President Ümit Kocabıçak Visits Afyon Kocatepe University’s Senate Meeting

Afyon Kocatepe University (AKU) senate meeting was organised with the participation of Prof. Ümit Kocabıçak, President of the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC), on 14 February 2025.

President Kocabıçak made a presentation on “The Importance of Higher Education Quality Assurance Systems and Accreditations in the Ever-Changing World” at the meeting attended by Prof. Mehmet Karakaş, AKU Rector, AKU Senate members, and academic and administrative unit managers.

Pointing out the importance of the Institutional Accreditation Program carried out by THEQC for HEIs in Türkiye, President emphasised that the internalisation and dissemination of quality assurance systems provide several advantages for institutions, managers/directors and graduates. Stating that there are currently 73 universities holding institutional accreditation in Türkiye, he gave examples from the Future of Jobs Report published by the World Economic Forum. According to the report, some business lines will disappear, new business lines will emerge, and HEIs have a responsibility in terms of digital technological education. President Kocabıçak also stated that skills such as focusing on human skills, analytical thinking, flexibility, creativity and leadership made a difference in the digital world.

Stating that graduates from departments holding program accreditation would have diplomas with the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF) logo, President Kocabıçak continued, “Since graduates of a program with the TQF logo are recognised by the European Qualifications Framework, it allows diplomas to be recognised abroad faster, thereby increasing employment opportunities. Additionally, the accreditation records of Turkish HEIs holding institutional accreditation are entered into the Database of External Quality Assurance Results in Europe (DEQAR), which brings great advantages to the HEIs in terms of equivalence, recognition and visibility in the world and Europe.”

The senate meeting ended after a questions-and-answers session. Before the meeting, President Kocabıçak paid a visit to Rector Karakaş at his office.