76 out of 78 criteria have been completed, achieving 100% compliance with public standards.
Yalova University has achieved exemplary success among public institutions in Turkey through its efforts towards its vision of ‘An Accessible Digital Campus for All’. According to the February 2026 evaluation report, the university demonstrated remarkable performance by successfully meeting 76 out of 78 accessibility criteria defined under the Public Internet Sites Guide (KAMİS) and international WCAG 2.1 standards.
As a result of the comprehensive analysis carried out, Yalova University fully met all accessibility criteria (100%) at Level AA, which is the basic legal compliance level for public institutions. Within this scope, many advanced applications were implemented, such as subtitling support for live broadcasts, the use of high-contrast text, content structure fully compatible with screen readers, and the ability to navigate using only the keyboard.
Near Top-Level Performance
The university has achieved significant success not only in meeting mandatory standards but also in meeting the AAA Level criteria, which represent the highest level of accessibility. Meeting 27 out of 28 advanced criteria has positioned Yalova University as a role model among higher education institutions in the field of digital accessibility.
The ‘Zero Barriers’ Goal in the Digital World
The main applications implemented by Yalova University are as follows:
Screen reader-compatible content structure: Images are supported by functional descriptions, ensuring equal access to information for visually impaired users.
Full keyboard access: All content and menus are organised to be controlled via keyboard.
Mobile compatibility and flexibility: The website has been optimised to automatically adapt to the device's orientation and screen specifications.
Secure data entry systems: Confirmation mechanisms and feedback systems have been implemented to protect users when entering legal and financial data.
User-friendly interface design: Accessible control buttons have been prioritised over complex movements in maps and interactive areas.
Academic Work Transformed into Institutional Success
This success is based on comprehensive academic work. The research conducted by Lecturer Dr İsrafil Yücel at our university as part of his doctoral thesis did not remain merely an academic endeavour; the scientific findings and recommendations obtained were transformed into institutional service standards and put into practice. In line with the analyses, evaluations and recommendations presented in the doctoral thesis, the university's web accessibility structure was re-evaluated, and significant steps were taken to improve the accessibility of the institutional website in particular.
During this process, a strong collaboration was established with the Directorate of Information Technology; the scientific data presented in the doctoral thesis was integrated with the technical infrastructure and transformed into concrete applications. The existing structure of the university website was analysed in detail, and improvement and development work was carried out in line with the identified shortcomings.
As a result of the work carried out, the university's website has made a significant contribution to the university's digital transformation process by converting the academic knowledge and recommendations obtained from the doctoral thesis into a model that is applicable at an institutional level. This approach also stands out as an exemplary model for transferring academic work into institutional applications.
Vision: Equal Information for All
Guided by the principle that ‘an accessible digital campus means equal access to information for all,’ Yalova University has demonstrated through these efforts that its digital infrastructure meets not only today's needs but also the inclusivity standards of the future.
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