Turkish Higher Education Quality Council

What Turkish Higher Education Quality Council does

The Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK / THEQC) is the sole statutory quality assurance body for higher education in Turkey, established by the Higher Education Quality Assurance Regulation published in the Official Gazette on 23 July 2015 and restructured under its current operating model in January 2018. Operating under the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) from a single headquarters in Çankaya, Ankara with 82 employees, THEQC conducts institutional external evaluations, institutional accreditation (KAP), and international institutional accreditation (UKAP) for all Turkish universities, while also authorizing and monitoring national program-level accreditation agencies and recognizing international accreditation agencies such as AQAS, AACSB, and FIBAA. By 2019 it had completed external evaluations of all 160 Turkish universities that had graduated students, and by 2025 forty-three universities had received institutional accreditation.

THEQC's technical platform is a portfolio of interconnected web-based management information systems: the central YÖKAK Bilgi Yönetim Sistemi (MIS) for institutional reports and accreditation decisions, the Kalite Güvencesi Yönetim Bilgi Sistemi for institutional self-evaluation, the Akreditasyon Kuruluşları Sistemi (AKSİS) for accreditation agency registration, the Değerlendirici Sistemi for evaluator recruitment and assignment, the Geri Bildirim Sistemi for stakeholder feedback, the Stratejik Plan Yönetim Sistemi for strategic planning, and a Program Değererlendirme Yazılımı developed to help universities establish internal quality systems. In 2026 it launched JAQAHE, an open-access international peer-reviewed academic journal published in English semi-annually.

THEQC is government-funded through the Turkish state budget and does not generate commercial revenue or charge fees to institutions; its value proposition is regulatory rather than commercial. The council holds full membership in ENQA (since 2019), EQAR, APQN, CHEA, and INQAAHE, enabling cross-border recognition of Turkish qualifications, and maintains bilateral cooperation protocols with quality assurance agencies in France (HCERES), Russia (NCPA), Estonia (EKKA), Bosnia-Herzegovina (HEA), Pakistan (HEC/QAA), Malaysia (MQA), and Northern Cyprus (YÖDAK). Distribution is exclusively through direct institutional engagement via headquarters-led evaluation visits, the official website (yokak.gov.tr), the annual International Conference, evaluator training programs, and the Quality Ambassador student program.

Name

Turkish Higher Education Quality Council

Legal name

Yükseköğretim Kalite Kurulu Başkanlığı

Website

https://yokak.gov.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK / THEQC) is the government-mandated sole quality assurance and accreditation body for Turkish higher education, conducting institutional evaluations and authorizing accreditation agencies for all Turkish universities from its Ankara headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Quality Assurance

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Coordination, Recognition & Meta-Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accreditation Appeals, Arbitration & Compliance Oversight Bodies (EDADACAL), Data Quality Management, Validation & Certification (EDADAIAL)

Keywords

• Higher education accreditation
• Quality assurance services
• Institutional evaluation programs
• Regulatory quality bodies
• Education management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Ankara

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Governmental Quality Assurance Services: THEQC operates as a governmental quality assurance council under the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in Turkey. The council conducts institutional evaluations and accreditation programs for universities as part of its public mandate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

THEQC is the Turkish governmental body that conducts institutional external evaluations, institutional accreditation, international institutional accreditation, and authorizes national and international accreditation agencies for higher education institutions in Turkey. It operates a portfolio of web-based management information systems (MİS, AKSİS, Evaluator System, Feedback System, Strategic Plan System) that enable universities to submit self-evaluation reports, access evaluation results, and manage accreditation workflows. The council also develops in-house software to help universities establish internal quality systems and publishes the JAQAHE international academic journal.

Product overview

YÖKAK operates as a quality assurance and accreditation body for Turkish higher education, offering a portfolio of interconnected web-based management systems. The core offerings include the YÖKAK Bilgi Yönetim Sistemi (MİS) for accessing institutional reports and accreditation decisions, the Kalite Güvencesi Yönetim Bilgi Sistemi for institutional self-evaluation, the Akreditasyon Kuruluşları Sistemi (AKSİS) for accreditation agency management, the Değerlendirici Sistemi for evaluator management, the Geri Bildirim Sistemi for stakeholder feedback, and the Stratejik Plan Yönetim Sistemi for strategic planning. YÖKAK also developed a Program Değerlendirme Yazılımı to support universities in internal quality system establishment, and launched the JAQAHE international academic journal in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JAQAHE (Journal of Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education): International open-access peer-reviewed academic journal published by YÖKAK in the field of higher education quality assurance and accreditation. Published in English, twice yearly in June and December, with double-blind peer review.

Products and services

• YÖKAK Bilgi Yönetim Sistemi (MİS)
• Kalite Güvencesi Yönetim Bilgi Sistemi
• Akreditasyon Kuruluşları Sistemi (AKSİS)
• Değerlendirici Sistemi
• Geri Bildirim Sistemi
• Stratejik Plan Yönetim Sistemi
• Program Değerlendirme Yazılımı
• JAQAHE (Journal of Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education)
• Institutional External Evaluation Program (KDDP)
• Kurumsal Akreditasyon Programı (KAP)
• Uluslararası Kurumsal Akreditasyon Programı (UKAP)
• Accreditation Agency Authorization and Recognition

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2019THEQC became an affiliated member of ENQA on February 21, 2019. A full membership evaluation visit was conducted by ENQA in December 2019. Membership enables participation in European quality assurance activities and alignment with EHEA standards.
• EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEQAR is a register of quality assurance agencies that meet European standards. THEQC's institutional accreditation records are processed in the EQAR database.
• APQN (Asia-Pacific Quality Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHEQC maintains active membership in APQN, the Asia-Pacific Quality Network for higher education quality assurance.
• CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHEQC is a member of CHEA, the US-based Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
• INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHEQC holds membership in INQAAHE, the global network for quality assurance agencies in higher education.
• NCPA (Russia - National Centre for Public Accreditation)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation protocol signed between THEQC and NCPA in August 2019 for collaboration in higher education quality assurance and evaluation. Areas include mutual sharing of experiences, joint institutional external evaluation projects, and evaluator exchange programs.
• EKKA (Estonia - Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation meeting held in Istanbul in April 2019 between THEQC and EKKA to discuss collaboration in quality assurance.
• HCERES (France - High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation protocol signed in January 2019 between THEQC and HCERES for collaboration in higher education quality assurance and evaluation.
• HEA (Bosnia and Herzegovina - Higher Education and Quality Assurance Development Agency)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint conference 'Quality 25' organized in Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2025 under the cooperation agreement between THEQC and HEA. THEQC served as co-organizer.
• HEC/QAA (Pakistan - Higher Education Commission Quality Assurance Agency)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral cooperation agreement signed on April 21, 2026 to strengthen international collaboration in higher education quality assurance between Turkey and Pakistan.
• PNQAHE (Pakistan Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHEQC was represented at the 6th PNQAHE International Conference held in Karachi, Pakistan in April 2026. THEQC Vice President Prof. Dr. Ramazan Bayındır attended.
• MQA (Malaysia - Malaysian Qualifications Agency)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntroductory and information sharing meeting held between THEQC and MQA in May 2025 to explore areas of cooperation.
• YÖDAK (KKTC - Higher Education Planning, Supervision, Accreditation and Coordination Board)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 'Accreditation Training Program' organized in October 2025 for KKTC higher education institutions to develop quality assurance processes.
• British Council TurkeyregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint workshop on 'Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Turkey and the United Kingdom' organized in January 2020, bringing together quality experts from both countries.
• AQAS (Agency for Quality Assurance)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational accreditation agency recognized by THEQC for five years (2019-2024) to conduct accreditation activities in Turkey.
• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational business education accreditation agency recognized by THEQC for five years (2019-2024) for business school accreditation.
• FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational business and management education accreditation agency recognized by THEQC for five years (2019-2024).
• MÜDEK (Engineering Education Programs Evaluation and Accreditation Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational accreditation agency authorized by THEQC to accredit engineering education programs in Turkey.
• TEPDAD (Medicine Education Programs Evaluation and Accreditation Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational accreditation agency authorized by THEQC to accredit medical education programs.
• FEDEK (Science, Literature, FLCHF Faculties Accreditation Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational accreditation agency authorized by THEQC to accredit programs in faculties of science, literature, and related disciplines.
• EPDAD (Education Faculties Programs Evaluation and Accreditation Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational accreditation agency authorized by THEQC to accredit education faculty programs.
• HEPDAK (Nursing Education Programs Evaluation and Accreditation Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational accreditation agency authorized by THEQC to accredit nursing education programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HCERES (Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur): France's national quality assurance and evaluation council for higher education and research. Directly comparable as THEQC's mandate mirrors HCERES, and the two have a signed cooperation protocol since January 2019.
• AACSB International: Global business school accreditation agency recognized by THEQC for a five-year period (2019-2024) to accredit business programs in Turkey. Comparable as a program-level accreditor operating in THEQC's domestic market.
• FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation): European agency accrediting business and management programs. Recognized by THEQC for five-year accreditation activities in Turkey, providing direct program-level competition.
• NCPA (National Centre for Public Accreditation): Russia's national accreditation body for higher education programs and institutions. Directly comparable mandate and active cooperation protocol with THEQC since August 2019 covering evaluator exchange and joint external evaluations.
• QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education): UK's independent quality body for higher education, providing academic standards and quality assurance. Comparable in mandate (institutional review, accreditation), membership in ENQA, and engagement with Turkish peers via the British Council Turkey workshop.
• MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency): Malaysia's statutory body for qualifications assurance and accreditation. Comparable as an APQN-member national agency; THEQC and MQA held introductory information-sharing meetings in May 2025.
• HEA (Higher Education and Quality Assurance Development Agency, Bosnia and Herzegovina): National QA agency for Bosnia and Herzegovina; cooperated with THEQC to jointly organize the Quality 25 conference in Neum in June 2025. Directly comparable mandate and active bilateral relationship.
• EKKA (Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education): Estonia's national quality assurance agency for higher and vocational education. Directly comparable as a small European ENQA-listed agency, and has held cooperation discussions with THEQC since April 2019.

Broad incumbents

• ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education): Umbrella association of European QA agencies, of which THEQC is a full member. Acts as a meta-accreditor at the European level and an established broader incumbent in the same ecosystem.
• CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation): US-based coordinating body for higher education accreditation. THEQC holds membership in CHEA, mirroring its broad coordinating role across accreditors at a larger US-centric scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yokak

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Turkish Higher Education Quality Council