
2024 THEQC-International Conference on Quality Assurance and Accreditation Is Held
- Date 28 April 2024
2024 THEQC-International Conference on Quality Assurance and Accreditation Is Held
ANKARA – “2024 THEQC-International Conference on Quality Assurance and Accreditation” organised by the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC) and hosted by Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University (AHBVÜ) was held on 25-26 April 2024.
The conference held at AHBVÜ Itri Congress and Cultural Center was attended by Prof. Erol Özvar, the President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK); Prof. Ümit Kocabıçak, THEQC President; rectors OF various universities; Prof. Mehmet Naci Bostancı, AHBVÜ Rector; Prof. Muzaffer Şeker, President of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA); Prof. Tuncay Döğeroğlu and Prof. Ahmet Cevat Acar, members of the Presidential Educational Policies Board; Prof. Mustafa Necmi İlhan, President of the Vocational Qualifications Authority; Doris Herrman, Vice-President of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education; Prof. Ivan Leban, Ronny Heintze, and Prof. Olgun Çiçek, THEQC International advisors; international quality agency representatives, and academics. Stephane Lauwick, President of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR), participated via a video conference.
“We continue our work with a quality-oriented approach”
In his opening speech, Prof. Erol Özvar, CoHE President, stated that Türkiye is one of the leading countries in the European Higher Education Area and that a significant capacity has been reached with 208 universities, approximately seven million students attending formal and open education and nearly 185 thousand academic staff. Noting that CoHE works to extend the quality assurance standards in higher education to all areas of the higher education system, Prof. Özvar stated that CoHE has set a vision for the next five years.
Stating that CoHE continues to work with a quality-oriented approach, Prof. Özvar expressed that universities are continuously encouraged and supported to adapt to quality processes. Reminding that THEQC was established to manage the quality and accreditation processes in Türkiye, Prof. Özvar stated that significant progress has been made in increasing institutional capacity and carrying out quality processes since its establishment.
Stating that THEQC is a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and is registered in EQAR, he said that CoHE cares about the contribution THEQC has made and will make to the field of higher education. “While THEQC provides assurance to national quality standards, it also assumes responsibilities in harmonising these standards with the European Higher Education Area quality assurance standards and the countries within the EHEA,” continued Prof. Özvar. He added that increasing the international visibility of universities in the context of internationalization and quality is among their goals.
“We support the digital transformation of universities”
In his speech, Prof. Ümit Kocabıçak, THEQC President, stated that with the establishment of THEQC in 2017, quality assurance works have been institutionalised in Türkiye. Stating that the number of HEIs had reached 208 in 2022, President Kocabıçak informed the participants that the number of universities has tripled in a period of approximately 20 years. Referring to the activities of THEQC in his speech, he stated that THEQC has successfully carried out the Institutional Accreditation Program, authorises the national program accreditation agencies, recognises the international program accreditation agencies, and aims to increase the number of program accreditations in Türkiye.
Stating that THEQC aims to spread the culture of quality assurance; therefore, it is the Conference’s main theme, President Kocabıçak said, “THEQC is a member of many umbrella agencies in Europe and the USA. We follow quality assurance standards in higher education around the world. To date, 73 Turkish HEIs have been accredited under the Institutional Accreditation Program. In this way, Turkish universities have also been registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) database. They are so lucky in this sense. Because the EQAR registration ensures that the graduates and academics of these universities are recognised in Europe. By 2027, THEQC strives to complete the accreditation process in 208 universities.”
Pointing out the importance of establishing quality assurance systems for the sustainable development of universities, President Kocabıçak noted that THEQC supports the digital transformation of universities in this direction and aims to ensure effective data tracking and analysis.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Prof. Muzaffer Şeker, TÜBA President, expressed their efforts to improve the performance and quality of Türkiye’s academic life and said, “I would like to thank THEQC for organising such an event that will contribute to the measurability of Türkiye’s academic life and planning for the future. In this respect, we work together with all Turkish institutions. I wish you a productive meeting.”
In his opening speech, Prof. Mehmet Naci Bostancı, AHBVÜ Rector, stated that it is highly important to evaluate the quality of universities and to increase the quality of universities in line with the parameters of the modern world. Rector Bostancı added that he believes that studies such as the THEQC-International Quality Assurance and Accreditation Conference will carry the scientific activities and academic life in Türkiye much further in a collective and sustainable manner.
Prof. İlyas Gökhan, Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, also gave information about the conference. Stating that 10 speakers and 62 presenters from many countries will take place at the THEQC International Quality Assurance and Accreditation Conference, Prof. Gökhan said that quality ambassador students from different universities will also take part in the Conference and the representatives of national quality agencies will have the opportunity to introduce themselves.
Institutional Accreditation Certificates were presented to universities
Following the opening speeches, the certificates of the universities accredited by THEQC within the scope of the Institutional Accreditation Program were presented by President Özvar and President Kocabıçak.
During the two-day conference, parallel sessions included paper presentations and discussions on topics “Best Practices in Quality Assurance”, “Implementation and Problems of Quality Assurance”, “Quality Assurance and the Future”, and “Impacts of Quality Assurance.”