President of the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Supervisory Board Visits YÖDAK

The President of the Supervisory Board of the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Mr. Ercan Özkan, and his delegation visited the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) today at 10:00 a.m.
During the visit, YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın, along with Prof. Dr. Hülya Harutoğlu, Prof. Dr. Ali Ünyayar, Prof. Dr. Zafer Ağdelen, Prof. Dr. Remziye Terkan, and Prof. Dr. Akın Cellatoğlu were present. The ongoing auditing activities of YÖDAK were discussed, and consultations were held regarding possible joint audit processes to be carried out in cooperation with YÖK of the Republic of Türkiye.
The meeting emphasized that auditing in higher education institutions is not merely a control mechanism but also a tool for quality assurance and continuous improvement. Both parties underlined their shared commitment to enhancing the higher education system within the framework of transparency, accountability, and quality standards.
YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın stated, “Comprehensive efforts have been made—and are ongoing—regarding audits in the higher education system of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We are determined to work towards the quality of higher education. Our technical and academic studies continue. The ongoing collaboration between YÖK and YÖDAK is a sign of steady progress in terms of sustainability and quality in our higher education. We believe that strengthening our institutional infrastructure will enable us to move forward more swiftly.”
Meanwhile, YÖK Supervisory Board President Mr. Ercan Özkan said, “Our commitment and strict oversight in higher education continue with seriousness. We currently audit 208 universities and have gained significant experience in this area. Our board officially consists of 20 members, with 15 actively serving. We carry out very detailed audits of 78 foundation (private) universities. Before coming here, we had just completed another round of audits. We aim to conduct audits that are fair, reasonable, and sustainable. We prioritize the guiding function of audits by engaging in brainstorming throughout the process. A strong YÖDAK means strong higher education and strong universities in the TRNC. We are here because we are ready to contribute to YÖDAK’s strength through coordinated efforts, and the determination we have seen here strengthens our hope.”
We believe this visit will reinforce a quality-focused audit approach in the higher education sector of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and lay the groundwork for contributing to a sustainable educational framework.