The Higher Education Quality Board (YÖKAK) Institutional Accreditation Programme (KAP) process at Kastamonu University started with meetings held on 9 December 2024 and was completed with the closing session on 11 December 2024. Our University's quality assurance system, strategic goals, education training, research development, social contribution, and administrative processes were evaluated in detail during the process.
The Evaluation Team consisted of Prof. Dr. Ramazan Gökbunar (Team Head), Prof. Dr. Erman Coşkun, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selva Staub, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Işık, Assistant Secretary General Assoc. Dr. Yıldız Atılgan Uzun, Simge Ayyıldız (Student Evaluator) and Prof. Dr. David Terence Thomas (International Evaluator).
On the first day of the evaluation process, the YÖKAK Evaluation Team met with our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal. It made a general evaluation of our University's quality assurance sUniversityrent practices and areas for improvement in education, research and development, social contribution, and administrative processes were discussed. In addition, issues that need to be clarified in the reports were emphasized.
After meeting with our Rector, the Evaluation Team met with the Institutional Quality Commission members in our University's Senate Hall. The compatibility of the University's strategic goals with regional and national development goals, the role of the quality commission in decision-making processes, and its contribution to the quality assurance system were discussed. In the meeting held with the members of the Senate and the Board of Directors, a broad evaluation of the quality assurance system was made. The results obtained within the continuous improvement approach and plans were shared. In addition, in the meetings with the external stakeholders of our University, opinions and suggestions were listened to.
In the afternoon of the first day, the Evaluation Team interviewed the academic staff of the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Faculty of Forestry, and Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Opinions on the roles of academic staff in the quality assurance system and the development and motivation of academic staff were received. The meetings with students evaluated students' participation in decision-making processes, student support services, and general satisfaction with education.
Simultaneously visits were organized to the Institute of Social Sciences, School of Foreign Languages, Kastamonu Vocational School, and Abana Sabahat Mesut Yılmaz Vocational School on the second day of the process. Following the interviews with academic staff and students, meetings were held with administrative units and research centers in the afternoon. In addition, visits were made to the Central Library, Infant and Children's Library, Central Research Laboratory, Kastamonu Technopolis, and the Wood Culture Application and Research Centre. The Evaluation Team came together to evaluate their impressions and prepare the Exit Notification.
On 11 December 2024, the last day of the process, the 'Exit Statement' was presented verbally by the Head of the Evaluation Team at a meeting with our academic and administrative staff with the participation of our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal. After the suggestions and wishes, the meeting was finalized by our Rector and the Head of the Team.
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, evaluated the examinations carried out within the YÖKAK Institutional Accreditation Programme (KAP) scope.
Emphasizing that the process contributes to strengthening the institutional structure of our university rector stated that evaluations are made in a wide range of areas, from education to research development, from social contribution to administrative processes. He noted that these processes will guide our University's strategic goals. He also stated that the active participation of academic and administrative units, students, and stakeholders in the process once again reinforced the determination of our University to move forward with common sense.
Our Rector thanked everyone who contributed to the completion of the process and stated that our University takes firm steps towards its goals nationally and internationally with the understanding of continuous improvement. Our Rector thanked the members of the YÖKAK Evaluation Team for their devoted work and wished the process would benefit our University.
