QUAAS 2025 at Kent University: A Collective Step Toward Sustainable Quality in Language Education

On 23–24 May 2025, Istanbul Kent University hosted the QUAAS 2025 Conference (Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and Standardization in Foreign Language Education), bringing together educators, academic leaders, and quality assurance professionals from Türkiye and beyond. The conference provided a vital platform for examining how institutions can move beyond procedural compliance to build enduring cultures of academic quality in foreign language education.

Held at a time when both national and international accreditation bodies such as DEDAK, CEA, and EAQUALS have emphasized sustainable internal quality systems, QUAAS 2025 created a shared space to discuss not only the requirements of external audits, but the deeper, institutionally owned practices that support meaningful improvement over time.

From Frameworks to Sustainable Practice

The conference focused on practical approaches to implementing quality standards in real educational settings. Sessions explored how institutions conduct self-evaluation, measure educational outcomes, support academic staff, and embed accreditation frameworks into everyday decision-making.
Rather than viewing quality as a checklist, participants emphasized the need for dynamic systems—ones that are supported by data, reflective practices, and stakeholder engagement at all levels.

Oxford University Press: Supporting the Infrastructure of Quality

A key contributor to these discussions was Oxford University Press Türkiye, whose ongoing work with higher education institutions has centered on strengthening the academic and operational foundations required for long-term quality assurance.

One aspect highlighted during the sessions was the role of validated and recognized assessment tools in meeting institutional and national standards. In this context, the Oxford Test of English—a CEFR-aligned proficiency test certified by the University of Oxford and recognised by ÖSYM—was discussed as an example of how flexible, data-informed assessment practices can contribute to transparent, measurable, and accreditation-ready language programs.

Similarly, Oxford’s professional development services were noted as valuable mechanisms for institutions seeking to support their academic staff in alignment with evolving quality standards.

Looking Ahead

Throughout QUAAS 2025, there was consensus that long-term quality cannot be achieved through external mandates alone. It requires internal capacity, shared vision, and the ability to connect institutional goals with daily practice. The conference encouraged institutions to see accreditation not as an endpoint, but as a catalyst for lasting improvement and innovation.

Istanbul Kent University extended their sincere thanks to Oxford University Press Türkiye for their valuable contribution to the event. Their engagement helped enrich the dialogue and provided institutions with perspective on integrating quality tools and strategies into their broader educational mission