Sabancı University School of Languages was inspected by Eaquals in 2025 and met the high
standards required for Eaquals accreditation. The teaching, the course programmes, as well as
the course organisation, the learning resources, testing and evaluation were all judged to be of
high quality. It was found that the institution takes great care to protect the welfare of its
clients and staff, and all publicity materials produced by the institution are accurate and
truthful.
The Inspectors identified points of excellence in the following categories:
Management and Administration
Sabancı University School of Languages’ published ethos and teaching principles are embedded
in practice. They have benefitted from staff input through consultation and in-depth research
and show careful consideration. The School has a very inclusive approach to staff management
which actively encourages engagement in the operation and development of the centre,
promotes initiative and fosters participation in a wide range of academic management and
project teams. Sabancı University School of Languages is extremely well integrated within the
wider University’s strategy and language policy, with good systems to align its targets and
monitor achievement. The efficient administration is facilitated by an exceptionally well-
designed, fully integrated and user-friendly information system providing appropriate levels of
access to all staff and students.
Quality Assurance
Sabancı University School of Languages has an exceptionally strong culture of quality with the
full engagement of staff throughout the School – its announced ’participatory approach‘ and
’culture of ownership‘ is evidenced in the number and range of groups working on new
developments. Quality enhancement and review systems are comprehensive, systematic, based
on detailed analysis of performance taking account of detailed qualitative and quantitative
data, and followed up with rapid action to deliver continuous improvement in services. There is
an exceptional range of procedures for consulting and obtaining feedback from staff and
students on performance across all aspects of the School’s programmes and services, with a
mix of formal and formal systems. All feedback is followed up in very timely fashion and used to
drive improvements.
Communication with Staff
At Sabancı University School of Languages, teamwork is very well organised under well-
qualified team leaders with clear responsibilities ensuring that course delivery is of a
consistently high standard. There is a regular briefing meeting every semester for all staff at
which management provides detailed reports on past achievements and plans for the period
ahead. Staff have the opportunity to provide feedback, engage in discussion and participate
directly in developments. The management and staff of the School are exceptionally well-
integrated into the governance and committee structure of the University, with full
representation on all relevant bodies and close day-to-day cooperation with units and
colleagues across the institution. Staff are extremely well-informed about Eaquals and
supported to participate in and contribute to its academic events and networks.
Communication with Students and Clients
At Sabancı University School of Languages, considerable efforts have been made to ensure
maximum comprehensibility of the language centre’s website and information materials by
providing these in easily-understood English and in Turkish translation where appropriate.
Students have been directly involved in revising some text to better address a student
audience. There are robust and very proactive systems to ensure action is quickly taken where
necessary to respond to situations that have given rise to complaints or concern in student
feedback. Formal consultation with students is embedded in School practice. Meetings are
documented and conclusions have a direct impact on decision-making and change.
Course Design and Supporting Systems
Sabancı University School of Languages’s statement of its educational philosophy and
pedagogical approach is clearly the result of meaningful reflection and collaboration among
staff. It is clearly informed by systematic and regular reviews of teaching staff's views and
beliefs. Exceptional attention to coherence is evident in the seamless alignment of course
design, teaching materials, delivery, and assessment, ensuring a well-structured and effective
learning experience. A comprehensive and well-structured review system, incorporating
feedback from all key stakeholders including teaching staff, Route Coordinators, CATs, students
and receiving faculty. This ensures ongoing programme enhancement and excellence. Courses
benefit from dedicated Coordinators and specialized task groups that work together well
fostering a collaborative team approach to teaching, learning, and assessment. This ensures
strong oversight and effective management of the programme. The School Learner Support (LS)
team provides an extensive range of invaluable services, empowering students with the
resources they need to thrive academically and to enhance their learning experience and
success.
Teaching and Learning
The observed teaching methods and lesson content effectively reflect the educational principles
and instructional approach of Sabancı University School of Languages and this was consistent
across all observed lesson segments, with little to no exceptions. Lesson plans and associated
planning documents are constructively aligned with and designed to implement the School’s
course structure and intended learning outcomes. This alignment is consistently evident across
all observed lesson segments. Significant emphasis is placed on the role of AI in facilitating
initial research for assignments, with strong support from a dedicated working group actively
exploring AI’s transformative impact on teaching in Higher Education. Classroom activities and
extracurricular programmes support the development of academic literacy aligned with
students' academic needs and help to cultivate the necessary critical thinking and problem-
solving skills to succeed in both academia and the modern workplace.
Assessment and Certification
The assessment content and teaching approach fully align with the pedagogic principles of
Sabancı University School of Languages, clearly and consistently reflecting the School’s
educational philosophy, mission, and methodological approach. Assessments provide clear and
effective measures of progress and achievement of learning outcomes to successfully prepare
students with essential university-level skills.
Competent staff design assessments through a rigorous academic process to ensure fairness,
validity, and reliability, with each test undergoing a structured piloting phase. Teachers provide
frequent, personalised feedback during tutorials, guiding students on improvement areas to
achieve higher grades and ongoing academic support is also offered beyond the Foundation
Development Year. Assessment processes are continuously refined through feedback, analysis,
and research that track FDY graduates' performance, ensuring ongoing, data-driven
improvements.
Academic Resources
Sabancı University School of Languages has created in-house course books specifically designed
to meet the specific needs of its students. Developed through comprehensive analyses and
insights from students, faculty, and instructors, these materials provide a solid foundation for
faculty-level learning. Additionally, they are complemented by customized supplementary
resources available on SUCourse, ensuring a well-rounded and targeted academic experience.
In FDY programmes, all teachers contribute to materials, while the Curriculum and Assessment
Team oversees updates, manages new additions, and archives outdated content for a
continuously enriched learning experience. Highly efficient and systematic procedures ensure
regular resource reviews, including teacher feedback on materials' effectiveness and ongoing
evaluation of current resources. The Information Centre (IC) provides a vast collection of
physical and online publications, supporting all university units while offering specialized
materials for the School of Languages.
Student Services
The range and quality of advice and information available to students at Sabancı University
School of Languages is exceptional, with clear, informative documentation backed up by very
close personal contact with and support from student counsellors and staff. Working closely
with the University, the school proactively promotes students’ mental and emotional wellbeing,
offering a full range of support including counselling sessions on how to adapt to life on
campus, deal with stress etc. There are excellent on-campus health services with free provision
of general and emergency care. There is a very good range of additional programmes designed
to promote communicative competence and facilitate social exchange.
Staff Profile and Development
A large percentage of staff possess qualifications, skills, and experience that exceed the
minimum requirements for their roles. Institutional support for a large proportion of staff to
engage in creative project work and research. Many staff members have opportunities to
attend external training courses and conferences, with additional encouragement to participate
in seminars and deliver presentations.
Staff Employment Terms
Sabancı University School of Languages provides a comprehensive benefits package that
exceeds statutory requirements, and a substantial number of staff have the potential to secure
long-term or ongoing employment.
Learning Environment
Sabancı University School of Languages staff and students have equal access to University
facilities and resources as staff and students in other departments. The learning environment is
exceptionally attractive, comfortable and well- maintained and includes many up-to-date
facilities, accessible to those with disabilities, which enhance teaching and learning. There is an
exceptional range of facilities outside classrooms, including cafeterias, self-study areas, sports
facilities and extensive outdoor green space. Online functions are very user-friendly, updated
and maintained to ensure they operate reliably on all devices.
Health and safety is a priority across the University and there are very high standards of
provision for healthcare and emergencies. The School, in line with University sustainability
goals, has effective measures in place to manage its premises and resources in an
environmentally-friendly manner.
