A New Era of Quality for SEM Certificates: What Does It Mean for Participants?

A new era of quality assurance and evaluation is being introduced for certificate programs offered by universities' Continuing Education Centers (SEMs). Under the new initiative announced by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), SEM certificate programs are expected to be evaluated according to common quality standards.

The main objective of the new regulation is not merely to make certificates available digitally, but to evaluate training programs based on specific quality criteria and enable certificates for eligible programs to be issued through a centralized system by YÖK.

When Will the New System Take Effect?

According to YÖK's announcement, the new system will apply to Continuing Education Center certificate programs launched on or after October 1, 2026.

Programs opened after this date will be subject to evaluation by YÖK. Participants who successfully complete approved programs may receive certificates issued and verified through the centralized system.

What Will Change for Participants?

Under the new system, the main changes for participants include:

• Certificate programs being evaluated according to common quality standards,

• Certificates for approved programs being issued centrally by YÖK,

• A more systematic evaluation of program content and learning outcomes.

The initiative aims to strengthen a common quality assurance approach across Continuing Education Center programs.

Will Every SEM Certificate Be Issued by YÖK?

No. The new regulation will not automatically apply to every university course or every SEM certificate.

According to YÖK, only participants who successfully complete programs approved through the evaluation process will receive certificates issued through the centralized system. Therefore, the fact that a course is offered by a university does not automatically mean that its certificate will be included in the new system.

Participants are encouraged to review the certification requirements and the latest announcements before enrolling in a program.

Will Every Certificate Be Recognized as a Micro-Credential?

No. Not every SEM certificate will automatically be recognized as a micro-credential.

The new quality framework supports the development of certificate programs that are more systematic and better aligned with learning outcomes. However, recognition as a micro-credential depends on meeting the relevant criteria and completing separate evaluation processes.

Likewise, certificates should not be assumed to automatically carry ECTS credits or receive direct academic recognition within higher education programs.

Conclusion

The key change introduced by the new system is not that certificates will appear on e-Government (e-Devlet) for the first time. Some universities have already provided certificate verification and inquiry services through e-Devlet.

Instead, the new initiative aims to evaluate certificate programs launched after October 1, 2026, according to common quality standards and to enable certificates for approved programs to be issued centrally by YÖK.

This development is considered an important step toward strengthening quality assurance, standardization, and centralized verification in certificate programs offered by Continuing Education Centers.