YÖK started the process of restructuring the academic, institutional and administrative aspects in higher education.

Based on the government law, all higher education institutions in Turkey were united under the roof of YÖK; academies, universities, and training institutes were transformed into faculties of education, and conservatories and vocational high schools (VHS) were attached to universities.

YÖK became responsible for all higher education institutions as an institution with autonomy and public identity within the scope of the powers and duties granted to it by Articles 130 and 131 of the Constitution and the mentioned provisions of the Law.

For this reason, YÖK focused on being mainly responsible for the strategic planning of higher education, coordination between universities and, most importantly, the establishment and maintenance of quality assurance mechanisms.