2024
Artificial Intelligence Based Associate / Bachelor’s Degree Programs
In recent years, a “Working Group on Determining Artificial Intelligence-Based Programs” was established within CoHE to determine the new departments and programs that should be opened to meet the human resource needs arising in areas such as digitalization and big data, especially artificial intelligence, and as a result of the studies carried out since 2023, 23 undergraduate and 50 associate degree programs were opened in 20 higher education institutions. These programs were allocated 30 quotas each in the 2024 YKS. Newly opened undergraduate programs are “Data Science and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and Cyber Security Engineering”, and associate degree programs are “Manufacturing Execution Systems Operator, Front-End Software Development, Back-End Software Development, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Vehicle Technician, Autonomous Systems Technician, Big Data Analyst, Game Development and Programming, Artificial Intelligence Operator, Cloud Computing Technologies, Enterprise Computing Expertise, and Digital Transformation Electronics”. Apart from the new programs opened, the Control and Automation Engineering Program at Istanbul Technical University was restructured as Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering and admitted students for the first time in 2024 YKS. In addition, the Cyber Security Engineering Undergraduate Program was opened at Istanbul Technical University and started to admit students for the first time in 2024 YKS.
Cooperation with the Information Technologies and Communication Authority
A “Cooperation Protocol on the Use of ITCA Academy Course Content” was signed between CoHE and the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (ITCA) on 16.01.2024. In recent years, there have been great developments and transformations in digital technologies all over the world, especially in artificial intelligence. In parallel with the rapid developments in the field of digital technologies, it is clear that the need for qualified manpower to be employed in all relevant sectors has increased. Studies on the inclusion of the courses offered by the ITCA Academy in the curricula/course pool of our universities and the crediting of these courses continue to be carried out by the “Working Group” established within the body of CoHE. ITCA Academy courses will be followed online by students and exams will be held face-to-face at our universities. In this way, it will be possible for students in all our universities to have awareness on artificial intelligence and digital technologies, even at a basic level.
University-Sector Collaboration
A protocol was signed between the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Council of Higher Education on 21.02.2024 within the scope of university-sector cooperation. In this context, elective courses have started to be opened in our universities in line with the demands of our business world and sectors, and experts from the affiliated, related and related organizations of our Ministry or sector organizations have been assigned to teach these courses. Thanks to university-industry cooperation, university students will be able to familiarize themselves with sectoral developments and dynamics during their education. In this way, it will be possible both for our graduates to enter the employment market in a more prepared manner and for sectors to more easily access the qualified labor force they need.
Research Universities, Regional Development Oriented Universities and Specialized Universities
In line with the criteria determined by the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education, the rankings of universities are announced at the opening of the academic year every year. In order to support the Regional activities of the University, 5 (five) calls have been made by the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education and detailed information about the universities whose areas of specialization are determined within the scope of the project can be found on the web page https://bolgeselkalkinma.yok.gov.tr/. The Council of Higher Education has made a matching between 15 priority science areas and 25 universities, and detailed information can be found on the web page https://www.yok.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Haberler/2023/yok-15-bilim-alaninda-25 universiteye-oncelikli-alan-misyonu-verdi.aspx?s=08. 12th Development Plan is being updated within the framework of priority science areas.
Launching the International Corporate Accreditation Program (IAP)
Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) initiated the Institutional Accreditation Program (IAP) in 2020 to ensure quality assurance of higher education institutions and continues it as of 2025. The IAP, which was separated from the Institutional External Evaluation Program due to the accreditation decision, has been developed by making the necessary arrangements to be applied internationally upon the demands of various stakeholders of YÖKAK. In 2024, YÖKAK completed the preparations for IAP, which was added to its legislation with the amendment made to the “Regulation on Higher Education Quality Assurance and Higher Education Quality Board” on 13/7/2023, and started receiving applications from higher education institutions abroad.
With this program, YÖKAK brings its national activities into an international context within the framework of the aim of “A5. Increasing the international recognition, cooperation and effectiveness of the Higher Education Quality Council” stated in the Strategic Plan 2024-2028. Thanks to the process that started with YÖKAK’s full membership to ENQA in 2020 and continued with EQAR registration in 2022, accreditation decisions and Institutional Accreditation Reports are now published in the DEQAR database, increasing the international visibility of institutions. The evaluation reports to be published as a result of IAP will also be published in DEQAR.
Ethical Guide to Productive Artificial Intelligence
An ethical guideline has been prepared to inform higher education institutions to determine the ethical values in the integration of Productive Artificial Intelligence (PAI) into higher education processes, to establish ethical rules based on these values, and to contribute to understanding, evaluating and taking measures against risks and opportunities in the field of use in order to protect scientific integrity and trust in science.
Vocational Schools Established in Organized Industrial Zones
Within the scope of OIZ Vocational School Support; a communiqué is prepared by CoHE in January of each year, in which the educational support to be provided to the Vocational Schools established in OIZs and the amount of educational support to be provided per student are determined. Within the scope of the communiqué prepared in 2024, it was deemed appropriate to provide education support per student to 32 associate degree programs determined for the fields of manufacturing, logistics and informatics in the Vocational Schools established in OIZs.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
At the academic opening ceremony of the relevant year, which takes place every year at the Presidential Complex, the President of the Republic presents the Outstanding Achievement Award to those who are eligible to receive the award. Outstanding Achievement Awards of the Council of Higher Education will be given in 4 categories: individual, institutional, special field and special award.
2023
Quota for Women Over 34 in Higher Education
As of January 1, 2023, there is a “Women Over 34” quota for women who have completed the age of 34 in associate and undergraduate programs that take students with central placement at public universities. This quota is available for programs other than Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture, Law and Teaching programs where success ranking is required. Those who have previously graduated from any undergraduate program will not be able to benefit from the aforementioned quotas and will not be placed in these quotas even if they prefer. Those who have previously graduated from an associate degree program will only be able to choose the quotas reserved for undergraduate programs.
Women over 34 years of age are placed in their top preferences where their placement scores are sufficient through centralized placement, taking into account the general quota (primarily) and the quota for women over 34 years of age and the above explanations. Quotas for women over 34 are limited. Therefore, women over the age of 34 who make all of their preferences among highly desired programs may not be placed in any program if their scores are not high. If the quotas reserved for women over 34 are not filled in the central placement process or remain vacant after registration, they will be announced in the additional placement process. All general rules in the Guide also apply to women over the age of 34.
Campus and University Site Mapping Project
The goal of the “Campus and University Site Mapping Project” is to examine the size of the campuses, the fields of study they cover (health, education, engineering, law, etc.), the distance of the faculties from each other and many other features of the regions where they are located from a broad perspective. The project was completed in 2023, showing the regions where universities have their own campuses and buildings, and whether these regions are centrally located in the city or far from the center.
Cyber Security Associate Degree Programs
The Cyber Security Education Cooperation Protocol was signed between YÖK and the Presidency Digital Transformation Office in October 2022. Within the scope of this Protocol, Cyber Security Vocational Schools and associate degree programs (Cyber Security Analyst and Operator) were opened at Ankara University, Ege University, Gebze Technical University and Istanbul Technical University in 2023 YKS and 25 quotas were allocated for each program.
Barrier-Free University Awards
Barrier-Free University Awards have been given since the 2018-2019 academic year. Every year, universities are evaluated by the commissions determined by CoHE and are entitled to receive awards in the categories of Barrier-Free University Flag and Barrier-Free University Program Order and Disability-Friendly Individual Awards.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
At the academic opening ceremony of the relevant year, which takes place every year at the Presidential Complex, the President of the Republic presents the Outstanding Achievement Award to those who are eligible to receive the award. Outstanding Achievement Awards of the Council of Higher Education are given in 4 categories: individual, institutional, special field and special award.
Vocational Schools Established in Organized Industrial Zones
Within the scope of OIZ Vocational School Support; a communiqué is prepared by the Council of Higher Education in January of each year, in which the educational support to be provided to the Vocational Schools established in OIZs and the amount of educational support to be provided per student are determined. In the 2023-2024 academic year, it was deemed appropriate to support 88 programs and 5.623 students in 17 Vocational Schools established in OIZs.
Vocational Education Cooperation with Universities (Seven Universities in Seven Provinces)
It is planned to develop a vocational training cooperation model in cooperation with İŞKUR, Universities and Technocity administrations in order to train qualified labor force. Vocational training courses will be organized in cooperation with universities. In the first stage, cooperation with one university in each geographical region will be realized. Vocational Training Cooperation protocols were signed with Istanbul Technical University, Akdeniz University and Van Yüzüncü Yıl University.
Academic Accumulation Project (AKAP)
With the “Academic Accumulation Project-AKAP”, a total of 200 faculty members from universities are sent abroad to conduct research on sabbatical leave.
Post-Doctoral Research Program (DOSAP)
With this project, it is planned to support 100 Research Assistants or Assistant Professors who have completed their PhD studies in higher education institutions for their post-doctoral studies abroad.
Young Minds in Basic Sciences Project (GEP)
With the Young Minds in Basic Sciences Project, 100 research assistants who are in the thesis stage of their doctoral education in one of the fields of “Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics” at state universities in 2023 will be offered the opportunity to conduct research abroad for one to three months, without applying the provisions regarding compulsory service obligation.
YÖK International Fellowship Program
The goal of this program is to support foreign PhD students who will conduct research in the fields of Ottoman History, General Turkish History, Turkology, Turkish Language and Literature or Turkish Culture in higher education institutions in Türkiye. According to the International Researcher Project prepared within this framework, 5 foreign students who are doing their PhD in the fields of Ottoman History, General Turkish History, Turkology, Turkish Language and Literature or Turkish Culture at higher education institutions abroad to be determined by CoHE and 10 foreign students who have completed their PhD in the same fields within the last 2 years have been given the opportunity to conduct research at universities in Türkiye.
2022
Sports Friendly Campus Project
Two protocols were signed between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and CoHE on October 30, 2019 and November 29, 2022. With these protocols, it is aimed to improve the educational, artistic, social, cultural, sportive activities and volunteering activities of higher education students; to raise awareness about national values, to fight against addiction, peer learning, social responsibility and volunteering. In this context, the “Sports Friendly Campus Project” will be implemented in our universities in order to support regular sports, physical activity and exercise for students other than those studying at the Faculties of Sports Sciences of our universities, which fully contribute to the development of students in academic, social, cultural and sportive aspects, and to expand the opportunities of our campuses.
Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus Project
On October 04, 2022, under the coordination of CoHE, to create sustainable, energy-efficient, nature-compatible and minimally environmentally damaging campuses throughout the life cycle including site selection, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, demolition and waste disposal in all universities, especially public universities, and to carry out studies for sensitivity and awareness in this f ield; The Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of Creating Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Campuses was signed between CoHE and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in order to determine and implement the cooperation issues between the parties in order to support universities in accessing the necessary financing tools in the process of sustainable and climate-friendly campus transformation by ensuring efficient and effective use of energy resources and energy in universities, preventing waste and ensuring the use of renewable energy, alleviating the burden of energy cost on the budget, disseminating zero waste practices, protecting the environment. Within the scope of the Protocol, 11 pilot universities were determined by the Executive Board of Higher Education.
Vocational Schools Established in Organized Industrial Zones
With Article 15 of Law No. 7033, a legal arrangement was made to provide educational support per student to vocational schools established in organized industrial zones. This regulation aims to encourage the establishment of Vocational Schools of Higher Education (VSHE) in OIZs and to train a human resource that interacts with industry. Council of Higher Education has set various indicators to monitor the performance of Vocational Schools receiving support, and evaluations are made annually based on these indicators. In 2022, a “General Evaluation Report on Vocational Schools Established in OIZs” was prepared by competent academics and presented to the public.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
It was launched by Council of Higher Education for the first time in the 2017-2018 academic year in order to encourage scientific research, projects, theses, dissertations and community service activities at universities. At the academic opening ceremony of the relevant year, which takes place every year at the Presidential Complex, the President of the Republic presents an outstanding achievement award to those who are eligible to receive the award.
CoHE Outstanding Achievement Awards, given by the Council of Higher Education to encourage all kinds of scientific research and studies that are original, innovative and of superior quality, in line with the mission of higher education, scientific activities carried out, and studies and applications related to supported and/or carried out scientific research and development projects, are given in 4 categories: individual, institutional, special field and special award. Detailed information can be accessed from the https://odul.yok. gov.tr/ web page.