Faculty of Communication Accreditations

İLAD Accreditations at the Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication

In an era where digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped the media and communication landscape, the relevance of academic programs and their alignment with industry needs have become a necessity rather than a competitive advantage. In line with its vision of educating the next generation of communication professionals, the Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication has demonstrated the quality of its education through accreditation by the Communication Research Association (İLAD), Türkiye's leading national authority in communication education, and its accreditation board, İLEDAK.

İLAD and İLEDAK: The Guardians of Quality in Communication Education

LAD is an independent organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of communication education in Türkiye, promoting compliance with international standards, and ensuring graduates' professional competence. Within İLAD, İLEDAK (Communication Education Evaluation and Accreditation Board) conducts comprehensive on-site evaluations of communication faculties by assessing their curricula, academic staff, technical infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement.

Having successfully completed these evaluation processes, the Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication has become one of the leading communication faculties in Türkiye, with one of the highest numbers of accredited programs.

Accredited Programs at Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication and Their Accreditation Periods

Üsküdar University has received İLAD accreditation for its communication programs in various fields, with accreditation granted for different periods. In particular, the success achieved by the Journalism and Advertising programs stands out.

Critical Success Analysis: The Cases of Journalism and Advertising

The Journalism program, which began its quality journey in 2019, first received a two-year accreditation, followed by a three-year accreditation. In 2025, it became eligible for the maximum accreditation period by receiving full five-year accreditation. This achievement is evidence that the program has fully integrated the continuous improvement (PDCA) cycle into its institutional culture.

The Visual Communication Design program became eligible to receive a full five-year accreditation certificate in 2023.

The Advertising program received a two-year accreditation in its first application in 2022. As a result of the site visit and interim evaluations conducted at the end of 2024, this period was extended by an additional three years, demonstrating that the program has consistently maintained its quality.

The New Media and Communication program has been accredited until 2031.

İLEDAK Evaluation Criteria: What Is Assessed?

To obtain accreditation, communication programs must be evaluated by İLEDAK against 11 main criteria and numerous sub-criteria. During the site visits conducted on December 2-4, 2024, the evaluation team focused on the following areas:

1. Academic Staff Qualifications: The faculty members' industry experience and research productivity.

2. Curriculum and Program Outcomes: The alignment of course content with digital media trends and industry needs.

3. Facilities and Infrastructure: The adequacy of newsrooms, television studios, editing suites, and advertising agency simulation laboratories.

4. External Stakeholder Engagement: Partnerships with industry representatives and graduate tracking systems.

5. Student-Centered Approach: Student participation in governance processes and the availability of academic advising and support services.

Advantages of Accreditation for Students and Graduates

Graduating from an accredited communication program provides students with a strategic advantage in their professional careers.

• Industry Recognition and Employability: Media organizations and agencies tend to give priority to graduates whose technical competencies have been independently verified by an accreditation body.
• Visibility in the ÖSYM Higher Education Preference Guide: Information indicating that a program is accredited is included in the ÖSYM university preference guide. This helps prospective students make informed and high-quality choices.
• Degree Quality and Transparency: Accredited programs are one step closer to awarding diplomas bearing the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF) logo. This makes qualifications more transparent and internationally understandable.
• Easier Credit Transfer and Graduate Studies: Student mobility between programs that have been recognized for meeting quality standards is generally more seamless.