MÜDEK Operational Regulations English Translation (Version 1.8.1) of Amended at the General Assembly on April 09, 2022 - (pdf)

Türkçe

ARTICLE 1 Grounds, Purpose and Scope

These regulations are issued based on Articles 15 and 17 of the Charter of the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Engineering Programs (MÜDEK).

The purpose of these regulations is to define the operations of the Engineering Programs Accreditation Board of MÜDEK, as well as all other boards, commissions, and working groups serving as MÜDEK bodies.

These regulations cover matters for which a resolution of the General Assembly is needed in regard to the operations of MÜDEK.

ARTICLE 2 Definitions and Abbreviations

In these regulations, the following terms and abbreviations will be used under the following definitions:

1. "MÜDEK" stands for the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Engineering Programs,
2. "General Assembly" stands for the General Assembly of MÜDEK,
3. "Executive Board" stands for MÜDEK's Executive Board,
4. "MAK" stands for the Engineering Programs Accreditation Board, which directs activities regarding the evaluation and accreditation of engineering programs on behalf of MÜDEK,
5. "Criteria" stands for the MÜDEK Evaluation Criteria to be used for the accreditation of engineering programs,
6. "MDK" stands for the Engineering Deans Council,
7. "ABK" stands for the Nominating Committee constituted to assist in the selection of the members and the vice-chair of MAK.

ARTICLE 3 Purposes of the Accreditation of Engineering Programs

MÜDEK pursues the following specific objectives in performing the function of "program evaluation and accreditation" set out in its charter, regulations, and directives:

1. Identifying engineering programs that meet minimal evaluation criteria in order to inform society, students, future students, student counselors, and student parents, educational institutions, professional societies, prospective employers, and public organizations,
2. Fostering the advancement and continuous improvement of existing programs in engineering as well as the development of new programs,
3. Encouraging the development of engineering education.

ARTICLE 4 Engineering Programs Accreditation Board (MAK)

The Engineering Programs Accreditation Board takes the necessary actions for the evaluation and accreditation of engineering programs. This board is referred to as "MAK" in all public documents and correspondence of MÜDEK.

4.1 Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities of MAK

1. Preparing and implementing a detailed schedule for the accreditation of engineering undergraduate and graduate degree programs and making decisions regarding their accreditation on behalf of MÜDEK. These programs are limited to those located in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and in the state universities with special status assigned by the Council of Higher Education of Turkey in other countries. All programs should be recognized by the Council of Higher Education of Turkey.
2. Selecting the program evaluation teams and program evaluators, co-evaluators, student evaluators, team chairs, and co-chairs to be appointed to these teams.
3. Nominating program evaluators and student evaluators.
4. Proposing to the Executive Board amendments to the standing accreditation processes and evaluation criteria as needed.

4.2 MAK Membership and Term of Office

1. MAK consists of a total of eight (8) members: four (4) academics from universities, one (1) representative of the Union of the Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), one (1) representative of the Turkish Quality Association (KalDer) and two (2) industry representatives.
2. One of the MAK members shall serve as chair, another member shall serve as vice-chair, who shall serve as chair in the following term, and a third member is the chair of the previous period (past chair).
3. MAK membership begins in the month of January and lasts for two (2) years; members cannot serve for a period longer than three (3) successive terms without interruption. Such a restriction does not apply to the chair and the past chair.
4. The term of the chair, the vice-chair and the past chair are two (2) years. This term may not be extended.

4.3 Conditions of MAK Membership

1. MAK members should have experience in engineering education and/or the engineering profession.
2. Academic members should have experience in engineering programs accredited domestically and/or abroad. Academic members may be academic staff or retired academic staff, except those serving as a university's president or vice president.
3. Non-academic members should have experience in at least one of the engineering education, management of engineers or quality processes areas.
4. MAK members, except representatives of TMMOB and KalDer, should have served as an evaluator or co-evaluator in a minimum of two (2) site-visit teams of MÜDEK or in similar national or international organizations evaluating engineering programs.
5. A person cannot simultaneously be a member of the MÜDEK Executive Board and of MAK.
6. A person cannot simultaneously be a member of the MÜDEK Auditing Board and of MAK.
7. The MAK vice-chair should have served as a MAK member for at least one (1) year prior to holding this position.
8. A chair whose term expires shall turn over duty to the vice-chair; his/her MAK membership continues for another period as the immediate past chair.

4.4 Appointment of MAK Members

1. The members and the vice-chair of MAK for an upcoming term shall be appointed by the Executive Board from among the nominees to be nominated by ABK in accordance with the terms of membership.
2. The Executive Board may ask for ABK's nomination to be amended. If the second nomination by ABK is not considered appropriate either, the Executive Board may make a direct appointment.
3. The new members and vice-chair appointed by the Executive Board shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the beginning of the following calendar year.
4. The process of the selection of MAK members shall be determined by the ABK Directives, approved and published by the Executive Board.

4.5 MAK Meetings and Operational Principles

1. The MAK chair is responsible for the MAK's operation. In the absence of the chair, the MAK vice-chair is in charge.
2. MAK holds a minimum of three (3) meetings every year. The call for a MAK meeting accompanied by the agenda shall be provided by the MAK chair to the MAK members, the representative of the Executive Board and the chair of the Executive Board, in writing and/or by e-mail no later than two (2) weeks prior to a meeting.
3. MAK members have to attend the MAK meetings in person. They may not send representatives. The membership of any member shall be automatically terminated, if s/he fails to attend three successive meetings without excuse.
4. MAK meetings are held only in presence of the absolute majority of members. The chair, or in the chair's absence the vice-chair, presides over the meeting.
5. MAK meetings are open to the members of the Executive Board, but they do not hold any voting rights; the representative of the Executive Board providing a liaison between the MAK and the Executive Board or another Executive Board member must attend each MAK meeting, but s/he does not hold voting rights.
6. Decisions regarding the proposals on regulations, directives and criteria as well as accreditation decisions are to be based on a minimum of five (5) votes; all other decisions are to be made by a majority vote of the attending members.
7. In cases needing immediate negotiation and decision, other than ordinary MAK meetings and accreditation decisions, virtual meetings can be organized. Additionally, ordinary MAK decisions meetings can be organized as virtual meetings by the decision of the Executive Board at times when face to face meeting conditions are not possible. The terms described in items (d) and (f) above are also applicable for decisions made in these meetings.

4.6 Representation of MAK on the Executive Board

The MAK chair attends the meetings of the Executive Board, without voting rights, in order to provide a liaison between the MAK and the Executive Board.

4.7 Withdrawal from MAK Membership

In case of withdrawal from MAK membership before the expiration of the relevant term, action shall be taken according to the following rules:

1. No election is made to replace the immediate past chair; this position is to remain vacant until the end of the relevant term.
2. The vice-chair substitutes for the chair until the end of the calendar year by proxy and serves as chair after the beginning of the following year. A member appointed by the Executive Board substitutes for the vice-chair until the end of the calendar year, and a vice-chair is elected to serve with the beginning of the following year. These actions are to be taken in accordance with the procedures defined in Article 4.4.
3. TMMOB or KalDer shall notify MÜDEK of their nomination of the new representative within thirty (30) days in case their representative withdraws. The new representatives are determined as defined in Article 4.4.
4. In case any member other than the chair, vice-chair, TMMOB representative or KalDer representative withdraws, the position remains vacant until the end of the calendar year. The new members are determined according to Article 4.4, to serve beginning with the following year.

ARTICLE 5 Program Evaluation Teams

5.1 Program Evaluation Teams

1. Accreditation evaluations are conducted by program evaluation teams.
2. Program evaluations teams are formed by MAK. A separate evaluation team is formed for each institution whose programs are to be evaluated.
3. Program evaluation teams consist of a team chair and program evaluators. If necessary, a co-chair, co-evaluators, student evaluators and observers can also be included in the team. Every team that conducts a General Review shall include at least one student evaluator.
4. The team chair and co-chair are appointed from among those members who are currently serving or have previously served on MAK or, if required, from among experienced program evaluators who have served as MÜDEK evaluators for a minimum of two (2) terms.
5. The rules to be observed in forming the program evaluation teams are determined by the Directive on Policies and Procedures for Evaluation and Accreditation, as approved and published by the Executive Board.

5.2 Program Evaluators

1. A pool of program evaluators is formed with people who have considerable experience in engineering education.
2. Program evaluators are selected from the program evaluator pool in accordance with the fields of expertise of programs to be evaluated.
3. Each program evaluator is expected to have completed the training program provided by MÜDEK before participating in the visit. Moreover, it is strongly recommended for each program evaluator to have participated in a visiting team as a co-evaluator or observer.
4. Academic members are expected to have experience in the assessment, continuous improvement, and preparations for the accreditation of engineering programs accredited domestically and/or abroad.
5. Non-academic members should have experience in at least one of the following areas: engineering education, management of engineers, and quality processes.
6. In selecting the persons to be included in the pool of program evaluators, other considerations such as balance between academics/industrialists, gender, and organizations shall also be taken into account.
7. The rules to create the pool of program evaluators shall be determined by the Executive Board.

5.3 Student Evaluators

1. Potential student evaluators are nominated by the Nominating Committee (ABK) from among the students selected from the accredited programs by the deans of the engineering faculties upon MÜDEK's request.
2. Student evaluator nominees should be registered to an engineering bachelor or master degree program at the date of nomination.
3. Nominated student evaluators should not have received any disciplinary penalty.
4. Student evaluator nominees shall be prepared for the duty they will be undertaking by participating in a MÜDEK student evaluator training program.

5.4 Observers

1. If necessary, MÜDEK members, evaluator nominees, and representatives from domestic and foreign accreditation organizations may join the evaluation teams as observers upon MAK's decision, provided that the approval of the team chair and the relevant bodies has been obtained.
2. Within the scope of the cooperation of MÜDEK with foreign accreditation organizations, a representative from one of these organizations can join at least one of the program evaluation teams every year as an external observer. The organizations to be asked for external observers and the relevant arrangements are to be determined by the Executive Board.
3. External observers submit their report to the Executive Board at the end of the visit. The Executive Board will be responsible for considering such reports and using them for improvement.

ARTICLE 6 The Nominating Committee (ABK)

1. To assist in the selection of MAK members and vice president, candidates for program evaluators and student evaluators a Nomination Committee (ABK) of five (5) members is formed as follows:
   1. MAK's immediate past chair, who will also serve as the chair of ABK,
   2. the chair of MAK,
   3. the vice-chair of MAK,
   4. the representative of Executive Board providing a liaison between MAK and the Executive Board.
   5. A member who appointed by Executive Board.
2. Following rules are used in case of withdrawal from ABK membership before the expiration of the relevant term:
   1. No election is made in case of withdrawal from membership of MAK's immediate past chair who is supposed to serve as the chair of ABK. The ABK membership reserved for him/her is to remain vacant until the end of the relevant term. In this case, ABK operates with four members and chaired by the member who is MAK chair.
   2. In case of withdrawal of MAK chair or MAK vice-chair, the procedure to be followed is conducted in accordance with the rules defined in Article 4.7.
3. The duties, powers and responsibilities of ABK are determined by the ABK Directive approved and published by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 7 MÜDEK Trainings

1. Training is required for all new MAK members. In this training, all new MAK members are informed about MÜDEK policies, the structure and organization of MAK, and the accreditation process.
2. All new members of the Executive Board and Auditing Board of MÜDEK are informed about MÜDEK policies and operation of MÜDEK.
3. Training is required for all new evaluators included in the pool of program evaluators. Prospective evaluators who do not serve as evaluator for a period of three years after receiving program evaluator training are required to undergo evaluator training again before serving as evaluator. This training will ensure that all members of the visiting teams are knowledgeable about MÜDEK evaluation criteria and also have the skills and attitudes expected from evaluation team members.
4. Student evaluators have to participate in a training program before they can serve in a MÜDEK evaluation team.
5. MÜDEK may organize briefing and training programs for the staff of the institutions intending to apply for accreditation evaluation.
6. The Training Committee formed by the Executive Board is responsible for the organization of MÜDEK training programs. The structure of the training committee, the appointment of the members, the terms of duty, and the operational principles are set out by the Training Committee Directive, approved and published by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 8 MÜDEK Evaluation Criteria

1. The criteria used by MÜDEK in evaluating programs determine the minimum accreditation requirements to be met by an engineering program.
2. The Criteria Committee is formed for periodical revision and update of the criteria, which determines specific criteria for a new discipline to be introduced and periodically re-evaluates the criteria.
3. For any changes to the MÜDEK evaluation criteria, the opinions of external stakeholders - such as the engineering faculties of universities in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus shall be sought. For discipline specific criteria the opinions of relevant departments, TMMOB and other relevant professional associations, representatives of engineering students, and so forth - and of internal stakeholders - such as the members of MAK and MÜDEK, and MÜDEK evaluators - shall be sought.
4. Changes to the criteria shall be put into effect upon the decision of the Executive Board and become effective as of the evaluation period starting after two years.
5. The structure, election, and term of office of its members, the operational principles of the Criteria Committee, and the procedures to change the criteria are determined by the Directive on the Procedures for Determining Evaluation Criteria approved and published by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 9 Conflict of Interest

The principles and practices related to conflict of interest are regulated and executed by the Executive Board in accordance with the principles defined in the MÜDEK Code of Ethics.

ARTICLE 10 Confidentiality

1. The information provided by the institutions is strictly for the confidential use of the members of MÜDEK's boards, MÜDEK employees and program evaluators and shall not be disclosed without obtaining a specific written authorization of the institution concerned.
2. All documents obtained for review and discussion purposes during the meetings of MÜDEK's Executive Board as well as MAK are considered confidential documents and their contents as confidential information.
3. The contents of such documents and any accreditation decisions may be disclosed only by the staff in charge and under defined conditions.
4. Members of MÜDEK boards, MÜDEK employees, and program evaluators shall sign a Confidentiality and Ethics Statement given in the annex of the MÜDEK Code of Ethics, stating that they understand and respect these principles of confidentiality.

ARTICLE 11 Appeals

1. Appeals to the accreditation decisions made by MÜDEK, may be made against all accreditation decisions. Appeals are submitted in writing to the MÜDEK Executive Board by the relevant authorities of the subject higher education institution.
2. Such appeals or claims may be based only upon the grounds that the accreditation decision was inappropriate because of errors of fact or failure to conform to the published criteria, policies or directives of MÜDEK.
3. Only the conditions known to MÜDEK at the time of the decision will be considered by MÜDEK during the evaluation of appeals.
4. Evaluation and due decision about appeals shall be subject to the Directive on Policies and Procedures for Evaluation and Accreditation.

ARTICLE 12 Quality Assurance

12.1 Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

1. MÜDEK's quality policies are defined by MÜDEK Executive Board. MÜDEK Executive Board shall issue a MÜDEK Quality Policy document summarizing such quality policies.
2. A Continuous Improvement Committee is established by the MÜDEK Executive Board in order to ensure the proper operation and continuous improvement of all MÜDEK activities, especially those relating to evaluation and accreditation, and to coordinate all activities performed for this purpose.
3. The structure, election and period of appointment of its members, the operational principles of the Continuous Improvement Committee and quality assurance procedures are determined by the Continuous Improvement Committee Directive approved and published by the Executive Board.

12.2 External Auditing

In addition to internal quality auditing, MÜDEK is also evaluated by an external quality organization at least once every five (5) years. The agencies to be employed with such evaluation and the timing of the evaluations shall be decided by the Executive Board, under consideration of the requirements for MÜDEK's national and international recognition.

ARTICLE 13 Transparency and Accountability

MÜDEK is responsible for informing all stakeholders and the public about its program evaluation and accreditation activities. Hence, the following information and documents are published on MÜDEK's web page (www.mudek.org.tr):

1. the charter, regulations, and directives determining the purposes and operation of MÜDEK,
2. the MÜDEK Evaluation Criteria used for evaluation and accreditation,
3. the format of the self-assessment report, the evaluation processes and procedures, and similar documentation which clearly describes the evaluation and accreditation process and the scope thereof, for institutions of higher education applying to MÜDEK for program evaluation and accreditation,
4. the Annual Operation Report summarizing the annual operations of MÜDEK, including the evaluation and accreditation activities,
5. the list of the engineering programs accredited by MÜDEK as well as accreditation information. This information contains the accreditation period and the terms of the accreditation granted.

ARTICLE 14 Archiving of MÜDEK Documents

1. The documents and reports related to MÜDEK's activities are regularly archived. The Chair of the Executive Board ensures that the public documents and reports of MÜDEK are safely archived.
2. MÜDEK keeps a record of the list of the programs accredited, the types of the accreditations granted and their period of validity.
3. The methods and periods for the archiving of the documents and reports regarding MÜDEK's activities, including the documents and reports related to the accreditation process and the results thereof, shall be subject to the Archiving Directive, to be approved and published by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 15 MÜDEK Headquarters

15.1 Secretary General

The Secretary General of MÜDEK conducts representation and coordination activities whose scope is determined by the Executive Board of MÜDEK. The Secretary General reports to the Executive Board.

15.2 MÜDEK Economic Enterprise

The Economic Enterprise conducts activities and all sorts of financial transactions with regard to these activities whose scope is determined by the MÜDEK Executive Board in compliance with the MÜDEK Charter. The Economic Enterprise is governed by one or more managers appointed by the Executive Board. Managers of the Economic Enterprise report to the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 16 Amendments to the Regulations

1. Proposals for an amendment to these regulations shall be submitted by the Executive Board to the General Assembly. Such proposals should also include a suggested date on which the amendment shall become effective. Proposed amendments to regulations that require an amendment to the Charter shall be submitted to the General Assembly together with the required changes in the Charter.
2. Proposals for amendment to these regulations issued by the Executive Board shall be included in the meeting agenda and resolved in the first meeting of the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 17 Enforcement

These regulations are effective as of the date of adoption by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 18 Execution

The Chair of the Executive Board executes the provisions of this directive.