Y脰KAK鈥檚 鈥淓valuator Advanced Training鈥 Was Held at YT脺
The 2026 Evaluator Advanced Training Program, organized by the Higher Education Quality Council to strengthen the quality assurance system in higher education and enhance the competencies of evaluators involved in assessment processes, was hosted by Y谋ld谋z Technical University. The program, held at the Historical Hamam Cultural Center, was attended by 150 participants from 83 different universities and institutions.
The 2026 Evaluator Advanced Training Program, organized by the Higher Education Quality Council (Y脰KAK), was held at the Historic Hamam Cultural Center of Y谋ld谋z Technical University (YT脺). The program was attended by Y脰KAK Vice Chair Prof. Dr. Ramazan Bay谋nd谋r, YT脺 Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya, Y脰KAK Expert Prof. Dr. Yunus Nadi Y眉ksek, and 150 evaluators from 83 different universities and institutions.
Aimed at enhancing the knowledge and experience of evaluators involved in quality assurance and evaluation processes, the program covered topics such as the current state of quality processes in higher education, evaluation mechanisms, evidence-based evaluation, the PDCA cycle, and a common approach to evaluation processes.
Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya: 鈥淭he transformation of quality is achieved through monitoring and improvement鈥
Delivering the opening remarks at the program, our YT脺 Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya noted that the culture of quality in higher education in Turkey has reached an important stage, stating that the fundamental issue moving forward is the monitoring and continuous improvement of activities carried out within institutions.
Noting that institutions have made significant progress in the planning and implementation phases of evaluation processes, Prof. Dr. Karakaya said, 鈥淨uality has truly become internalized and has reached a certain point, but there are still areas that require greater attention. 鈥淭here is no task in Turkey that has been planned but not implemented. This is because every institution is subject to regulations. If there are regulations, there is a plan. If a planned task has ultimately been implemented, it is alive. This corresponds to the first two stages of the PDCA cycle,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e must rethink quality in light of future technologies鈥
Noting that quality mechanisms in higher education will take on a new dimension alongside digital transformation, Prof. Dr. Karakaya emphasized the need to assess the impact of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems on quality assurance processes.
Karakaya stated, 鈥淯p until now, universities have achieved certain things here using their digital capabilities. But acknowledging that we have entered a new era, we must plan this perspective starting today, particularly in light of artificial intelligence鈥檚 autonomous structures.鈥
Karakaya noted that new questions have arisen regarding how to establish control mechanisms for AI-supported quality systems and how to position the human element in these processes, and he highlighted the importance of evaluators discussing these issues as well.
鈥淨uality is not just a certificate hung on the wall鈥
Emphasizing that quality should not be evaluated solely as a document, report, or visible output, Prof. Dr. Karakaya said that a culture of quality must become an integral part of institutions鈥 daily operations and work practices.
Noting that evaluators are not merely individuals who assess the current situation during site visits, Karakaya stated that quality evaluation processes also contribute to the development of a culture of quality at universities. Karakaya said, 鈥淨uality is not just a site visit; it is also a transfer of culture. I believe that bringing this culture to universities will initiate such a transformation.鈥
Prof. Dr. Bay谋nd谋r: 鈥淥ur goal is to strengthen the quality assurance system in higher education鈥
Y脰KAK Vice President Prof. Dr. Ramazan Bay谋nd谋r, in his presentation titled 鈥淵脰KAK Introduction and Evaluation Terminology,鈥 shared with participants the establishment process of Y脰KAK, its duties, evaluation system, and its work related to quality assurance.
Noting that Y脰KAK鈥檚 work is carried out through commissions, Bay谋nd谋r outlined its core areas of activity, such as institutional external evaluation, institutional accreditation, and the authorization and recognition of program accreditation bodies.
Bay谋nd谋r stated that Y脰KAK鈥檚 evaluation processes are based on criteria established within the framework of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), and explained that an evidence-based, multi-stage system is applied in the evaluation of institutions.
Emphasizing that institutional external evaluation and accreditation processes are not limited to on-site visits alone, Bay谋nd谋r outlined the stages of the process, ranging from the formation of evaluation teams to the preparation of reports, expert reviews, consistency checks, and the final decision.
Bay谋nd谋r noted that in forming evaluation teams, attention was paid to ensuring representation from academic, administrative, and student bodies, as well as to diversity across different universities, departments, and genders, and he highlighted the importance of bringing together diverse perspectives during the evaluation process.
鈥淭he culture of quality in Turkey has reached a significant milestone鈥
Noting that Y脰KAK has a corporate history of approximately 10 years, Prof. Dr. Bay谋nd谋r stated that the culture of quality in Turkey has developed significantly during this period.
Bay谋nd谋r noted that with the widespread adoption of institutional external evaluation, monitoring, and institutional accreditation programs, universities have become more actively involved in quality assurance processes. In his presentation on Y脰KAK鈥檚 data, he also shared the current figures regarding institutional external evaluation, monitoring, and institutional accreditation processes with the participants.
Efforts in the areas of internationalization and quality continue
Bay谋nd谋r also touched upon Y脰KAK鈥檚 efforts in the field of international quality assurance and outlined the work carried out under the international institutional accreditation program. He noted that, in addition to the collaborations Y脰KAK maintains with various international organizations, knowledge-sharing activities in the field of quality continue.
Bay谋nd谋r also provided information about the journal recently launched by Y脰KAK and the international conferences it organizes, highlighting the importance of academic knowledge production and experience sharing in the field of quality assurance.
Evaluators were prepared for the process through hands-on training
Details regarding Y脰KAK鈥檚 Evaluator Advanced Training Program were shared with participants by Y脰KAK Expert Prof. Dr. Yunus Nadi Y眉ksek.
Participants came together for hands-on exercises focused on evaluation processes. Through the 鈥淟et鈥檚 Identify Strengths and Areas for Improvement鈥 session, evaluators were introduced to practical methods for identifying institutions鈥 strengths and areas for improvement during evaluation processes.
In the program鈥檚 section titled 鈥淲ho Should We Ask, and What Should We Ask?鈥, the creation of the right questions during the evaluation process and methods for obtaining the necessary information were discussed. This was followed by the 鈥淲hat Evidence Is Needed?鈥 session, which featured hands-on exercises focused on determining the evidence to be used in evaluations.
A 鈥淧DCA Tagging Exercise鈥 was conducted during the training. The exercise involved practical activities designed to address the planning, implementation, control, and corrective action/improvement phases of evaluation processes.
In the program鈥檚 section titled 鈥淗ow Should the Final Report Be Structured?鈥, the focus was on how the outputs resulting from the evaluation process should be structured.
In the final segment of the day, participants took an exam on the evaluation process. The program concluded after participants completed the satisfaction survey.
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