THEQC Continues as an EQAR-Registered Agency with an Internationally Recognised QA System

ANKARA- The Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC), which successfully maintains its quality assurance system in Turkish higher education, has renewed its registration with the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) until 2030.

With the Register Committee’s approval decision, the International Institutional Accreditation Program (IIAP), developed by THEQC, has also been implemented as a cross-border quality assurance review process recognised in Europe and internationally.

With the decision dated 27 June 2025, THEQC’s strong compliance with European quality assurance standards was once again approved. THEQC was subjected to an independent external evaluation coordinated by the European Association for Quality Agencies in Higher Education (ENQA) within the scope of its application made on 13 March 2024. In line with the review report published at the end of the process, it is concluded that THEQC operates substantially in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG, 2015).

As good practice examples, the EQAR Register Committee highlighted THEQC’s practices in several areas, such as the Rubric methodology that supports transparency and consistency in decision-making processes, practices that standardise student involvement in each evaluation team, and the rule of annual self-evaluation reports writing that strengthens the internal quality systems of institutions.

The Committee also noted that there is room for improvement in some structural areas, such as the need for legal arrangements and institutional capacity building.

“We will further advance the quality culture in Turkish higher education”

Prof. Ümit Kocabıçak, THEQC President, pointed out that the renewal of EQAR registration until 2030 once again demonstrates the international credibility and institutional capacity of THEQC. Stating that THEQC will continue its work in full compliance with the European quality assurance system, President Kocabıçak said, “We will advance THEQC and the quality culture in Turkish higher education even further together with all our stakeholders, especially the higher education institutions, considering the feedback in ENQA and EQAR reports.”

International Institutional Accreditation Program (IIAP) Recognised in Europe and Internationally

President Kocabıçak announced that with the EQAR decision, IIAP developed by THEQC is now included in the scope of EQAR registration and emphasised that this also recognises IIAP as a cross-border quality assurance review accepted across Europe and internationally. He continued, “IIAP stands out as the first practice that brings quality standards to the international level in the external evaluation and accreditation processes carried out by THEQC for higher education institutions abroad. With this development, THEQC has secured its continued EQAR status, which includes quality agencies across Europe and only institutions that fully comply with ESG are accepted.”

About EQAR

EQAR stands for the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education. All institutions in the European higher education area are subject to regular external evaluation by quality assurance agencies. The Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG) constitute the basis for the external evaluation. EQAR is the official register body of quality assurance agencies operating in the European higher education area in full compliance with the ESG.

About ENQA

ENQA is the umbrella organisation responsible for coordinating higher education quality assurance activities across Europe. It contributes to its members and stakeholders by promoting European cooperation in the field of quality assurance in higher education and disseminating its knowledge and expertise among them to develop and share good practices and improve the European quality assurance dimension.