During the on-site review conducted by the Vocational Education Evaluation and Accreditation Association (MEDEK) between October 30-31 and November 1, 2025, the programs “First and Emergency Aid” and “Medical Laboratory Techniques” of the Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) at Üsküdar University completed their accreditation process successfully. At the end of the site visit, the MEDEK evaluation team finalized their work with the reading of the program exit statement before departing the university.
Üsküdar University raises quality standards in health education
The accreditation process included a three-day site visit. The program began in the Senate Hall of the Main Campus with the participation of the University’s senior management and moved to the Vocational School of Health Services at the Çarşı Campus.
Prof. Nazife Güngör: “We are a university that cannot be contained by Üsküdar”
The opening remarks were given by Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör: “Although we are a young university founded in 2011, we have proceeded dynamically and with vision in a short time. From the start we set the right goals and aimed to become a university focused on strong academic structure and scientific production. At our current point we have a success graph that multiplies year by year with our R&D work, patents and academic publications. We see the quality of education-instruction as our priority and are committed to training our students to become individuals who make a qualified contribution to society. In the process of internationalization, we are growing rapidly; we conduct academic collaborations and accreditation processes with many countries and universities. As a university that cannot be contained by Üsküdar, we place importance not only on education but on leaving a qualified imprint on society and humanity. Of course, we may have deficiencies, but as an institution that is open to development, learning and constantly renewing itself, we continue progressing. We are all working together to reach better.”
Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal: “Our fundamental goal is to train qualified health professionals”
Asst. Prof. Ömer Faruk Karasakal, Director of the VSHS at Üsküdar University, emphasized the importance of training qualified health professionals: “For us accreditation is not just a certificate or a certain process, but a continuous pathway of learning, improvement and sharing. On this basis we built our education process around a student-centered approach, commitment to ethical values and continuous improvement. As a Vocational School our core goal is not only to produce graduates, but to train qualified health professionals who contribute to society with their knowledge, skills and values. The evaluations you conduct will guide us. They will help us strengthen our strong points and more clearly see the areas open to improvement.”
During the program, Asst. Prof. Karasakal gave a general information presentation covering Üsküdar University and the Vocational School of Health Services in the Senate Hall at the Main Campus, after which the program continued at the Vocational School at the Çarşı Campus.
Infrastructure was inspected on-site
The evaluation team, coordinated by Assistant Directors Assoc. Prof. Dr Feride Kulalı Özdek and Lecturer Esad Sadık Demirtaş, closely examined the infrastructure of the campus and the practical training areas for the First and Emergency Aid and Medical Laboratory Techniques programs. Academics from the programs provided information about curriculum operations within laboratories and application-areas. The team also received information about modern laboratories, workshops and classrooms and had the opportunity to observe students’ practical training facilities.
Details were also shared about the academic staff, program variety and student projects.
Prof. Hikmet Koçak: “Beginnings are full of excitement”
In his closing remarks Vice-Rector Prof. Hikmet Koçak said: “This process has also been a beginning for us. Beginnings are full of excitement. We were pleased to host you over these three days. You gave us many recommendations which are very valuable. I hope our report will serve as a guide for us.”
After the exit statement was read and the reports delivered, well-wishes were exchanged. The event concluded with a group photograph.
