Near East University
Stakeholder Management Policy
Version: 1 Creation Date: 15 May 2025 Last Review Date: -
1. Purpose
The aim of this policy is to ensure that Near East University (NEU) establishes an effective, transparent, and sustainable collaboration mechanism with internal and external stakeholders in its education, research, social contribution, and administrative processes.
2. Scope
This policy covers all academic and administrative units of the university, including students, alumni, academic and administrative staff, as well as national and international institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations, professional chambers, public institutions, civil society organizations, and other external stakeholders of the community and the university.
3. Basis
This policy is prepared based on:
- Higher education legislation,
- Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Quality Assurance Principles,
- Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) and Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (YÖKAK) Quality Evaluation Criteria,
- Near East University Strategic Plan and Quality Policy.
4. Definitions
In this policy:
- Internal Stakeholder: Academic personnel, administrative staff, students, and university committees (Table 1) who work directly or indirectly within the university.
- External Stakeholders: Graduates, employers, professional organizations, public institutions, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, accreditation and quality assurance institutions, and individuals and organizations representing diverse segments of society (Table 1).
- Stakeholder Analysis: A systematic process involving the identification, classification, prioritization, and engagement of stakeholders in the university’s processes.
5. Principles
NEU adopts the following principles in stakeholder management:
- Participation: Ensuring active participation of internal and external stakeholders in decision-making and evaluation processes.
- Transparency: Open, accurate, and accessible information sharing in communications with stakeholders.
- Sustainability: Building stakeholder relationships on the basis of long-term collaboration and mutual benefit.
- Equality and Diversity: Treating all stakeholder groups equally and considering different views and suggestions.
- Continuous Improvement: Regular enhancements based on feedback from stakeholders, integrated into quality assurance and strategic planning processes.
6. Identification and Classification of Stakeholders
- The process of identifying internal and external stakeholders is reviewed at least once a year by the relevant faculty/department/center. The Faculty Board manages and makes decisions regarding the stakeholder identification process.
- During stakeholder identification, existing stakeholder lists are updated, and suggestions from academic and administrative units, feedback from alumni and students, contributions from professional organizations, public institutions, and private sector representatives are utilized.
Table 1. Near East University Internal and External Stakeholders
| Stakeholder Type | Stakeholder Group | Description / Contribution Area |
|---|---|---|
| Students | Direct beneficiaries of education and training activities, providing feedback | |
| Academic Staff | Active role in education, research, and social contribution processes | |
| Internal Stakeholders | Administrative Staff | Support services, administrative processes, managerial contributions |
| University Management (Senate, Board of Trustees, Rectorate) | Strategic decision-making, quality assurance, policy development | |
| Committees and Boards (Quality Commission, Education Committee, Ethics Committee, etc.) | Process management, internal audits, and evaluations | |
| Graduates | Reflection of educational outcomes in professional life, feedback for curriculum development | |
| Employers | Graduate competencies, labor market expectations | |
| Public Institutions (Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Education, Municipalities, etc.) | Legal regulations, social contribution, public health and education policies | |
| Professional Organizations (Turkish Medical Association, Dental Chamber, Engineering Chambers, etc.) | Professional standards, ethical principles, contributions to accreditation processes | |
| External Stakeholders | Civil Society Organizations | Social responsibility projects, collaboration areas |
| Private Sector (Health sector, technology companies, suppliers) | Research collaborations, internship and employment opportunities, service and material support | |
| Accreditation and Quality Institutions (YÖKAK, YÖDAK, MÜDEK, FEDE-ACE, etc.) | Accreditation, quality assurance, external evaluations | |
| International Cooperation Organizations | Exchange programs, joint research projects, academic mobility | |
| Society / Patients / Service Recipients | Direct beneficiaries of university health and educational services, societal expectations and needs |
7. Stakeholder Participation Mechanisms
- Surveys, workshops, focus group discussions, interviews.
- Representation in academic boards and committees.
- Continuous interaction through alumni associations, student councils, and external stakeholder committees.
- Regular information sharing and feedback channels via digital platforms.
8. Policy Implementation and Monitoring
- Stakeholder opinions are collected regularly at least twice at the beginning of each academic year (fall and spring semesters).
- The collected feedback is analyzed and reported by relevant units.
- Results are presented to the University Executive Board and Senate, leading to necessary updates and improvements.
- Stakeholder management processes are regularly monitored and evaluated within the scope of the quality assurance system.
9. Operations
- Each faculty/department appoints a Stakeholder Coordinator responsible for internal and external stakeholder processes.
- Records of surveys, reports, and meetings are regularly archived to systematically monitoring stakeholder contributions.
- Feedback and suggestions are evaluated by the University Quality Unit and submitted to the University Executive Board.
- Stakeholder participation processes are reflected annually in the Activity Report, Internal Evaluation Report, and Institutional Internal Evaluation Report.
10. Entry into Force
This policy becomes effective from the date it is approved by the Near East University Executive Board.
11. Implementation
This policy is executed by the Near East University Rectorate.
12. Monitoring and Review
This policy is reviewed periodically, and necessary updates are made.