Atatürk University, which focuses on the accreditation process, which is used by independent boards to show the extent of education provided in line with a certain quality standard, with the New Generation University Design and Transformation Project, has started to reap the rewards of the steps taken.

In this context, within the scope of the "New Generation University Design and Transformation Project" carried out by Atatürk University, "Associate and Undergraduate Education Coordinatorship" was established in 2019 and Quality Coordinatorship was established in 2020 in order to increase the quality of education at the university and guide the programmes in accreditation.

Evaluation Process of 14 Programmes Continues

While only 6 undergraduate programmes were accredited in 2019 and their accreditation periods expired in 2020, the accreditation files of 40 programmes in 2020 and 23 programmes in 2021 were prepared under the leadership of these units. Due to the fact that accreditation bodies set a number quota for some programs or the relevant accreditation bodies did not receive applications in some programs, 30 programs applied for accreditation in 2021 and 33 programs in 2022. As of today, Atatürk University has 43 accredited programmes, while the evaluation process of 14 programmes is ongoing. In addition, 29 programmes applied for accreditation for the first time in 2023.

Academics were informed with seminars and guidance services

In this process, seminars on "What is accreditation, where to start and what to do?" were given to the managers and academic staff of the programmes that will apply for accreditation and the necessary guidance services were provided. The coordinatorship and the rectorate were always present during the field visits of the accreditation bodies in the faculties and the necessary support was provided in the areas they needed. In this way, 85 programmes applied to the accreditation process between 2020-2023.

Quality Action Plan Implemented

In addition, a "Quality Action Plan" was prepared to improve the quality understanding of Atatürk University. This action plan constituted an important road map for the units trying to carry out accreditation and quality studies effectively. Quality commissions were established by academic units for the realisation of the quality action plan. Unit quality commissions were given seminars on the aspects of the university open to improvement in accreditation and quality studies.

Rector Çomaklı: "Our University Ranks 5th Among 208 Universities"

Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, Rector of Atatürk University, said that accreditation, which is defined as a quality certificate obtained from national and international independent institutions in order to demonstrate the education provided by universities, has become a culture at Atatürk University. Rector Çomaklı stated that the studies carried out in line with the New Generation University Design and Transformation Project, which started from the day they took office, were reciprocated in a short time: "When the number of accredited programmes of universities registered by YÖKAK or accreditation institutions recognised by YÖKAK is compared;

1) Our university, which ranked 15th among 208 universities in 2022, has moved to 5th place as of today,

2) Our university, which ranked 10th among state universities in 2022, is currently ranked 4th,

3) Among the 23 universities that are Research Universities, our university, which was ranked 8th in 2022, is currently ranked 3rd,

4) Among the 23 universities that received Institutional Accreditation, our university, which was ranked 9th in 2022, is currently ranked 4th,

5) Atatürk University ranked 2nd among the universities that increased the number of programme accreditations the most in the last 1 year.

Following these achievements, our university, with its accreditation and quality policy, aims to take the title of the university with the highest number of programme accreditations at the undergraduate level among the universities in Turkey in 2024. Our university, which increased the number of accredited programmes to 43 within 3 years, was invited to tell the participants about the accreditation success story under the title of "Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education" at the International Quality Assurance and Accreditation Conference to be held by YÖKAK.

It can be said that the coordinatorship, dean, programme managers, academic and administrative staff's ownership, belief, internalisation, excitement and teamwork in the accreditation journey of our university have achieved this success. With these thoughts, I would like to thank all our members who have brought our university to a more competitive position in both national and international science world, and I sincerely believe that we will achieve many more successes together."