The Quality Issues in Higher Education of Turkey: Insights from the Experiences of Faculty Members and Students at State Universities

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the quality indicators of higher education in Turkey, with the focus on the perspectives of faculty members and students, and to analyze their views regarding the quality status of state universities. Despite numerous studies addressing quality in higher education, there appears to be a paucity of research employing a mixed methodology that integrates the perspectives of both faculty and students. The aim of the present study is to fill this gap in the literature. This research employs a mixed-methods design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, in an explanatory sequential parallel pattern. Utilizing a stratified random sampling method, our sample comprises 390 faculty members and 450 university students. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 25 program. For the qualitative aspect of the study, interviews were conducted with thirty faculty members employed at state universities in the provinces of Ankara, Istanbul, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, and Yozgat. This qualitative data was then analyzed using a "descriptive analysis" technique via MAXQDA software. The quantitative results revealed diverging expectations and perceptions related to the quality of higher education among faculty members and students. Meanwhile, the qualitative section of the study identified several indicators of higher education quality, including: university capacity, university function, internationalization, academic staff, student experience, differences in quality between universities and disciplines, the impact of region/city/district on higher education, mission differentiation, university division, ideal university concept, sense of belonging, transformation, marketization, and competition categories.