Accreditation in higher education tourism programs: an administrative perspective

The study evaluates the perceived benefits, importance, and challenges of program accreditation from the perspectives of administrators of TURAK-accredited tourism programs. The participants included department heads, faculty deans, and college directors, with data collected via electronic interviews between February 17 and 31 March 2024. Responses were analyzed using content analysis, revealing four themes: “motivation,” “benefit,” “challenges,” and “expectations.” Key findings show that accreditation enhances educational quality and serves as a promotional tool. It benefits data archiving and quality perception but poses challenges in manual file preparation and evidence generation. Administrators expect improvements in electronic documentation, reporting, objective evaluations, prioritization of graduates, and process continuity. The study offers theoretical and practical implications for both program administrators and TURAK officials.