YÖDAK Re-Admitted as an Affiliate Member of ENQA

The Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) has been re-admitted as an affiliate member by the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). This development marks a significant milestone in terms of the relationship between the higher education system of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the European Higher Education Area.
YÖDAK first became an affiliate member of ENQA in 2007 and had been renewing its membership annually. Last year, the ENQA Board of Directors rejected YÖDAK’s application for renewal of affiliate membership. The reasons cited for this decision included the investigation of former YÖDAK administrators and negative developments within the higher education sector in the TRNC.
YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın attended the General Assembly meetings held in Malta to follow the process on-site and provided information on the work carried out by YÖDAK. He announced that an objection would be filed and a new application for affiliate membership would be submitted. ENQA was informed about the new “Regulation on Admission, Registration, and Transfer Conditions to Undergraduate, Associate, and Graduate Programs of Higher Education Institutions for International Students Who Are Not Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or the Republic of Türkiye,” which entered into force in August 2024, as well as about inspection activities, decisions taken, and YÖDAK’s work on program authorization and accreditation. A new observer membership application was subsequently submitted.
Prof. Dr. Hocanın also emphasized that the multifaceted consultations conducted with the ENQA President and management, as well as the teamwork of the YÖDAK Board Chair and members, made a positive contribution to the process. Additionally, the renewed membership process was significantly supported by the Presidency of the TRNC, the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of National Education, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK), and the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia.
The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) is an umbrella organization that brings together agencies operating in the field of quality assurance in higher education and acts as a consultative member within the Bologna Process. ENQA promotes cooperation and coordination among its member agencies and undertakes efforts to develop, implement, and mutually recognize quality assurance systems. It currently comprises 60 full members and 42 affiliate members from 56 countries.
In his statement, President Hocanın said, “Affiliate membership in ENQA will enable our universities to establish stronger ties with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), particularly within the framework of the Bologna Process. This membership also demonstrates YÖDAK’s commitment to aligning with international quality assurance standards.” YÖDAK aims to take the necessary steps to ensure the implementation of these standards within our universities.
As YÖDAK, we respectfully inform the public that we will continue our efforts with determination to build a transparent and accountable system in higher education based on academic quality and in compliance with international standards.

Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK)