1. Quality Assurance & Development of Higher Education in North Cyprus Prof. Dr. Hüseyin GÖKÇEKUŞ President of YÖDAK IQA Workshop: Quality in Higher Education, Near East University, Nicosia North Cyprus, 28-29 May 2015 Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş1

2. Introduction Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş2

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6. 6  It is expected that transnational higher education will be widespread and international students registered in the campuses of other universities will increase. This will become possible with diploma supplement and student exchange program opportunities.

7. Development of Higher Education in North Cyprus Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş7

8. North Cyprus as a Hub of Higher Education  Cyprus is the third largest island of the Mediterranean Sea with favorable climate, pollution free environment and beaches, almost non-existent crime rate and no political or religious conflicts or ethnic clashes.  The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a fully- fledged State with all its democratic institutions intact and where the rule of law prevails. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş8

9.  In the TRNC, one will receive quality higher education at international standards with relatively affordable tuition fees and various choices for dormitory/accommodation facilities.  Universities in the TRNC offer hundreds of different programs integrated with the Turkish higher education system.  These are some factors make the TRNC an attractive place for students. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş9

10.  Higher education, which constitutes 40% of the economy in the TRNC, is actively encouraged and promoted by the State.  This is why as an Island State the TRNC is considered as “an oasis of higher education.” Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş10

11. Universities in North Cyprus Population of North Cyprus is 300,000. There are 13 universities and 75,505 students in the TRNC. 41,589 Turkish Students from Turkey 13,686 Turkish Cypriot Students 20,227 International Students There are students from 127 countries and teaching staff from 65 countries. A real internationalism in higher education. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş11

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13. HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE TRNC 1.EASTERN MEDDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY (1979) 2.GIRNE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (1985) 3.NEAR EAST UNIVERSITY (1988) 4.LEFKE EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY (1990) 5.CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (1996) 6.MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY – NORTH CYPRUS CAMPUS (2004) 7.ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY – NORTH CYPRUS CAMPUS (2009) 8.MEDITERRANEAN KARPAZ UNIVERSITY(2012) 9.UNIVERSITY OF KYRENIA (2013) 10.BRITISH UNIVERSITY OF NICOSIA (2013) 11.CYPRUS SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY (2014) 12.AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS (2014) 13.CYPRUS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY (2015) Universities are accredited by the Council of Higher Education for Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination (YÖDAK) of the TRNC and also accredited to the Higher Education Council of Turkey (YÖK). ALSO, ANADOLU UNIVERSITY – THE FACULTY OF OPEN UNIVERSITY (1983) ANADOLU UNIVERSITY – THE FACULTY OF OPEN UNIVERSITY (1983) ATATURK TEACHERS’ ACADEMY (1937) a ATATURK TEACHERS’ ACADEMY (1937) are serving the higher education of TRNC Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş13

14. Higher Education Institutions Offer: Associate Degrees (2-years vocational education) Undergraduate Degrees (4-years) Master Degrees (1-2 years) Doctoral Degrees (3-4 years) Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş14

15. STUDENT POPULATION OF TRNC UNIVERSITIES (2014-2015) UNIVERSITYTURKEYTURKISH CYPRIOTINTERNATIONALTOTAL NEU126286936550425068 EMU88443077719119112 GAU81171765321413096 CIU512591126388674 LEU42844576095350 METU18991603482407 GU45480120654 UMK101197339637 BUN0103261364 ITU13733143 TOTAL41,58913,68920,22775,505

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18. 18 International Student Between 1988/89-2014/2015

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20. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT POPULATION Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş20

21. KKTC’nde Uluslararası Öğrenci Dağılımı (2014-2015) TOP 20 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN TRNC BY COUNTRY (2014 -2015) Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş21

22. Current Position of Higher Education Institutions in International Membership Networking  From the very beginning of the independence of the island in 1960, the Turkish Cypriot side has been dealing with its own educational matters.  Under the 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots were empowered with autonomy in communal affairs, whereby their separate Communal Chambers exercised full authority in all educational, religious and cultural matters, as well as questions of personal status (Articles 20 and 87). Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş22

23.  Therefore, the universities in North Cyprus reserve the right to engage in bilateral agreements with other countries and to be accredited by relevant bodies. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş23

24.  Many of the universities in North Cyprus are accredited by international accreditation authorities such as;  ABET, ASIIN, MUDEK, TedQual, Edexcel-UK, MIAK, FIBAA, IACBE, ECBE, EAQUALS, ACPE, AACSB, UK- NARIC. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş24

25. INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATIONS Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş25

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30.  TRNC universities are full members of the European Universities Association (EUA), the International Association of Universities (IAU), and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW).  Degrees of the universities are widely recognized and accepted all over the world.  All graduates of the universities of North Cyprus enjoy the capacity to find jobs easily all over the world thanks to the education they received in TRNC. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş30

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32.  YÖDAK was established as an autonomous body with juristic personality.  The functions of YÖDAK are to plan, organize, observe the applications, to audit and follow the accreditation procedures of the institutions of higher education, to establish coordination between the institutions of higher education in Northern Cyprus and to be responsible as a Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş32

33.  The higher education institutions are important for the welfare of the society.  As education is an element of sustainable development, North Cyprus aims to raise productivity by bringing together international cultures and rendering quality services.  YÖDAK aims to provide coordination among the universities at the global level and facilitates services to contribute to planning, evaluation, and accreditation of programmes. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş33

34.  YÖDAK is an associate member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA).  YÖDAK is a full member of the International Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and  YÖDAK is a full member of the Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (CEENQA).  YÖDAK is a board member of the Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of The Islamic World (AQAAIW). Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş34

35. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş35 TRNC may be a small country with a population of 300 000 and may be Internationally unrecognised !!! Nevertheless High educational standards of programmes and universities approved by International Accreditation agencies, Makes TRNC an Education HUB in global world

36. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş36 “RECOGNISED UNIVERSITIES OF UNRECOGNISED COUNTRY” “OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHTER AND SECURE WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES” THANK YOU