YÖDAK sanctions KSTU: 29 programs suspended, teaching permits of 23 programs cancelled

YÖDAK announced that it suspended 29 education programs within the scope of the audit report prepared about KSTU, which has been constantly on the agenda with "fake diploma" scandals. YÖDAK announced that it has also canceled the teaching permits of 23 programs at KSTU within the scope of the report.

The Higher Education Planning, Supervision, Accreditation and Coordination Board (YÖDAK) made important decisions about the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) at its meeting held on March 27, 2025. During the inspections carried out on the university, it was announced that various violations of legislation and deficiencies were detected, and a total of 29 educational programs were suspended and the teaching permits of 23 programs were cancelled.

YÖDAK, in its decision numbered 2025/10, examined the violations and deficiencies revealed in the inspection report at KSTU. Following the report submitted to the Assembly of the Republic, the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of National Education and the university on March 14, 2025, a response letter was sent by the university on March 24, 2025. The inspection report revealed that the university had committed serious violations of legislation in various areas and that this situation needed to be corrected urgently.

AUDIT RESULTS AND FINDINGS

YÖDAK detected procedures that were against the law in some of the university’s educational programs. The most striking violations included student registration in programs that were not approved by the YÖK, students being accepted with incomplete documents, and horizontal transfers being made in violation of the law. Following these findings, YÖDAK warned the university within the framework of the Higher Education Institutions Audit Regulation and warned that a disciplinary investigation would be initiated if the deficiencies were not remedied within three months.

SUSPENSION OF PERMITS TO START EDUCATION

YÖDAK suspended the permissions for some of the university's programs to start teaching for one year. The suspended programs included the following departments:

Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (Turkish)

Child Development BA (Turkish)

Bachelor of Nursing (Turkish)

Recreation Bachelor's Degree (Turkish)

Bachelor of Sports Management (Turkish)

Coaching Education Bachelor's Degree (Turkish)

Bachelor of Business Administration in English (Turkish)

Master of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (English)

Master of Nutrition and Dietetics (Turkish)

Master of Education Administration and Supervision (Turkish)

Master of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (Turkish)

Master of Business Administration (Turkish)

Clinical Psychology Master's Degree (Turkish)

Master of Orthodontics (English)

Master of Prosthetic Dentistry (English)

Doctorate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Turkish)

Doctorate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (English)

Educational Administration and Supervision PhD (Turkish)

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation PhD (Turkish)

PhD in Business Administration (Turkish)

PhD in Business Administration (English)

PhD in Clinical Psychology (Turkish)

Doctorate in Orthodontics (English)

Doctorate in Orthodontics (Turkish)

Doctorate in Pedodontics (Turkish)

Doctorate in Prosthetic Dentistry (Turkish)

PhD in Pharmacy (English)

PhD in Pharmacy (Turkish)

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Turkish)

CANCELLATION OF PERMITS TO START EDUCATION

Another important finding in the audit report was that some programs had not been put into operation despite the permissions given to start teaching. YÖDAK cancelled the permissions to start teaching for these programs on the grounds that they did not enroll students and had not started teaching activities. The cancelled programs include the following departments:

Molecular Biology and Genetics (English)

Turkish Language Teaching Undergraduate

Associate Degree in Medical Imaging Techniques (Turkish)

WARNING OF DEFICIENCIES AND DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION

YÖDAK called on the university to address its deficiencies within three months and make the necessary arrangements. Otherwise, it was reported that a disciplinary investigation would be initiated against the university. In addition, it was determined that the number of faculty members did not meet the minimum requirements set by legislation and that there were violations of legislation in some graduate programs.