Eleven universities operating in Northern Cyprus have applied to the International Institutional Accreditation Programme (UKAP) administered by Turkey's Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK). An informational meeting on the applications was held at the Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD) conference hall, organized jointly by YÖDAK and YÖKAK, with rectors, quality board representatives and administrators from all 11 institutions in attendance.
YÖDAK President Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın opened the meeting by highlighting the international challenges faced by higher education in Northern Cyprus due to the territory's lack of political recognition. "Claims that universities of a politically unrecognized state are themselves unrecognized and that their diplomas are invalid threaten both our international student intake and the credibility of our degrees," he said, stressing that quality assurance processes and internationally recognized accreditation are essential responses to these pressures. Hocanın described the voluntary applications of all 11 universities as a major achievement and called for a path guided by "science, reason and strategy."
Hocanın noted that national accreditation processes in Turkey typically take two to three years, but that UKAP could reduce this to as little as one year for successful institutions. He added that the programme offers Northern Cyprus universities the opportunity for early registration in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), providing internationally recognized validation of the country's higher education quality.
YÖKAK President Prof. Dr. Ümit Kocabıçak reported that preliminary reviews of the 11 applicant universities had been completed and that no obstacles to their participation in the programme had been identified. He shared further technical details on the steps ahead.
Both council presidents expressed the view that this strategic initiative would not only raise academic standards but also secure the international standing and long-term sustainability of Northern Cyprus's higher education system. The meeting concluded after a question-and-answer session with the participating rectors and quality board representatives.
