Prof. Dr. Olgun CICEK
The Netherlands
Prof. Dr. Olgun Cicek is an internationally recognized Business Professor and Quality Assurance & Accreditation expert in Higher Education. With over three decades of professional experience, he has made significant contributions to higher education institutions (HEIs), quality assurance agencies (QAAs), ministries, councils, and associations in more than ten countries within and beyond the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
His academic journey began with postgraduate studies at the University of Surrey, UK. In 1992, he started his academic career at Dokuz Eylul University’s Faculty of Business Administration in Turkey, where he completed his PhD in 1998.
Since 2001, Prof. Cicek has built an impressive international career, working at both public and private universities in North Cyprus, Dubai, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, Kyrgyzstan, the USA, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. He has held various leadership positions, including Head of Department, Vice Rector, and Board Member.
He holds or has held prominent roles in key international organizations, such as:
- Elected Board Director of INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education),
- Member of the CHEA-CIQG (Council for Higher Education Accreditation – International Advisory Council, USA) since 2022,
- Past Vice President of CEENQA (Central and Eastern European Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education),
- President of IQA (Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of the Islamic World) since January 2025,
- Member of the Accreditation Committee at the British Accreditation Council (BAC, UK) since 2020,
- Member of the Quality Assurance Committee at Malta Quality Assurance Agency,
- International Advisor for THEQC and Senior Advisor at E-Quadrat Science & Education,
- Member of the International Strategic Partners Council for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, Kazakhstan, since January 2025.
He is affiliated with the European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA) in Germany and serves as an advisory board member, panel chair, reviewer, and consultant for numerous QA bodies and accreditation organizations worldwide, including QAA, THEQC, TKTA, NVAO, AQAS, FIBAA, OCQAS, and BQA.
Prof. CICEK is actively involved in EU-funded projects as an external evaluator, senior national expert, senior researcher, and trainer. As a renowned keynote speaker and panelist, he has been invited to numerous international conferences and panels. He also provides consultancy in Quality Assurance and Accreditation to HEIs and international organizations, including the OECD, UNESCO, the EU, national QA agencies, ministries, and both regional and global higher education networks.