According to the Law on Higher Education, university organs are defined as rector, senate and board of directors.

Appointments and Assignments

Rector and Vice Chancellor

The rectors of state and foundation universities are appointed by the President of the Republic. In foundation universities, the rector is appointed upon the proposal of the board of trustees. The rector represents the university or high technology institute as a legal entity. The age limit for rectors is set at 67 years and this age limit is not considered during the rector’s term. 

The rector may elect up to three vice-rectors from among the university’s salaried professors to assist him in his work. However, this number may be increased up to five in universities providing centralized open education services. Vice-rectors are appointed by the rector and deputize him/her in his/her absence. If the rector is absent from his/her duties for more than two weeks, he/she shall inform the Council of Higher Education (CoHE); if the rector is absent for more than six months, a new rector shall be appointed.

University Senate

The Senate is chaired by the rector and consists of vice-rectors, deans, faculty members elected by faculties for three years, and directors of institutes and colleges affiliated to the rectorate. The Senate convenes at least twice a year, at the beginning and end of each academic year. However, the rector may organize extraordinary meetings when deemed necessary. The main duty of the Senate is to determine the academic policies of the university, approve education programs and organize scientific activities.

University Executive Board

The university board of directors is chaired by the rector and consists of deans and three professors elected by the senate representing the different academic units of the university for four years. Vice-rectors may attend the board of directors’ meetings without the right to vote. The board of directors takes decisions on academic and administrative matters, organizes the functioning of the university and coordinates educational and training activities.

Faculty Administration and Bodies

Dean and Associate Deans

The Dean is the representative of the faculty and its academic units and is appointed for three years by the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education upon the recommendation of the rector. The dean can be reappointed when his/her term of office expires. The dean selects up to two faculty members as vice deans to assist him/her. In open education faculties, four vice deans may be appointed. When the dean is absent from his/her duties, one of his/her deputies acts as acting dean. If the deputy period exceeds six months, a new dean is appointed.

Faculty Board

The faculty board is chaired by the dean and consists of the heads of departments, institute and school directors, and academicians elected for three years from among the professors, associate professors and doctoral faculty members in the faculty. The faculty board normally convenes at the beginning and end of each semester. The board may be called for an extraordinary meeting when deemed necessary by the Dean. The faculty board determines the education and training programs, examination and academic evaluation principles.

Faculty Executive Board

The faculty executive board consists of three professors, two associate professors and one doctoral faculty member elected by the faculty board for three years under the chairmanship of the dean. The faculty executive board organizes education, training and research activities and takes decisions on academic and administrative matters. It may establish temporary working groups and coordinator-ships when deemed necessary.

Institute Management and Organs

Institute Director and Deputies

The director of the institute is appointed by the rector upon the recommendation of the dean of the faculty for three years. In institutes affiliated to the Rectorate, they are appointed directly by the rector. The director may appoint up to two assistants among the faculty members working at the institute. In case the director is absent from his/her duty, the deputy process is carried out as in the dean’s office.

Graduate School Board and Executive Board

The institute board is chaired by the director and consists of vice directors and heads of departments. The institute board of directors consists of three faculty members to be elected among six candidates determined by the director and the deputy directors. These boards fulfill the duties of the faculty board and the board of directors at the institute level.

Vocational School of Higher Education Management and Bodies

Vocational School of Higher Education Director and Deputies

The school director is appointed by the rector upon the recommendation of the faculty dean for three years. In colleges affiliated to the Rectorate, he/she is appointed directly by the rector. The director selects and appoints up to two assistants from among the faculty members working in the school. In the absence of the director, the deputy process works as in the case of deans.

Vocational School of Higher Education Board and Executive Board

The school board is chaired by the director and consists of vice directors and department heads. The board of directors, on the other hand, consists of three faculty members to be elected among six candidates determined by the deputy directors and the director. School management bodies fulfill the duties assigned to the faculty board and the faculty board of directors at the college level.

Management Structure and Functioning of Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions are governed by the rectorate, faculties, institutes and colleges, as well as the senate and administrative boards. The rector is responsible for the general management of the university and coordinates academic, administrative and financial processes. Faculties, institutes and colleges take decisions on the conduct and development of academic activities. These governance mechanisms have been established to ensure the sustainability of the scientific and academic work of universities, to manage education and training processes efficiently and to determine higher education policies.

Duties, Authorities and Responsibilities

The management structure of higher education institutions is carried out through bodies such as the rectorate, senate, university board of directors, faculty administration and faculty boards. These bodies have various duties and responsibilities to ensure that academic and administrative activities are carried out effectively.

Duties, Authorities and Responsibilities of the Rector

The Rector, as the highest-level administrator of the university, chairs the university boards, implements the decisions of the higher education higher institutions, and ensures regular work among the affiliated units of the university. At the end of each academic year or when deemed necessary, he/she informs the Interuniversity Council about the academic and scientific activities of the university. It determines the university’s investment programs, budget and staffing needs and submits them to YÖK. 

The rector has the authority to change the positions of academic staff and other personnel or assign new duties to them in order to organize the academic and administrative structure of the university. The rector, who is responsible for the general supervision and control of the university, ensures that scientific research and educational activities are carried out in line with development plans, state policies and academic goals. He/ she is the primary authority on the security of the university, student services and the organization of scientific studies.

Duties of the Senate

The Senate is the highest academic body of the university and has the authority to make decisions on education, scientific research and academic principles. The main duties of the senate are to determine the principles of education and training activities, to prepare draft academic regulations, to organize the university calendar and to evaluate the proposals of the faculty boards. 

In addition, the Senate’s responsibilities include reviewing the decisions taken by the faculty boards and institute-school boards and deciding on objections, awarding honorary academic titles and electing members to the university executive board. The Senate establishes the general scientific and educational policies of the university by setting academic standards.

Duties of the University Executive Board

The university board of directors acts as an auxiliary body to the rector in administrative activities. It is responsible for ensuring the execution of plans and programs for the implementation of the decisions taken by the higher education higher institutions and the senate. It evaluates the investment programs, draft budget and academic activities by taking into account the opinions of the units affiliated to the university and submits them to the rectorate. 

In addition, the university executive board examines the objections to the decisions of the faculty, institute and college executive boards and makes the final decision. It is also authorized to take decisions on issues brought by the rector regarding the general administrative management of the university.

Duties, Authorities and Responsibilities of the Dean

The Dean is responsible for the academic and administrative functioning of the faculty, chairs the faculty boards, ensures the implementation of the decisions taken and coordinates the regular work between the faculty units. At the end of each academic year or as needed, he/she submits a report to the rector about the general condition of the faculty. 

The dean, who determines the faculty’s appropriation and staffing needs and submits them to the rectorate, submits his/her proposals about the faculty budget by taking the opinion of the faculty board of directors. The dean, who is responsible for supervising the academic and administrative structure of the faculty, is primarily responsible to the rector for providing social services to students, taking security measures and organizing scientific activities.

Duties of the Faculty Board

The faculty board is the highest academic body of the faculty and determines the principles regarding education, scientific research and publication activities. The main duties of the faculty board include electing members to the faculty board of directors and organizing the academic calendar. It plays a decisive role in the planning and execution of academic studies within the faculty.

Duties of the Faculty Executive Board

The faculty executive board functions as an auxiliary body to the dean in administrative activities. It supports the implementation of the decisions taken by the faculty board and ensures the implementation of education plans, programs and academic calendar. The faculty board of directors, which prepares the faculty’s investment plans and budget draft, also takes decisions on issues brought by the dean regarding the faculty administration. It also has the authority to decide on the admission of students to the faculty, course adjustments, dismissals, education and training processes and exams.

Management Structure and Functioning of Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions are managed through the rectorate, faculty administration, senate and executive boards. The rector is responsible for the overall management of the university and coordinates academic, administrative and financial processes. The Senate determines academic policies and the principles of education and training, while the university board of directors supports the rector in administrative matters. Faculties, institutes and colleges are managed by faculty and college boards in order to organize administrative processes and support academic development, as well as ensuring the conduct of academic activities. This governance structure has been established to ensure the sustainability of the scientific and academic work of universities, to carry out education and training processes efficiently and to determine higher education policies.