INSTITUTIONAL SELF EVALUATION REPORT (ISER) 2018
Conclusion and Evaluation part of Institutional Self Evaluation Report 2018 is given in English below. Click here to access the full report (in Turkish).
CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION
Yaşar University made a request to enter the External Evaluation process by the THEI Quality Council in 2017 within the scope of the University Strategic Plan, and the preparation process for the External Evaluation of Quality was started in the same year. During this period, the objectives and performance criteria of the road maps determined to achieve the strategic goals of the university were embodied, and the monitoring system was designed and put into use.
An updated real-time performance monitoring information system for the strategic goals of the university has been established. According to this, the data collected from the university units were integrated into the system and reported to the senior management. This report was shared with the relevant units again, updated after the due diligence carried out through a participatory process, and the determined measurable targets were announced throughout the university.
A quality assurance tab was opened on the university internet site and all information, documents and reports regarding the University Quality Policy and practices were presented to the public and to all internal and external stakeholders within the framework of the principle of transparency. Within the scope of Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK) studies have been initiated by the General Secretary to obtain the “ISO 27001 Information Security Management System” certificate in order to ensure the quality security of all information systems of the university. The Information Processing Department has been assigned to coordinate and carry out the work on obtaining this document.
Within the scope of Yaşar University’s Strategic Plan, in 2018, the program accreditation studies of the School of Foreign Languages (YDYO), Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Communication were emphasized and YDYO English Preparatory Class was entitled to receive the “Commission on English Language Program Accreditation” (CEA) accreditation document for 10 years and the Industrial Engineering and Electrical and Electronics Engineering MÜDEK accreditation document for 3 years. Computer Engineering and Software Engineering departments carry out the Association for Evaluation and Accrediation of Engineering Programs (MÜDEK) accreditation application process. In addition, Faculty of Communication, Public Relations and Advertising, Visual Communication Design and Radio, Television and Cinema departments applied to the Evaluation and Accreditation Board for Communication Education-Turkey (ILEDAK) accreditation process. It is expected that the accreditation process for these programs will be completed in the 2018-2019 academic year.
In line with the university’s strategic plan, Yaşar University was awarded the “Accessible University” award by the Council of Higher Education, especially as a result of the studies carried out by the Disabled Student Unit in order to reach the target of an accessible campus. It became one of the 16 universities that received the Access in Space (Orange Flag) award, and the 7 universities that received the Access in Education (Green Flag) award, given for some faculties and campuses among the 185 universities that entered the evaluation process in Turkey.
The Strategic Planning and Excellence Office, which was restructured in the 2017-2018 Academic Year, continued its work on monitoring and reporting processes of quality assurance practices. In the same year, all other commissions and boards, except for the senate, institute, faculties, and college boards, were restructured as subcommittees of Yaşar University Quality Commission. The necessary quality culture studies were continued for the effective implementation of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle in all units of the university. The full implementation of the cycle in all processes has been identified as a direction open to development, and the relevant improvement and dissemination activities are summarized below. In this context, the Quality Commission held eight meetings in the relevant year and took 25 decisions. The Strategic Planning and Excellence Office held regular monthly meetings as three half-day workshops and offices with the Senior Management (Rector, Vice-Rectors, Secretary General, Head of Financial Affairs).
With the aim of increasing the quality of education, curriculum simplification studies have been initiated with the participation of all academic units under the coordination of the University’s associate and undergraduate programs, under the coordination of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and it has been put into practice as of the spring semester of the 2018-2019 academic year. Curriculum simplification of graduate programs is planned to be completed by the end of the 2018-2019 academic year, with the participation of relevant institutes and departments.
To become a partner in the technopark and to establish a technology company in the technopark, foreseen in the Yaşar University Strategic Plan it was decided to carry out 49 R&D and studies by the Information and Technology Transfer Office (BTTO) under the coordination of the Vice Rector for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Financial Affairs Department and this decision was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Another issue that has been identified as a direction open to development is the active participation of external stakeholders in all processes. The external advisory boards of the departments established in the last reporting period have started to work on this subject and a total of 10 advisory board meetings were held within the scope of the Faculty of Communication, the Faculty of Law, the Vocational School of Justice and the Faculty of Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, Civil Engineering, Software Engineering departments.
The focus is on areas open to improvement within the framework of the University’s Quality Management System, Quality Policy and Quality Practices and the improvement works started as of 2017, when the Quality External Evaluation process was passed, still continues.