Conference on Quality and Accreditation Strategies at KTMU: Key Insights by Prof. Dr. Metin Toprak
On June 30, 2025, the Turkic World Strategic Research Center (TÜRKSAM) of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University organized a conference to raise awareness of quality assurance and accreditation processes in higher education.
The event featured Prof. Dr. Metin Toprak, Head of the Department of Economics at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University and Member of the Auditing Committee of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, as the keynote speaker.
In his presentation titled “Institutional Structure and Implementation Strategies in Quality Assurance and Accreditation: A Holistic Model Proposal,” Prof. Dr. Toprak provided comprehensive insights into quality assurance systems and accreditation frameworks in higher education. He addressed institutional and program-level accreditation, sector-specific standards, international benchmarks, and the evaluation methodologies employed by global university ranking agencies.
Addressing an audience of academic and administrative staff, Prof. Dr. Toprak shared examples related to 21st-century skills, key innovations, and standards within the context of professional qualifications and the Turkish Qualifications Database. He also underscored the importance of both internal and external quality assurance mechanisms, with a focus on standards, guidelines, and performance monitoring criteria.
Prof. Dr. Toprak emphasized that quality assurance processes should not be regarded merely as regulatory requirements but as strategic components of institutional governance. Highlighting the need for specialized knowledge, he stated, “This is the work of professionals,” and stressed that all academic and administrative personnel should be well-informed and actively engaged in quality and accreditation efforts.
He also introduced a holistic model designed to support quality development without imposing additional administrative burdens on institutions—emphasizing efficiency and optimal use of existing resources and capacities.
The conference concluded with the presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to Prof. Dr. Metin Toprak in recognition of his valuable contributions.
