About MEDEK
Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Vocational Education (MEDEK) was established in 2021 with the encouragement and support of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) to contribute to the qualified workforce within the framework of Türkiye's strategic development plans and to increase the qualifications of Vocational Schools and their graduates. MEDEK was granted accreditation authority by the Higher Education Quality Board (YÖKAK) in 2023 for 83 Vocational School programs to ensure the evaluation of the compliance of Vocational School programs with the determined standards, quality criteria and performance criteria.
MEDEK’s Purpose
To lead the training of professional staff who can follow professional developments, respond to changing workforce needs, have high professional skills and equipment, are innovative and socially responsible, can take initiative, and have the qualifications sought by the relevant sector.
MEDEK Accreditation
MEDEK accreditation contributes to the development of quality standards of vocational school programs, improvement of education-training processes and more consistency of learning outcomes. Accredited programs are brought into line with the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TYÇ) and the European Qualifications Framework (AYÇ), thus providing international recognition and businesses can reach a more qualified workforce. In addition, it becomes possible to use the TYÇ logo on the diplomas of accredited programs and the diplomas become internationally recognized. Vocational school students also have the opportunity to find jobs more easily.
MEDEK Accreditation Criteria
Programs applying for MEDEK Accreditation are evaluated based on 9 different criteria.
• Criterion 1. Students
• Criterion 2. Program Educational Objectives
• Criterion 3. Program Outcomes
• Criterion 4. Continuous Improvement
• Criterion 5. Educational Plan
• Criterion 6. Teaching Staff
• Criterion 7. Infrastructure
• Criterion 8. Structure of Management and Administrative Units
• Criterion 9. Program Specific Criteria
1. Technical Programs
2. Social Programs
3. Health Programs
MEDEK Accreditation Validity Period
The evaluation processes of programs applying for MEDEK accreditation result in four situations.
1. Full Accreditation: A program is granted full accreditation for four (4) years when it meets all the minimum conditions specified in the MEK criteria. This type of accreditation means that no “1: Incomplete” or “2: Insufficient” score has been assessed for the program in any criterion.
2. Conditional Accreditation: If a program is not assessed as “1: Incomplete” in any criterion in its overall evaluation, but at least “2: Insufficient” is assessed in one or more criteria, accreditation is granted for only two (2) years.
3. Accreditation Candidacy: If a program is not evaluated as “1: Incomplete” in any criterion in its general evaluation, but if it is not scored as “(4)” or “(5)” in any of the criteria and if it is anticipated that the deficiencies can be completed within one year, it is granted a one (1) year “Accreditation Candidacy” status.
4. Re-Application: The decision to re-apply for accreditation indicates that the minimum conditions specified in the MEK criteria are not met in the evaluation of a program that is being evaluated for the first time, and that it is evaluated as “1: Incomplete” in any criterion.