Quality perceptions of students in higher education (Sample of Yalova and Sakarya university)

Students are affected by the quality practices performed in the areas related to the education provided in higher education as a stakeholder of education, physical environment, university and campus life etc. The aim of this study is to identify whether there is a meaningful relationship between the university management and facilities, education-teaching processes, library facilities, and the gender, academic year, the faculty / vocational college, the mode of study, the unit they are studying in / out of the campus, the class variables of associate / bachelor degree students in 2017-2018 academic year at Sakarya and Yalova Universities related to the university they are studying in the light of the headings in the Internal Assessment Report of the Institution published by the Higher Education Quality Board and Institution and the quality indicators used by universities in self-assessment in Guide for Academic Evaluation and Quality Improvement in Higher Education published by Academic Evaluation and Quality Improvement Commission in Higher Education. The data of the study was obtained by applying the scale to the students in the sample. The scale used is in Likert format and the population of the study is the undergraduate / associate students studying at Sakarya University and Yalova University. Survey model was used in order to identify the opinions of students about the quality of the education process. For the scale, the conceptual literature on quality in higher education was reviewed and the following scale was prepared by taking the YÖDEK self-evaluation criteria and the internal report of the Higher Education Quality Board into consideration. This survey was applied as a pilot study and after the pilot study; the scale was finalized and applied to the sample group. Validity and reliability analyzes were performed on "The Scale of Quality Perceptions of Students" The data were analyzed with SPSS program. t-test was used in order to specify the differences between student's quality perceptions and their gender, mode of study, the unit they are studying in / out of the campus. ANOVA was used for the classroom, age group and their school/faculty variables. As a result of the analysis, it is seen that the students in Sakarya University has higher perception levels of quality for their university. Moreover, there is a significant relationship between some variables and quality perceptions of students. According to gender, female students in Sakarya University have higher quality perception level according to the dimenson of university management. Similarly, students whose faculties are inside the campus expressed higher perception level of quality. Students at the age of 23 and higher have higher perception level of quality than any other age groups in all dimensions. Students from Faculty of Theology have highest level of quality perceptions in all dimensions. As for the class variable, senior students showed highest level of quality perception for library library facilities. In Yalova University, male students have higher level of quality perceptions on university management, library facilities and overall quality. Moreover, students of evening education have higher quality perception on university management. Students whose faculty is outside the campus have lower level of quality perceptions on education process and library facilities. Preparatory class students have higher quality perceptions than first year students. Finally, the students of faculty of economics and admninistrative sciences have higher quality perceptions on education process than students of Yalova Vocational High School.