Istanbul Technical University (ITU), founded in 1773 and having achieved a great deal through the centuries, owes its more than 200 years of success to the quality of its educational vision.
Institutional Quality
ITU has been internationally accredited for its 26 programs by ABET EAC (Accreditation Board for Programs in Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission) since 2011. This enables the students of ITU to have diplomas accepted internationally. The Department of Architecture at ITU is the first accredited architecture department in Türkiye, through the accreditation granted in 2007 by NAAB. NAAB “substantial equivalency” certificate means that it is equivalent to the US undergraduate and graduate architecture programs. ITU Department of Architecture was the first architectural department to become certified outside of the USA.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, sets global standards to ensure safety, security, and environmental performance in international maritime transport, and establishes a universally applicable regulatory framework for the maritime industry. IMO is also a program that enables ITU Maritime Faculty students to gain international recognition and equivalence.
Established 15 years ago, our Department of Landscape Architecture has aimed from its inception to play a pioneering role in the field of landscape architecture and to provide high-quality education in accordance with international standards. It is fully accredited by IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) and is the first and only department in Türkiye to hold this accreditation.
In addition, since the 2003–2004 Academic Year, ITU has been running a Dual Degree Program and is currently the national leader with 18 active Dual Degree Programs open to student admission. As the program is jointly conducted with universities in the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, and the United Kingdom, students complete part of their studies in Türkiye and part abroad, and upon graduation, they are awarded dual diplomas from both ITU and the partner university. The language of education is English. The Dual Diploma Program has been chosen as the best applied program among the Turkish and US equivalents and has been awarded the Andrew Heiskell Award by IIENetwork.
As a global university, ITU has emphasized the importance of foreign languages in the international arena and, in addition to the 30% English-medium undergraduate programs ongoing since the 2010–2011 Academic Year, has also launched 100% English-medium programs.
Quality in the Preparatory Language Programs
As ITU SFL, our mission is to equip our students with essential foreign language skills for their academic and professional lives. Our goal is to foster a learning environment that helps students develop into responsible, self-confident and productive individuals equipped with 21st-century learning skills. To ensure high-quality instruction, we are dedicated to implementing a curriculum that motivates and engages our diverse student body, addressing varied learning needs and styles. We seek to achieve this by employing innovative teaching and assessment methods that align with the evolving demands of the educational landscape shaped by technological advancements. Additionally, to contribute to the advancement of language teaching and empower our faculty, we cultivate a work environment that promotes professional growth. By teaching the future leaders and innovators of tomorrow, we aim to contribute to elevating the reputation of ITU in society.
As part of our university’s continuous development efforts and commitment to total quality, ITU SFL (School of Foreign Languages) has adopted the standards of the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) and has been accredited by CEA since 2012. CEA is the only accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is an internationally prestigious agency authorized to accredit English language programs and institutions both within and outside the United States.
Why Accreditation?
Accreditation helps its partners to focus on their mission and vision, strengthens the transparency of the institution and the commitment to the institute, and it balances the individual and organizational goals. Also, the accreditation must be seen as an opportunity to see and evaluate the possibilities, difficulties and the strong sides. This can be consolidated with internal audit processes.
Internal Audit Process and Accreditation
With its strong academic staff, ITU SFL (School of Foreign Languages) provides education to an average of 2,500 students each year in the Undergraduate English Preparatory Program and to 250 students in the UOLP English Preparatory Program. The improvement initiatives launched prior to the initial CEA accreditation in 2012 gained momentum during the self-study process and, through intensive effort and dedication, were completed within two years. This process resulted in a comprehensive report prepared for both English Preparatory Programs. The report, consisting of 52 standards, covered main areas such as Mission, Curriculum, Faculty, Facilities, Administrative and Fiscal Capacity, Student Services, Recruiting, Program Length and Structure, Student Complaints, and Student Achievement. Subcommittees were established to review all standards, and after the necessary examinations and revisions, the final report was compiled.
A commission sent by CEA audited ITU SFL Undergraduate Preparatory Program and Dual Diploma Program in November 2011. Within this scope, the CEA commission visited classes and carried out interviews with the students, instructors and personnel. The commission members also evaluated the Advanced English Program courses for the undergraduate students in order to see the link between the Preparatory and Advanced English Programs. The report prepared by this commission was submitted to a higher committee which convened on 13-15 April 2012 and the final decision was that ITU SFL was qualified to be accredited for five years (maximum period for any first-time application) since it complied with the standards.
The Accreditation Committee at ITU SFL (School of Foreign Languages) renewed the five-year accreditation that expired in April 2017 by completing the same application and preparation processes. The committee completed a detailed report in the light of feedback received from the sub-committees and submitted it with all supporting documentation to enable CEA to monitor continuing compliance with CEA standards. The final report was submitted to CEA in July 2016; and then, the CEA committee made a similar formal site visit to the SFL in November 2016. The school was granted a one-year initial accreditation during which it was possible to make improvements to expand the accreditation period up to nine more years.
After this one-year period, ITU SFL English Preparatory Programs were accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation for the period from April 2018 to April 2027 and continue to adhere to the CEA Standards for English Language Programs and Institutions. Additionally, in order to renew the accreditation, which will expire in April 2027, ITU SFL Accreditation Committee has initiated the necessary preparations and submitted the application. An official site visit by the CEA committee is planned for the Fall Semester of the 2026–2027 Academic Year.
For further information about CEA accreditation, please contact CEA, 1001 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 630, Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 665-3400, www.cea-accredit.org