The "Application and Research Centers Workshop" organized by the Application and Research Centers Board was held at the Rectorate Mimar Kemaleddin Hall with a wide participation.

Rector of our University Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ramazan Bayındır, Advisor to the Rector Prof. Dr. Alper Ceylan, YÖKAK External Evaluator Prof. Dr. Güçlü Yavuzcan, R&D Institution Coordinator Prof. Dr. Gonca Çakmak, Application and Research Centers Board Member Prof. Dr. Gökçen Eren, center directors, faculty members and guests attended the program organized to evaluate the situation of the Application and Research Centers and to inform the Institutional Accreditation Program.

Our Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız made the opening speech of the program, which started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem. Emphasizing that they attach great importance to quality studies as the administration, Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız said, "We sincerely supported the studies carried out in this direction. In February, our declaration of intention to participate in the Institutional Accreditation Program was declared by our Senate and submitted to the Higher Education Quality Board. After we were notified in April that our application to the program was accepted, our preparations were accelerated with the support of all our units. Now we are at a very critical stage, our visit schedule has been determined."

Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız, who informed that the Evaluation Team of the Higher Education Quality Board will visit our University on October 31, said, "In the first external evaluation experience of our University in 2007, our University was subjected to an evaluation by the European Universities Association EUA. One of the critical recommendations of the EUA Evaluation Team for us was that the number of Research Centers should be reviewed."

Rector Yıldız continued as follows: "The Evaluation Team will come by carefully examining the Institutional Internal and External Evaluation Reports of our University before the visit, knowing and getting to know the institution. We need to know very well which aspects of our university are evaluated as strengths and which aspects are evaluated as weaknesses in those reports. On the second day of the visit program, on-site visits will be made to observe the facilities and infrastructure facilities and services offered in the research units of our university. In addition, the goals of our research units and the place of these goals in our strategic goals, the participation of our stakeholders in the processes, quality processes and continuous improvement studies will also be discussed."

Rector Musa Yıldız comleted his words as follows: "The main question that YÖKAK wants us to answer is; how do we plan and manage our resources and competencies in quality assurance, education and training, research and development, social contribution and management processes? More importantly, how do we monitor and improve all our processes with the opinions of stakeholders? We should be aware of what we cannot do as well as what we can do and be able to explain our justifications when necessary. We should complete our preparations for the visit as soon as possible by preparing our files documenting the improvements carried out in our units, informing academic and administrative staff about this issue, and host our guests in the best way possible. I believe that we will successfully complete the YÖKAK evaluation process and receive the "Full Accreditation" certificate we deserve. We have done a lot of good work during the two years we have been in office... We have worked with all our strength to elevate the privileged position of our university... I sincerely believe that this success will be crowned with institutional accreditation."

After the opening speech, as a result of the evaluation of the Application and Research Centers Board, the Directors of Atatürk Principles and Revolution History Research and Application Center (ATAUM), Marine and Aquatic Sciences Application and Research Center (DENAM), Photonics Application and Research Center, Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Excellence Joint Application and Research Center (NÖROM), Turkish Learning Research and Application Center (TÖMER), Distance Education Application and Research Center (GUZEM), who were entitled to receive a certificate of appreciation within the scope of their activities in 2021, were given certificates of appreciation by our Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız.

The workshop continued with the presentations of Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ramazan Bayındır on "Expectations from Application and Research Centers within the Scope of Institutional Accreditation Program", YÖKAK External Evaluator Prof. Dr. Güçlü Yavuzcan on "Issues Considered in the Evaluation Process of Application and Research Centers within the Scope of Institutional Accreditation Program" and R&D Institution Coordinator Prof. Dr. Gonca Çakmak on "Monitoring Evaluation Forms and Process of Application and Research Centers".

The program ended after the question and answer session.