university's efforts to develop and improve its quality system and processes, offering their wishes and suggestions for future strategies and plans.