REPORT

REPORT ON THE VISIT TO THE TURKISH HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY COUNCIL (THEQC)

Introduction

On May 5, 2025, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro, and the Director of Administration and Finance undertook an official visit to Türkiye at the invitation of the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC). The primary objective of the visit was to establish institutional cooperation and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAQAA and THEQC.

Visit to the Turkish Council of Higher Education

On May 7, 2025, the NAQAA delegation, accompanied by representatives from The Gambia Embassy in Türkiye, visited the Turkish Council of Higher Education—the overarching body responsible for overseeing quality assurance across all higher education institutions in Türkiye. The visit was coordinated by the Gambian Embassy and actively supported by its officials. The delegation was received by Professor Mustafa EFE, Head of the International Relations Department at the Council. In his welcoming remarks, Professor EFE emphasized the strong and growing bilateral relations between Türkiye and The Gambia, particularly in areas such as higher education, security, medicine, and other fields. He noted that over 300 Gambian students are currently pursuing studies in Türkiye across various disciplines, and highlighted Türkiye’s commitment to increasing the number of Gambian students and expanding international exchange programmes. He also gave a comprehensive overview of the Council’s mandate, including its role in university budget management and policymaking. According to Professor EFE, Türkiye currently has 408 universities with approximately 7.6 million students, including 336,000 international students and over 181,000 academic staff.

In response, Dr. Tarro expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed the importance of the partnership, particularly in enhancing the quality of higher education delivery. He provided an overview of The Gambia’s tertiary education landscape, noting that the country has 104 tertiary institutions, including 9 higher education institutions—4 public and 5 private. He explained that NAQAA was established in 2015 through an Act of the National Assembly and, as a relatively young institution, continues to face challenges related to human resources, institutional processes, and systems development.

During the interactive session, inquiries were made regarding the establishment of universities in The Gambia. Dr. Tarro clarified that there is currently a moratorium on the creation of new universities. However, he noted that proposals focusing on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and tertiary-level education would be prioritized. He also highlighted the recent approval of The Gambia’s Transnational Education Policy, which provides a framework for foreign universities to establish branches in the country.

His Excellency Mr. Alkali Conteh, the Gambian Ambassador to Türkiye, also expressed gratitude to Professor EFE and his team for their hospitality. He reiterated the significance of the Türkiye-Gambia cooperation, which has yielded positive outcomes in areas such as medical and security personnel training, and judicial and magistracy development.

Visit to the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC)

On May 9, 2025, the NAQAA delegation, along with Embassy officials, paid a courtesy visit to their main host, the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC). The delegation was warmly welcomed by the President of THEQC, Professor [Name], and senior staff of the Council.

Ms. Zahra Belfaqir, Head of the Division of Private Higher Education, delivered a detailed presentation on the mandate and operations of THEQC. She explained that the Council is composed of representatives from various national stakeholders, including a student representative. She outlined the Council’s mission, vision, and core functions, with a focus on external evaluation and the promotion of quality assurance across Türkiye’s higher education sector.

Dr. Tarro also presented an overview of NAQAA, outlining its mandate, institutional functions, key achievements, ongoing challenges, and strategic direction for the future.

Ambassador Conteh once again underscored the historical and diplomatic ties between The Gambia and Türkiye, which continue to thrive across multiple sectors including security, education, and healthcare.

The visit concluded with the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAQAA and THEQC, marking a significant milestone in bilateral academic and institutional cooperation.