First Program Accreditation In Toros University

As a result of the evaluations made in the SABAK national accreditation evaluation process, our University Faculty of Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics Undergraduate Program has been accredited.

Program Accreditation

Program Accreditation refers to the evaluation and external quality assurance process that measures whether academic and field-specific standards predetermined by an accreditation body in a particular field are met by a higher education program. In Turkey, the Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) is responsible for the authorization and recognition of accreditation bodies. The process of authorization of national accreditation bodies and recognition of international accreditation bodies is carried out within the scope of the principles and criteria determined by YÖKAK.

The programs within the Faculty of Health Sciences are accredited by SABAK (Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Health Sciences Education Programs) authorized by YÖKAK. The main purpose of SABAK is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of health sciences education in Turkey by conducting accreditation, evaluation and information studies for health education programs in different disciplines. The SABAK accreditation system includes nine criteria: curriculum, program outcomes, students, faculty, infrastructure, management structure, institutional support and financial resources, continuous renewal and development, and discipline-specific criteria. In this context, program accreditation,

Increasing the quality of education and training and continuous improvement with a systematic approach,

Assuring the quality of education and training

It is used to assure stakeholders that the quality of education and training is carried out based on certain standards.

Brief History of the Department

Toros University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics was established in 2016 within the School of Health Sciences and started its education and training activities by admitting students for the first time in the 2018-2019 academic year. The name of the School of Health Sciences was changed to the Faculty of Health Sciences on 15.06.2020 and started to admit students as of the 2020-2021 academic year. The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics gave its first graduates in 2022. In addition to undergraduate education, the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics has been continuing its activities with the Master's Program since 2023.

Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betül GÜLŞEN made information and explanations about the accreditation process.

about the program accreditation.

Accreditation Preparations

As it is known, graduation is required for Program Accreditation application requirements. The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics gave its first graduates in 2022. A Self-Assessment Commission was established by our department in 2022 and preparatory work was started.  “Education Program” (Criterion 1), “Program Outcomes and Assessment” (Criterion 2), ‘Students’ (Criterion 3), “Instructors” (Criterion 4) determined within the framework of SABAK Self-Assessment Guide with the participation of the Commission and all faculty members, The Department's Self-Assessment Report (SRA) was prepared based on “Infrastructure” (Criterion 5), “Management Structure” (Criterion 6), “Institutional Support and Financial Resources” (Criterion 7), “Continuous Evaluation and Improvement” (Criterion 8), and “Program Specific Criteria” (Criterion 9). In addition to preparing the report, monitoring and evaluation activities were also carried out for two years.

Our department has played an important role in terms of carrying out and supporting the process of our University receiving Institutional Accreditation in 2023. The dissemination of the quality culture in the institution, the participation of internal and external stakeholders in the processes and the reflection of the Self-Assessment studies prepared by the academic units to our department and the active participation of all our academic staff in these processes have made important contributions.

Accreditation Application

After the completion of the SDR prepared by our department, an application was made to SABAK in January-2023 and our inclusion in the evaluation process was welcomed positively. In this context, all kinds of support and encouragement given by our Dean, Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees have added strength to us. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

In August 2023, the SDR and all evidence were submitted to SABAK and reviewed. As a result of the review by the Evaluation Commission established by SABAK, a site visit program was established.

Site Visit

Evaluation Commission of 5 people formed by SABAK (Team leader, Academic evaluators, Student Evaluator and Observer) They visited our University and Department between December 8-9-10, 2024.

Within the scope of the site visit, they held interviews with the Department Faculty Members and Staff, Faculty Dean and Administrative Staff, and Students. In addition to the interviews, Department Laboratories, Classrooms, Library, Dining Hall, Social and Sportive areas were seen on site and detailed information was received from those concerned.  In this context, I would like to thank our students and administrative staff for their interest and sharing.

Assessment and Accreditation Document

The Assessment Team sent us the draft Report they prepared within 21 days after the site visit and as a result of the evaluations made, the updated report was sent to SABAK by the Team Chair. The Report sent to SABAK by the Evaluation Team was accredited for 2 years (20.03.2025 - 30.09.2027) at the Board of Directors held on 14.04.2025, as a result of the evaluations made in the SABAK national accreditation evaluation process. Our department, which is accredited by SABAK, is expected to increase the quality of students who will prefer our department with the phrase “This Department is accredited by SABAK” in the 2025 ÖSYM Guide. In addition, it will ensure our recognition at both national and international level. 

On 18.04.2025, the Accreditation Certificate was presented to the Head of the Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betül GÜLŞEN at the ceremony held by SABAK.  Head of Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betül GÜLŞEN said "We are very happy and proud as myself and the Department.  I would like to thank the members of the Board of Directors of SABAK, the Evaluation Team, and the administrators of Toros University who supported us in obtaining the Accreditation Certificate for our department. The biggest thank you is to my colleagues in the department, our students, graduates and external stakeholders who did not spare their efforts in this process. This document is the work of a huge family that always acts with a team spirit and has achieved significant success in a short time."

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics will continue on its way with confident steps.

As it is known, our department is the only department in the region that provides undergraduate and graduate education in Nutrition and Dietetics. We continue our efforts to open a Doctorate Program in the near future. The knowledge we have gained in the accreditation process will definitely be reflected in education programs at all levels.

Accreditation is not an activity that is realized and completed once, it requires continuous and systematic work to be carried out. In summary, accreditation is not a goal but a means to ensure quality and assurance. In this context, it is a long-term process that involves the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the achievement of the Education-Training objectives and Program Outcomes determined within the framework of the mission of our Department. As a result, we will continue to believe that our activities to increase the quality of the education and training program and processes carried out in our department together with our students, teaching staff and other internal and external stakeholders will continue with great effort.