The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) is responsible for ensuring and continuously improving the quality of its educational and research work, as well as for the effective operation and performance of its services, in accordance with international practices, in particular those of the European Higher Education Area and the principles and guidelines of the HAHE.
The competent body for the administration and management of the internal quality assurance system of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP). The EDP is responsible for the organization, operation and continuous improvement of the EDP, the implementation and coordination of the internal evaluation procedures of the academic and service units, as well as the support of the external evaluation and certification procedures, within the framework of the principles, guidelines and directives of the HAHE.
The Quality Manual of the Internal Quality Assurance System is an official document of the NAP and is used as a guide for its implementation. It consists of work units called processes that aim to meet the requirements of the relevant quality standard of the EAEA. Processes take into account elements, called input data, that are necessary for the operation of the process. The results of the process are called output data. Each process is evaluated internally both in terms of its own functionality and its effectiveness (i.e., if it results in sufficient results to justify its existence). The process is how the process is implemented. The process has a beginning, an end, and stages or steps. The procedures include steps, which must be followed in order to achieve the expected outcome of the process. The documentation of the processes is achieved through the necessary documents and forms.
One of the most important processes of the Quality Handbook is "Process 4: Internal Evaluation" and specifically "Process 4.2 Review of the EDP". The purpose of the process is to evaluate and control the implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance System of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In particular, the effectiveness of the processes and procedures of the EDP is examined, the Quality Policy and the Strategy are reviewed, and finally proposed changes and improvements in the processes/procedures of the EDP are recorded. The review of the EDP is carried out once a year by the EDP. At the annual meeting on the Review of the EDP, its members are informed about the EDP, the processes/procedures, the quality indicators, as well as proposals for their improvement.
For the review of the EDP, the EDP studied the Annual Internal Evaluation of the EDP of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the accompanying documentation. The documentation includes the following:
- Review of International Rankings
- Resource Assessment Report
- Target Assessment Report
- Evaluation of External Evaluation and Certification of Undergraduate Study Programs
- Quality Data Evaluation
- Analysis of Key Indicators & Institution Sizes
- Evaluation of the Institution's Performance Based on the Reports of the HAEAE
- Study of Foundation Procedures – Study of Good Practices – Study of the Reorganization of Internal Procedures – List of New Procedures
The detailed conclusions were recorded in the Review Minutes of the EDP, the required form of Process 4, according to its Manual. The Minutes are divided into sections, where the findings and conclusions are recorded. The modules are as follows:
- Evaluation and effectiveness of the processes and procedures of the EDP, where the results of internal inspections, the performance of the EDP are recorded – indicators of the effectiveness of the processes, the results of preventive and/or corrective actions, the evaluation of the degree of completion of actions and the degree of achievement of the quality objectives of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- Review of the Quality Policy, which records the degree of compliance with the principles of the quality policy and proposals for improving the quality policy.
- A review of the strategy, which records the degree to which the strategic objectives have been achieved, the proposals for improving the strategy and the proposals for its revision.
- Proposed changes and improvements to EDP processes/procedures.
In summary, it is noted that all the processes of the EDP are implemented and their performance fluctuates to an exceptional degree taking into account the circumstances (pandemic, new institutional framework, elections of rector's authorities, etc.). Both at the level of the Foundation and at the level of the Study Programs, it is found that the proposals recorded in the external evaluations and certifications have been largely adopted. Particularly important is the consolidation of the culture of quality, which is evident in the daily functions of human resources (teaching and administrative) and the acquisition of know-how in quality processes and procedures, which allow the continuous improvement of the Foundation and the curricula.
The partial automation in the process of transferring quality data to the HAEAE OPESP is expected to ensure the correctness of the relevant data on the one hand and to free up the necessary human resources, which will be able to deal with the essential implementation of the Quality Assurance System. It should be noted that the implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance System in recent years has shown that new requirements and standards are constantly being added, that more data and data need to be collected and analyzed, as well as the monitoring and documentation of actions and actions, creating an ever-increasing bureaucracy.
Taking into account the foregoing and given that five years have passed since the certification and implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance System, it was deemed necessary to substantially update the manual, which will adopt simplified procedures, aligned with the requirements and standards of the HAEAE, harmonized with the current legislation, following the new trends in Higher Education.
Minutes of the 2020 EDP Review and Annexes (el)
Minutes of the 2021 EDP Review and Annexes (el)