Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Education Faculty, Elementary Education Department, Pre-school Teaching Program has been accredited by Germany’s leading accreditation institution AQAS (Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs) for a period of 6 years.
The accreditation certificate sent to EMU Rectorate by the relevant institution was presented to the faculty and department officials at a small ceremony which took place at EMU Rector’s Building at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, 22 February 2019. Speaking at the cermeony, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam stated his honor and pride in the aforesaid Faculty’s achievement and added that EMU will continue to grow and develop each passing day.
Among notable officials who were present at the said ceremony were Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Halit Tanju Besler, Dean of EMU Education Faculty Prof. Dr. Ülker Vancı Osam, Vice Deans of EMU Education Faculty Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sıtkiye Kuter and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şefika Mertkan, Chair of Elementary Education Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın, academic staff member of Elementary Education Department Prof. Dr. Ayşe Işık Gürşimşek and Rector’s Coordinator Assist. Prof. Dr. Arif Akkeleş.
Dean of Education Facuty Prof. Dr. Ülker Vancı Osam stated that since 2005, Elementary Education Department has been bringing up competent and qualified professionals who are equipped with modern qualities through 4 different programs, namely Elementary School Teacher Education and Pre-school Teacher Education undergraduate program and Early Childhood Education thesis and Early Childhood non-thesis master’s programs. Prof. Dr. Osam also expressed their happiness in witnessing the Pre-school Teaching program successfully completing the AQAS accreditation process within a short period of two years in 2018. Prof. Dr. Osam added that during the accreditation process, all theoretical and practice courses carried out in the program were updated in accordance with the European Quality Framework, with a consideration of Teacher Training National Competencies Framework and in harmony with the Turkish Council of Higher Education.
Prof. Dr. Osam stated that they have been working in cooperation with stakeholders such as pre-school education institutions, educational managers and non-governmental organizations providing services in the field of pre-school education and their have the aim of accessing the qualities of the 21st century in the training of pre-school teachers.
Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Osam put forth that all programs in the faculty are now motivated to work towards gaining international accreditations similar to the English Language Teaching Program and Pre-school Teacher Education Program.
Chair of Elementary Education Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın expressed her department’s pride in providing high quality and internationally accredited services to the teacher candidates. Emphasising the critical importance of education at an early age, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın added that with this quality assurance document attached to their diplomas, teacher candidates studying at Pre-school Education Program will be well-aware of their responsibilities in their quest of becoming modern, well-informed, creative and productive professionals who have assimilated scientific values. Finally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eda Yazgın stated that the accreditation process motivated both the faculty members and students and increased their strength in achieving quality in education.
