Basic Principles and Objectives

The Quality Assurance Policy of the School is harmonized with the Quality Assurance Policy of the International Hellenic University. Based on this, it adapts to the specific requirements and the profile of the School, and the Postgraduate Programs offered. It evolves and improves through the active participation of the members of the Department (faculty, administrative staff, students) who provide continuous feedback. It is designed with a view to generally supporting the academic character and orientation of the programs, the implementation of its strategic goals, defining the means and ways of achieving them in accordance with the appropriate quality procedures and aiming at the continuous assurance and improvement of the high quality of the produced educational, scientific, research and administrative work of the School in accordance with its international academic standards and good practices οφ the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the principles of the National Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) and the current legislation. The responsibility for approving the Quality Assurance Policy of the Postgraduate Programs lies with the Provisional Assembly of the School, in accordance with the documented recommendations of the responsible committees (Internal Evaluation Team -IET-, Coordinating Committees -CoC-, etc.).

For the implementation of the Quality Assurance Policy, the School implements actions and procedures that ensure and substantiate:

1. a) the appropriateness of the structure and organization of the Postgraduate Programmes,
2. b) the pursuit and achievement of learning outcomes and qualifications in accordance with the European and National Higher Education Qualifications Framework,
3. c) promoting the quality and effectiveness of teaching process, and enhancing student-centred learning,
4. d) the suitability of the qualifications of the teaching staff, and the attraction of high-level faculty members from Greece and abroad,
5. e) the promotion of the quality and quantity of the research work of the faculty members,
6. f) ways of linking teaching and research,
7. g) the level of demand for graduates’ qualifications in the labour market,
8. h) the quality of support services, such as administrative services, libraries and student welfare services, and the resolution of problems related to the implementation of administrative tasks,
9. i) conducting the annual review and internal audit of the quality assurance system of the MSc Programmes, as well as the cooperation of the IET with the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) of the institution,
10. j) promoting the extroversion of the School,
11. k) the strengthening of collaborations with other institutions, abroad and domestically, the dissemination and supporting of research projects and broader synergies, as well as the improvement of the produced research work.

Quality Assurance Actions

Quality assurance is achieved through the following specific actions of continuous monitoring and periodic internal and external evaluation:

1. a) Establishment and operation of a Coordinating Committee (CoC) for each offered Postgraduate Programme, which has the responsibility and competence to submit proposals related to the operation of the Postgraduate Program. The CoC performs the duties deriving from the current legislation and the Regulation of Postgraduate Studies, and submits to the Provisional Assembly of the School substantiated recommendations on:

(i) the structure and revision of the offered Postgraduate Programs, so that they adapt to current scientific developments and research trends, the teaching needs of the School and the employment prospects of its graduates, and serve the main mission of the School and the objectives of the Postgraduate Program, as defined in the respective founding Government Gazettes.

(ii) addressing and solving practical problems during the implementation of the Postgraduate Programmes,

(iii) monitoring, gathering and utilizing developments and best practices in the programs of relevant Departments of Universities in Greece and abroad.

1. b) Internationalisation: The Postgraduate Programs offered seek to strengthen their contacts with the international academic community, their participation in networks of strategic alliances, the utilization of their research infrastructure, and the increase of the mobility of the academic community. In the context of Internationalization, the Postgraduate Programs aim to attract foreign students as well as incoming ERASMUS students, who can attend all courses, as they are all offered exclusively in English.
2. c) Revitalization of curricula, oriented to the needs of the Market and Entrepreneurship.
3. d) Establishment and operation of the Internal Evaluation Team (IET) of the Department, which is responsible for:

(i) the procedure of submission of the (electronic/printed) course/instructor evaluation questionnaires by the students,

(ii) the preparation of the annual internal evaluation report,

(iii) the preparation of the periodic Proposal for Academic Accreditation of the Postgraduate Programs of the School and its annexes, and

(iv) the monitoring of the evaluation and ranking indicators of the Department at national and international level.

The IET presents to the Provisional Assembly of the School the results of the above actions and proposes ways to improve the educational services provided to the students of the Postgraduate Programmes.

1. e) Annual Internal Evaluation of the School, conducted under the coordination of the IET, with the assistance of all bodies and committees of the Department, as well as competent members of the administrative staff. It includes the collection, recording and processing of quantitative and aggregated data on the admission, attendance and graduation of students, the recruitment and progress of faculty and other scientific and research staff, the implementation of the supported programmes of study (postgraduate, doctoral), the research production of faculty members at individual and school level, as well as any other issue related to the general operation of the Department. The results of the internal evaluation are reflected in the internal evaluation report, which is prepared, in accordance with the above, by the IET and posted/published on the websites of the School and the Quality Assurance Unit of the institution. The presentation of the report takes place at a special session of the Provisional Assembly of the School, where the necessary corrective interventions and improvement actions are decided.
2. f) External Evaluation of the School, carried out under the responsibility of HAHE and the QAU of the institution. The external evaluation committees comprise Greek-speaking professors and/or researchers from universities and institutions abroad. The evaluations follow HAHEA standards and procedures, in full coordination with international quality assurance practices in higher education. The conclusions, recommendations and improvement proposals of the committees are a key parameter for improving the School services and the infrastructure, as well as its medium- and long-term strategic development.

Communication of Quality Assurance Policy

The quality assurance policy of the School is communicated in the following ways:

1. a) Using a dedicated page at the website of the School to inform newly admitted, enrolled students and graduates, as well as any interested party, of all relevant information regarding the implementation and operation of the Academic Quality Assurance System of the School, namely:

(i) Quality Policy Assurance Statement,

(ii) Goal Setting and Action Planning

(iii) Strategic Planning of School,

(iv) Academic Accreditation Proposal,

(v) Accreditation Reports of the Postgraduate Programmes of the School,

(vi) Annual Internal Evaluation Reports of the School and

(vii) External Evaluation Report of the Schoolt.

1. b) Orientation of newly admitted students on the quality assurance policy of the Department during the induction days of postgraduate students.
2. c) Presenting relevant information in seminars, workshops and informative events, in order to promote the Programmes of Study to interested parties, as well as in national and international conferences organized by members or groups of the School.
3. d) During the School’s contacts with professional bodies involved in research programs and student consulting projects.