MiAK-MAK OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES (Approval: 01.02.2020, Correction: 19.11.2022)   

ARTICLE 1: Basis, Purpose, and Scope
This Operational Principles document has been prepared based on subparagraph (g) of Article 12 of the Charter of the Association for Accreditation of Architectural Education (MiAK). The purpose of the Operational Principles document is to regulate the purpose, structure, duties, and operational principles of MiAK-MAK as the Architectural Accreditation Board (MAK) of the Association for Accreditation of Architectural Education (MiAK) This document covers the matters related to MiAK-MAK that need to be determined by the decision of the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 2: Definitions and Abbreviations
In this document:
a) MiAK defines the Association for Accreditation of Architectural Education,
b) General Assembly defines MiAK General Assembly,
c) Board of Directors defines MiAK Board of Directors,
d) MiAK-MAK defines the Architectural Accreditation Board, which carries out the necessary studies for the evaluation and accreditation of architectural programs on behalf of MiAK,
e) Criteria define MiAK-MAK Evaluation Criteria to be used in the accreditation of architectural education programs,
f) Communication Group for Heads of Schools of Architecture (MOBBİG) defines the Communication Group of Heads of Departments of Architecture Schools, which also helps in the election of MiAK-MAK members,

ARTICLE 3: Objectives of Accreditation of Architecture Programs
The purpose of accreditation of architecture programs is to improve architectural education through assessment and competency studies to produce better-educated architects for the improvement and enhancement of social welfare and environmental quality. Accreditation of architectural education aims to ensure that graduates of an architectural program offered by an educational institution are educated as competent architects with sufficient (minimum/required) design skills, technical and professional knowledge, and ethical formation for professional practice. While performing the "program evaluation and accreditation" activities defined in its own documents, MiAK-MAK seeks to achieve the following objectives:
a) To accredit architecture programs that meet the minimum evaluation criteria by evaluating them upon their own request and to inform the relevant stakeholders about this issue,
b) To play a guiding role in the continuous improvement and development of existing education programs in the field of architecture and in defining the minimum criteria for the establishment of new programs,
c) To promote the development of architectural education.

ARTICLE 4: Accreditation Board for Architecture Programs (MiAK-MAK)
The Architectural Accreditation Board carries out activities for the evaluation and accreditation of architecture programs that apply to MiAK. In all official documents and correspondence of MiAK, this board is referred to as "MiAK-MAK" for short.

4.1. Duties, Authorities and Responsibilities of MiAK-MAK
a) MiAK-MAK determines the purpose, structure, duties, operational principles, policies, evaluation, and accreditation criteria for architectural education.
b) Organizes, implements, and takes accreditation decisions for the accreditation of architecture undergraduate programs of higher education institutions recognized by the Council of Higher Education in the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and special status state universities established by the Council of Higher Education in other countries on behalf of MiAK.
c) Identifies policies, methods, and criteria for the evaluation and functionality of architecture programs. Reviews current policies, methods, assessment, and accreditation criteria and proposes changes.
d) Supports the Board of Directors in the preparation of activity reports, statistics, and presentations for audit, evaluation, and information purposes.
e) Determines and announces annual accreditation calendars.
f) To realize these tasks and activities, it carries out its activities together with the MiAK-MAK Advisory Board, MiAK-MAK Commissions, and Visiting Teams.
g) Determines the Visiting Teams that will work during the program evaluations and the team chairman and members and MiAK observers who will work in these teams.
h) By organizing workshops and trainings, ensures that the members and observers of the Visiting Team and program supervisors are informed about the accreditation processes.
i) Ensures that the Visiting Teams carry out their evaluation and accreditation activities within the framework of the calendar and criteria established by MiAK-MAK.
j) Accredits architecture programs in accordance with the application and evaluation criteria, and regularly announces these accredited institutions to inform the society, student candidates, student advisors, student parents, educational institutions, professional institutions, relevant employers, and government institutions.

4.2. Appointment and Term of Office of MiAK-MAK Members
a) MiAK-MAK consists of seven (7) members.
b) Five (5) of the seven (7) members are elected by MOBBİG and the other two (2) are appointed by the Board of Directors from among the candidates nominated by the TMMOB Chamber of Architects.
c) The term of office of MiAK-MAK members is two (2) years. The duties of the Members appointed through MOBBİG shall continue until the election at the first MOBBİG meeting to be held after the expiry of two years. The duties of the Members designated by the TMMOB Chamber of Architects continue until a new Member is notified by the MYK (Vocational Qualifications Institution) at the beginning of the two-year working period of the Chamber.

4.3. MiAK-MAK Membership Conditions
a) MiAK-MAK members must have at least 15 years of experience in architectural education and/or profession.
b) Those who hold active administrative positions as rector, vice-rector, dean, and head of the department of architecture cannot be MiAK-MAK Members. Members who are appointed to one of these positions during MiAK-MAK Membership shall resign from the Membership in order to avoid any conflict of interest.
c) Academic members are expected to have experience in accredited architecture programs in Turkey or abroad.
d) Non-academic members are expected to be experienced in at least one of the fields of architectural education, architectural quality processes.
e) MiAK-MAK members other than the representatives of the Chamber of Architects TMMOB are expected to have evaluated or prepared the applicant programs for evaluation in at least two (2) visiting teams in MiAK-MAK and similar national or international organizations that carry out the evaluation of architecture programs.
f) A person cannot be a member of the MiAK Auditing Board and MiAK-MAK at the same time.
g) Since accreditation decisions can be taken by at least 5 members, MiAK-MAK can have at most two members from the same institution. Members cannot participate in the discussion and vote in the accreditation evaluation and decision agendas of their own institutions.

4.4. MiAK-MAK Meetings and Operational Principles
a) The chairman of MiAK-MAK is responsible for the functioning of MiAK-MAK. In the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman of MiAK-MAK carries out the functioning of MiAK-MAK on behalf of the chairman.
b) MiAK-MAK holds at least four (4) meetings each year. MiAK-MAK chairman sends an e-mail with the agenda to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the representative Board Member appointed by him/her.
c) MiAK-MAK members must attend MiAK-MAK meetings in person, they cannot send a representative to their place. Members who fail to attend three consecutive meetings without apology shall automatically cease to be members.
d) MiAK-MAK meetings are held with the participation of the majority of the members.
e) MiAK-MAK meetings are open to the participation of all MiAK Board of Directors’ members, but they do not have voting rights. If the accreditation assessment and decision of the institution to which they are affiliated are in question, Board of Directors’ Members cannot participate in the discussion of that agenda item even as observers.
f) Decisions on accreditation and determination of proposals regarding regulations, directives, and criteria are taken with at least five (5) votes, and other decisions are taken with the majority of the number of members attending the meeting.
g) In cases requiring urgent discussions and decisions other than the ordinary MiAK-MAK meetings and accreditation decisions, virtual meetings can be organized, decisions can be made, and votes can be taken in virtual correspondence, communication, and meeting environments previously established for this purpose within the knowledge of MiAK. However, the conditions set out in (d), (e), and (f) above also apply to decisions taken at such meetings. Decisions and minutes of all face-to-face and virtual meetings are archived with wet signatures as soon as possible.

4.5. Representation of MiAK-MAK in MiAK Board of Directors
In order to ensure the connection between MiAK-MAK and the MiAK Board of Directors, preferably the MiAK-MAK Chairman or the MiAK-MAK Member appointed for this purpose may attend the MiAK Board of Directors meetings without the right to vote. If the said MiAK-MAK Chairman or Member is also a MiAK Board Member, he/she shall exercise his/her voting right.

4.6. Election of MiAK-MAK Chairman and Vice-Chairman
The members of the Board shall elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman among themselves. Members may nominate themselves for these positions or may be nominated by other Members. The duties of the chairman and vice-chairman shall continue during the term of office of the Members. In the event of their resignation from office or membership before the end of their term of office, the election of the Presidency or Vice Presidency shall be held again. The election shall be held by open ballot, but if deemed necessary, it may also be held by secret ballot upon the request of the majority.
The Chairman is responsible for representing MiAK-MAK, ensuring the regular, harmonious, and lawful functioning of the Board within itself and with its organs (advisory board, visiting teams, MiAK-MAK commissions, etc.), and carrying out the coordination between the MiAK Board of Directors on behalf of MiAK-MAK. The Chairman may call an extraordinary meeting of the MiAK Board of Directors when deemed necessary. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall manage the Board on behalf of the Chairman.

4.7. Resignation from MiAK-MAK Membership In case of resignation from the MiAK-MAK membership for any reason before the expiration of the term of office, the following rules shall apply:
a) In the event of the departure of the MiAK-MAK chairman, MiAK-MAK members elect a new chairman from among themselves.
b) If the member designated by the Chamber of Architects TMMOB resigns, he/she notifies MiAK within thirty (30) days of his/her nomination. New representatives shall be appointed in accordance with Article 4.2.
c) If the member designated by MOBBİG resigns, the new member is elected at the first MOBBİG Meeting.
d) If the process of determining the Members who leave before the end of their term of office through MOBBİG election or Chamber notification is prolonged and this situation poses a risk of disrupting the work of MiAK-MAK until the new Member is determined, the MiAK Board of Directors temporarily appoints a MiAK-MAK Member from among its regular or substitute Members. 

ARTICLE 5: Objectives of Accreditation of Architecture Programs 
The purpose of accreditation of architecture programs is to improve architectural education through assessment and competency studies in order to produce better educated architects for the improvement and enhancement of social welfare and environmental quality.

ARTICLE 6: MiAK-MAK Evaluation Criteria (replacement in the article)
MiAK-MAK determines the criteria used in program evaluations and the minimum conditions that an architecture program must meet for accreditation and regulates them with the MiAK-MAK Accreditation Conditions Document.  

ARTICLE 7: Designating a Visiting Team to Evaluate the Program
MiAK-MAK determines the Visiting Teams that will take part in the accreditation of architecture programs and the team chairman and members and MiAK observers who will take part in these teams according to the following procedures:

7.1. Visiting Team
a) MiAK-MAK designates a Visiting Team to carry out the accreditation evaluation and recommendation process for architecture programs whose Letter of Intent is accepted. 
b) Visiting Teams are formed in accordance with MiAK-MAK Operational Principles and Accreditation Processes Document.
c) The visiting team consists of three members, one of whom is the team leader, two MiAK-MAK observers, one of whom is a student, and one institutional observer proposed by the institution. 
d) Team Chairmen are selected from among experienced program evaluators, preferably those who have previously served on the Visiting Team. 
e) The members and observers of the Visiting Team determined by MiAK-MAK are finalized by first submitting them to the written approval of the head of the relevant team and then to the Program. The Program may object to Members and observers only on the grounds of conflict of interest.
f) Visiting Team members should preferably have at least 15 years of professional experience.
g) From the beginning to the completion of the accreditation process, the selected Visiting Team members and observers cannot have an organic relationship with the architecture school to be evaluated as administrators, educators, graduates, and/or students.
h) Visiting Team members and observers should not be active administrators (Rector, Vice Rector, Dean, Head of Department) in their respective institutions. This condition is not only required for institutional observers.
i) In the event that a management role is assumed during the Visiting Team member and observer process, this information is shared with MiAK-MAK by the relevant person. If the Member and Program concerned would prefer not to interrupt the accreditation process, they may continue to serve on the Visiting Team with the written consent of both parties.

7.2. Evaluator Pool
a) An Evaluator Pool, which includes people with significant experience in architectural education, is created. 
b) The Visiting Team is selected from the Evaluator Pool in accordance with the areas of expertise of the programs to be evaluated. 
c) Each Visiting Team is expected to have completed an education/information program regarding the accreditation requirements and processes organized by MiAK-MAK before taking part in the visits and to have taken part in at least one Visiting Team as a member or observer, except for obligatory cases. 
d) The academic members of the Visiting Team are expected to have experience in assessment and evaluation, continuous improvement, and accreditation preparation in architecture programs that have received accreditation in Turkey or abroad. 
e) Members of the Visiting Team, other than academic members, are expected to be experienced in at least one of the fields of architectural education and architectural quality processes. 
f) While determining the people to be included in the program evaluator pool, other characteristics such as academician/professional, male/female balance, and inter-institutional balance are also taken into consideration.
g) The main responsible executors of the accreditation assessment process are three Visiting Team Members, one of whom is the Chairman. The evaluation process is continued and completed even if the observers are unable to participate in the studies and/or the institutional visit for various reasons.  
h) The rules to be followed in forming the evaluator pool are determined by MiAK-MAK.

7.3. Student Observers
a) MiAK-MAK Student Observers are preferably selected from among the current regular and substitute members of the Student Representatives Board of the TMMOB Chamber of Architects. 
b) Student candidates for the Visiting Team are expected to be enrolled in an undergraduate program in architecture at the time of selection. If graduation takes place during the accreditation process, the observer’s duty may continue.
c) Student candidates to be selected for the Visiting Team must have no disciplinary penalties.

7.4. Guest Observers
a) When necessary, members of the MiAK Board of Directors and MiAK-MAK, persons from the Evaluator Pool, and representatives from accreditation institutions in Turkey and abroad may participate in the Visiting Teams as guest observers with the written consent of the team chairmen and the relevant institutions and upon the decision of MiAK-MAK. 
b) Within the scope of MiAK-MAK's cooperation with foreign accreditation bodies, a representative from one of these organizations may participate as a guest observer in at least one of the visiting teams formed each year. The organizations to be requested as guest observers and the relevant regulations are determined by MiAK-MAK. 

ARTICLE 8: MiAK-MAK Information Workshops and Trainings 
a) All new MiAK-MAK members are required to undergo a briefing/training. New MiAK-MAK members are informed about MiAK policies and the structure, functioning, and accreditation process of MiAK-MAK. 
b) Candidates to be included in the evaluator pool are required to undergo an information workshop/training. The validity period of the training/briefing attended by the candidates is three (3) years. Members who have not served as a Visiting Team member for three (3) years after attending the training must attend the training/workshop again to update themselves before taking on a new role. In this training, the Visiting Team members/observers are expected to learn MiAK-MAK evaluation criteria in the required depth and acquire the skills and behaviors required by their duties. 
c) Student observer candidates to be selected for the Visiting Team must also undergo training before taking part. 
d) MiAK-MAK organizes training and information workshops for members of institutions planning to apply for accreditation. 
e) MiAK-MAK Education Commission supports MiAK-MAK in preparing, updating, and organizing training. 

ARTICLE 9: Conflict and/or Clash of Interest 
Principles and practices regarding conflict and/or overlap of interest are determined and carried out in accordance with the principles defined in the MiAK-MAK Operational Principles and Ethical Rules Document.

ARTICLE 10: Privacy 
a) The information provided by the institutions is used confidentially by MiAK-MAK members, MiAK staff, and Visiting Teams and cannot be disclosed without the written permission of the relevant institution. 
b) Documents distributed for evaluation and discussion at MiAK Board of Directors and MiAK-MAK meetings are treated as confidential documents and their content is confidential information, considering the interests or conflict of interest of the programs. 
c) The contents of such documents and accreditation decisions may only be disclosed by officials authorized by MiAK and under the conditions defined by the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) and MiAK legislation.

ARTICLE 11: Objections
In objection or re-evaluation requests, the  internal legal documents determined by MiAK-MAK, MiAK-MAK Accreditation Conditions Document, MiAK-MAK Accreditation Processes Document, and MiAK-MAK Ethical Rules Document, which are valid at the time of MiAK-MAK's decision, and MiAK Appeal Committee Directive are taken as basis. 

ARTICLE 12: Quality Assurance
MiAK-MAK proposes a Quality Assurance System and implements it with the approval of the MiAK Board of Directors in order to ensure the quality of the system it has established and to be monitored regularly by internal and external quality assessment bodies for continuous improvement. 

12.1. Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
The quality policies required to ensure the functioning and continuously improve the quality of the accreditation-based system that MiAK-MAK has established and implemented are determined by MiAK-MAK and how they will be ensured is defined by the MiAK-MAK Quality Assurance Certificate. 

12.2. External Evaluation 
In addition to internal quality audits, MiAK-MAK establishes a quality system to be audited periodically by an external quality assessment organization. The organization and timing of these audits are decided by MiAK-MAK and MiAK Board of Directors, taking into consideration the national and international recognition requirements of MiAK-MAK. 

12.3. External Auditors 
Evaluators coming from national/international quality organizations for the mandatory or voluntary internal/external quality audit and self-assessment of MiAK and/or MiAK-MAK are called external auditors. Cooperation and working conditions with external auditors are determined by the legislation of the institutions to which they are affiliated and the decisions of the MiAK Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE 13: Transparency and Accountability 
Together with the Board of Directors, MiAK-MAK is responsible for informing and holding accountable all stakeholders and the public about its program evaluation and accreditation activities. For this purpose, it supports the Board of Directors in publishing the following information and documents on the MiAK website:  
a) Any internal legal/operational documents prepared by MiAK-MAK, including MiAK-MAK Operational Principles and MiAK-MAK MOBBİG Member Selection Principles, 
b) MiAK-MAK Accreditation Conditions Document, 
c) MiAK-MAK Accreditation Processes Document, 
d) MiAK-MAK Accreditation Process Calendar (annual), 
e) MiAK-MAK Quality Assurance Certificate,
f) For higher education institutions that will apply to MiAK-MAK for program evaluation and accreditation, the format of the self-assessment report, which clearly defines the evaluation and accreditation process and its scope, documents of different nature, guides, presentations, and education materials that the programs can benefit from regarding the evaluation process and method.
g) Sections summarizing the evaluation and accreditation activities and studies of MiAK-MAK in MiAK Working Period and Self-Assessment Reports, 
h) List of architecture programs accredited by MiAK-MAK (including the conditions and duration of program-specific accreditation).

ARTICLE 14: Retention of MiAK-MAK Documents 
a) Documents and reports related to MiAK-MAK activities are regularly archived and kept. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall ensure that official documents and reports of MiAK-MAK are securely archived and kept. 
b) MiAK-MAK keeps a record of the list of programs it has accredited, the types of accreditations granted, and their validity periods. 
c) The retention procedures and duration of documents and reports related to MiAK-MAK activities, including documents and reports on the accreditation process and results, are regulated by the Archiving Directive approved and announced by the Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE 15: Amendment to MiAK-MAK Operational Principles Document 
a) Proposals for amendments to this Operational Principles document and the effective dates of the amendments are submitted to the General Assembly by MiAK-MAK. In the event that amendments to the Charters are required, amendments to the Operational Principles document and proposals for amendments to the Charters shall be submitted to the General Assembly together. 
b) Proposals for amendments to this Operational Principles document prepared by MiAK-MAK shall be included in the agenda of the first meeting of the General Assembly and decided upon.

ARTICLE 16: Enforcement 
The MiAK-MAK Operational Principles document enters into force as of the date of its adoption by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 17: Execution 
The provisions of the MiAK-MAK Operational Principles document are jointly executed by the MiAK-MAK Chairman and the Chairman of the MiAK Board of Directors.