40 departments of İstanbul Gelisim University (IGU) are accredited by AQAS (Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs), one of the leading accreditation organizations in Germany. Istanbul Gelisim University, the only higher education institution accredited by Europe  with 48 programs is also the single university from Turkey with the most accredited programs.
 

IGU, which is accredited by AQAS accreditation agency, has received AQAS accreditation certificate at a certificate ceremony held at Gelisim Tower conference hall.
 

The foundation that established the university "Gelisim Education Culture Health and Social Service Foundation" has made an attempt to establish a Vocational College named "Istanbul Gelisim Vocational College" in 2008. The Ministry of National Education and the Council of Ministers established Vocational School on 14 June 2008 and started education. With the Law No. 6114 dated 17/02/2011, "Istanbul Gelisim University" and it continues to provide education witj 3 faculties, 3 institutes, 4 colleges and 2 vocational schools in 2018-2019 academic year. The accredited departments aim to train generations who are experts in their fields and who are able to compete with the world in accordance with contemporary standards.
 

IGU Board of Trustees Chair Abdulkadir Gayretli, IGU Rector Prof. Dr. Burhan Aykaç, AQAS Executive Board Chair Prof. Dr. Eberhard Menzel, AQAS General Director Doris Herrmann and the department heads, lecturers and students of departments accredited.
 

"ACCREDITATION IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION"
 

Answering questions of DHA after the certificate ceremony, Gayretli said: "Accreditation is an important step in internationalization. This means that your university degree is recognized in the world. It was a long process for us. It lasted 5 months, and it was worth it. We applied to international accreditation organizations such as AQAS, AHPGS and ABET, and we received accreditation from AQAS and AHPGS. In the future, we will be accredited by ABET and will have all our programs approved and internationalized."
 

"WE HAVE ACHIEVED A FIRST IN TURKEY AND IN THE WORLD"
 

Gayretli emphasized that they have achieved a first in Turkey and in the world and continued: "We have followed the message of Yekta Saraç, President of Turkish Higher Education Council, when he said "silent revolution" in universities and we understood that we needed internationalization. We have received the message that we need to realize a first in Turkey and in the world and we did it. We have become a university with accreditations for all programs."
 

"WE WANT TO BE A UNIVERSITY WHICH DIRECTS THE FUTURE"
 

Gayretli has mentioned that they want to direct the students for future in accordance with the principle of Istanbul Gelisim University acting to become better and added: "We want to train qualified doctors, lawyers and people to guide the future. We want to be a university that guides the future by initiating the faculties of medicine, law, education and dentistry in the near future. We do our best to pay our duty of loyalty."
 

A UNIVERSITY FROM TURKEY WILL BECOME AQAS MEMBER FOR THE FIRST TIME
 

Rector of Istanbul Gelisim University, Prof. Dr. Burhan Aykaç said: "In 2017, IGU made a very important decision, and applied to AQAS for the accreditation of all departments. Today, I am extremely happy, 40 of our departments have been accredited by AQAS. This is very important for our university. Also, in our meeting with the authorized persons, AQAS invited us to become a member and a university from Turkey will become an AQAS member for the first time. Currently AQAS has over 90 member universities, and I believe we will represent Turkey in the best way possible when we become a member."
 

"IGU IS A UNIVERSITY WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS"
 

AQAS Executive Board Chair Prof. Dr. Eberhard Menzel said: "AQAS is an association established in Germany with the cooperation of a group of universities, each paying a small contribution. This university association is taking decisions on university education policies. Turkish higher education is becoming closer to European standards. IGU is one of the pioneering universities in this field. In fact, we can say that Istanbul Gelisim University is in compliance with European standards".
 

"TURKISH HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IS GOINGTHROUGH A VERY DYNAMIC PROCESS"
 

AQAS General Director Doris Hermann said: "In my opinion, Turkish higher education is going through a very dynamic process and there are many improvements. We see this both in new students and in the curriculum. I think that Istanbul Gelisim University is the leader in this new change process".
 

"IGU IS OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEMBER"
 

Hermann added that Istanbul Gelisim University was their first international member and continued: "IGU has very young, dynamic and consistent staff. I believe that the support from administration along with the changes in curriculum will improve the university to a better point. I believe that the university will develop with the motivated staff. As it has been said, AQAS aims to provide more autonomy to universities in higher education in order to reach inter-university unity. Istanbul Gelisim University is our first international member. Thus, IGU, together with 90 universities in Germany, became part of this network. IGU will have a voice in AQAS and this is something to be proud for the university".
 

After the opening speeches, the heads of the IGU departments which gained accreditation have received their certificates.