Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Rector’s Office presented plaques of appreciation and gifts to academic staff of Faculty of Health Sciences who contributed to the accreditation process of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Undergraduate Program, recently accredited by the Health Sciences Education Programs Accreditation Board (SABAK) for a period of 5 years from 19 March 2021 to 30 September 2026. The aforementioned appreciation meeting was held on Wednesday, 5 May, 2021, at 10.30 a.m. at the EMU Rector's Office Senate Meeting Hall. EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın, Vice Rector for Social and Cultural Affairs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz İşçioğlu, Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç and Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berkiye Kırmızıgil and academic staff of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, who contributed to the accreditation process attended the ceremony.
"A First in TRNC"
Delivering the opening speech of the ceremony, EMU Health Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç stated that the faculty started its educational activities in the 2010-2011 Academic Year, and the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation has the privilege of being the first of its kind in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in this field and that it has been advancing its development with firm steps since its establishment. Pointing out that this progress has been crowned with SABAK accreditation, Prof. Dr. Malkoç said, “Our faculty is not only a faculty focused on education, but also has adopted the principle of providing community service as a window to health sciences. In line with this principle, patients are admitted and projects are developed in our Healthy Life Application and Research Center and Prosthetic Orthotics and Biomechanics Center in order to contribute to public health. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the professors of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, which has been accredited for 5 years by SABAK in the TRNC, achieving another first.
"We Thank Everyone Who Contributed"
EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın pointed out the importance of working as a team in order to achieve the goals and progressing towards the goal despite all difficulties and said, “The general vision of our university includes the accreditation of our programs by international and reputable organizations. All of the international accreditations EMU has received are a distinct success story. In this sense, SABAK accreditation is a very important achievement for our university and faculty. In our university, we have an environment where free academic ideas are kept alive, academic development is exhibited, and goals are achieved with an institutional structure. We will continue to support and pave the way for all our faculties in this regard. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the SABAK accreditation process ”.
Following the speeches, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın presented a plaque of appreciation to Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Mehtap Malkoç and gifts to members of the academic staff who contributed to the said accrediation process.
What is SABAK?
Operating as an independent organisation, SABAK provides accreditation for health sciences education programs in different disciplines through conducting assessment and awareness-raising activities that contribute to the improvement of the quality of education in the health sciences field in Turkey. SABAK conducts its evaluations according to criteria consisting of 9 areas, namely "Academic Program", "Program Outcomes", "Students", "Instructors", "Infrastructure", "Management Structure", "Institutional Support and Financial Resources", "Continuous Renewal and Development" and "Disciplinary-specific Criteria". The 5-year accreditation is considered as a definitive accreditation until the general evaluation to be made at the end of the following five years.
