FAAS Faculty Members attended the AABI 2026 Annual Meeting

The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) successfully held its 2026 Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, from February 16 to 19, 2026.

Representing Özyeğin University and Turkey, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hatice Küçükönal, a member of the AABI Board of Trustees and the Criteria Committee, along with Asst. Prof. Dr. Celal Alpay Havle and Asst. Prof. Dr. Sena Kılıç attended the meeting.

This year’s program featured the second session of the Accreditation Development Series, which provided comprehensive insights into the accreditation process. The series offered valuable guidance to institutional representatives of universities pursuing initial accreditation, reaffirmation, or considering entry into the accreditation process, thereby clarifying expectations and standards.

Within this framework, Dr. Hatice Küçükönal served as a panelist in the session titled “Criterion 3.5: Attracting and Supporting Faculty and Staff.” The session highlighted best practices and effective strategies for recruiting, retaining, and supporting highly qualified aviation faculty in alignment with AABI Criterion 3.5.

This participation reflects the Faculty of Aviation & Aeronautical Sciences' strong commitment to advancing international standards in aviation education and accreditation. The 2026 AABI Annual Meeting served as both a vital networking opportunity and a platform for advancing international standards in aviation education, reinforcing AABI’s role as the global leader in aviation program accreditation.

The AABI remains the world’s only non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to accrediting aviation programs. It is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the United States and the Higher Education Quality Council of Turkey (YÖKAK).