Quality Assurance Training Held for Higher Education Institutions in the TRNC
As part of the ongoing collaboration between the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) and the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC/YÖKAK) in the field of quality assurance in higher education, an online training program was organized for universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The online program, held on July 31, 2025, was opened with speeches by Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak, President of THEQC, and Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın, President of YÖDAK. The program aimed to contribute to the development of a culture of quality assurance in the TRNC higher education system.
In his address, Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak emphasized that sharing the experiences of the quality assurance system implemented by THEQC in Türkiye would significantly contribute to the development of higher education institutions in the TRNC. He also noted that this training would lay the groundwork for future in-person programs.
Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın expressed his satisfaction with the continued strengthening of the cooperation with THEQC. He provided insights into YÖDAK’s work on quality assurance and its strategic goals in this field and voiced his appreciation for the strong interest and high level of participation in the training. He stressed that, in addition to regaining ENQA affiliate membership, the continuation of training sessions with THEQC would pave the way for TRNC universities to enter the institutional accreditation process, allowing them to certify their compliance with European standards. He expressed his belief that such training would make a significant contribution to the quality-oriented transformation of TRNC universities.
In addition to YÖDAK members, quality assurance representatives from universities operating in the TRNC also participated in the training. Throughout the day, THEQC experts delivered presentations on “Internal and External Quality Assurance Systems,” “Internal Quality Assurance within the Framework of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG),” and the “International Institutional Accreditation Program (UKAP).”
These programs, carried out within the scope of the cooperation protocol signed between YÖDAK and THEQC in 2021, are an important indicator of concrete steps taken toward the dissemination of a quality culture and the establishment of sustainable quality assurance mechanisms in the TRNC higher education system.
Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK)
