Institutional Accreditation Program (IAP)
The external evaluation programme in which the quality assurance systems of higher education institutions are evaluated holistically and accredited by YÖKAK
The Institutional Accreditation Program (IAP) is an external evaluation method through which the leadership, governance and quality, learning and teaching, research and development, and service to society processes of higher education institutions are evaluated within the “plan, do, check, act” (PDCA) cycle. Whereas programme accreditation examines a single programme in detail, the IAP reviews the institution's entire quality assurance system as a whole.
The IAP is carried out by evaluation teams established by the Higher Education Quality Council of Türkiye (YÖKAK), within the framework of the Institutional External Evaluation and Accreditation Criteria and the Institutional External Evaluation and Accreditation Guide. The evaluation is built upon the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER), in which the institution presents itself, and is conducted on an evidence-based footing.
Plan
Goals, processes and resources are planned in line with quality assurance objectives.
Do
The planned activities are implemented across learning and teaching, research, service to society and governance processes.
Check
Results are monitored and evaluated through indicators, reports and stakeholder feedback.
Act
Improvement decisions are taken in the light of the evaluation results and the cycle begins again.
Leadership, Governance and Quality
The governance structure aligned with the institution's mission and strategic goals, its quality assurance system, internal quality culture and resource management are evaluated.
Learning and Teaching
All educational processes are examined, from programme design to the measurement of learning outcomes, and from student-centred learning to the competence of the teaching staff and the educational infrastructure.
Research and Development
The research strategy, the management of research resources and competences, and the monitoring and improvement of research performance are addressed.
Service to Society
The institution's service-to-society strategy, and the management, resources and performance of its service-to-society processes, fall within the scope of the evaluation.
1
Selection of Institutions
Each year the higher education institutions to be included in the IAP are determined and announced by YÖKAK.
2
Evaluation Team
A team of trained evaluators suited to the structure of the institution is formed by YÖKAK.
3
Pre-Visit
The evaluation team makes its first visit in order to become acquainted with the institution, plan the process and share expectations.
4
Site Visit
The team evaluates the institution on site through meetings with managers, teaching staff, students, administrative staff and external stakeholders.
5
Preparation of the Report
Following the visits, the evaluation team prepares the Institutional Accreditation Report.
6
Accreditation Decision
Taking the Institutional Accreditation Report into account, YÖKAK reaches its final decision on accreditation.
5 YEARS
Full Accreditation
Indicates that the institution's quality assurance system has matured; the accreditation is valid for five years.
2 YEARS
Conditional Accreditation
Granted for two years to institutions with areas open to improvement; progress is re-evaluated at the end of that period.
PROCESS
Support Decision
A decision is taken by YÖKAK to provide support to an institution whose quality assurance practices are still developing.
Preparatory Work at Our University: Giresun University systematically continues its preparations for the Institutional Accreditation Program through the preparation of Institutional Self-Evaluation Reports, the self-evaluation processes of its academic and administrative units, the monitoring of strategic goals and performance indicators, and the regular work of its quality committees. The current outputs of this work are available in the University documents listed below.
