Quality Policy of the Department for the MSc program

 

Introduction

This document outlines the quality policy guiding the design and operation of Postgraduate Programs within the Department of Chemical Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The Department’s quality policy consistently adheres to the legal and regulatory framework of the state and is in complete alignment with the quality policy of AUTH, as endorsed by the Institution’s Senate.

 

Basic principles

The Department of Chemical Engineering organizes and implements Postgraduate Studies Programs of high standards in the most important areas and fields of its science, oriented to modern trends and requirements, thus strengthening its academic profile. The primary objective of the Department is to provide students in all study cycles with an excellent quality education that prepares them for a successful career in the fields of chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, food and pharmaceuticals, materials, both at industrial and research level.

The Department is committed to the continuous improvement of quality in education and research, the improvement of the quality of the Department’s processes and services, the continuous improvement of working conditions and quality of life in the Department, the development of a creative research and working environment for its staff and a creative academic environment for its students, transparency at all levels and the promotion of the Department’s activities in society, in the state and in the international scientific community.

Regarding the postgraduate programs (MSc), and especially for the Postgraduate Program “Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: Health & Foods”, the Department has formulated and implemented an integrated quality policy that guides its development process, and operates complementary to the quality policy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, while it also complies with the relevant specific standard of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education.

In summarizing the quality policy of the Department’s Postgraduate Programs, this document focuses on three main objectives: academic excellence, the completeness and integrity of the educational process and the continuous improvement of the programs.

 

Academic Excellence

The Department of Chemical Engineering aims to provide high quality education to its students in a Department that is friendly to its employees and students, environmentally friendly, accessible to all, produces internationally recognized research and contributes to the economic and social development of the country. The MSc courses of the Department are designed to provide them with an in-depth understanding of the various fields of chemical and biochemical engineering, materials science and their processes, including their theory, methodology and practical applications, as well as the necessary culture and critical thinking to enable them to respond with confidence to today’s internationally competitive professional and scientific environment, ensuring, for themselves, a successful professional career and useful to the society.

The MSc programs are designed to remain scientifically rigorous, comprehensive, and up-to-date, as well as to meet high quality standards in teaching, research, and assessment. The fulfilment of this objective requires the continuous harmonization of the curriculum with developments in science, society, and the economy.

Additionally, the Department strives to establish mechanisms that facilitate graduates’ entry into the workforce and their acceptance into prominent universities or research centers for further studies. The pursuit of research excellence entails specific objectives, such as enhancing international recognition measured through bibliometric indicators, and increasing appeal to domestic or international industry, evidenced by collaborations on national or international scales and the subsequent attraction of research resources.

The Department seeks and implements the continuous evaluation of the MSc programs.

To attain this objective, the Department relies on a highly qualified teaching staff, including faculty members, teaching assistants, and appointed personnel, all of whom are experts in their respective fields and committed to the instruction, research, and didactic support of students. Faculty members bring extensive knowledge and experience to the classroom, employing innovative teaching methods to facilitate effective learning and skill development.

 

The Department ensures that faculty members engaged in teaching postgraduate programs maintain the requisite qualifications, expertise, and experience to deliver high-quality education and guidance to their students. Adherence to the current regulatory framework, as well as compliance with specifications and provisions mandated by the AUTH and accreditation bodies, is rigorously maintained by the Department. Additionally, an internal quality assurance system is in place to uphold the standards and obligations outlined by the state and accreditation entities.

The Department also offers modern infrastructure to its students. The MSc programs are supported by modern or renovated classrooms, laboratories, computer labs and research facilities. The Department also provides access to a wide range of academic resources, including online databases, e-journals and books. This ensures that students have the resources they need to succeed in their studies.

In addition, the Department conducts the process of developing the MSc in an ethical and responsible manner, adhering to the highest standards of academic ethics and professional integrity.

 

Quality and completeness of the educational process

The excellent and successful education of our students is at the heart of the quality policy of the Postgraduate Programs of the Department of Chemical Engineering. The Department seeks and is committed to providing students with the tools they need to achieve their academic and professional goals. To this end, the Department provides a supportive educational environment that encourages academic success and personal growth and includes clear and measurable learning outcomes for each graduate program and assessment of whether participants in the program have achieved these outcomes using a variety of methods, including examinations, writing, drafting and presenting papers, and ongoing assessment. The Department is also committed to fostering a climate of communication and collaboration between all members (staff, students and stakeholders) of the Department.

The MSc programs offered by the Department aim to foster the development of students’ critical thinking, research capabilities, and analytical skills essential for the successful execution of intricate research and applied projects. These programs focus on chemical and biochemical engineering, advanced materials technology and processes, and applications in areas such as food, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials. The comprehensive postgraduate curriculum covers a broad spectrum of subjects, integrating Chemical Engineering principles for process design and analysis with a specific emphasis on processes related to food, pharmaceuticals, and materials manufacturing. This approach caters to the Food, Health, and Materials industries, incorporating knowledge from physical sciences, life sciences, applied mathematics, classical engineering, economics, and computer science.

 

The principal goal is to contribute to society by designing, improving, and developing products, production processes, and equipment in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and materials industries. The curriculum emphasizes on sustainability, hygiene, safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency, and economic viability. Graduates of the MSc courses are equipped with the knowledge and skills to apply scientific principles, applied economics, and engineering, supported by emerging technologies and information technology, at both industrial and research levels.

The aim of the Department’s MSc programs is, on the one hand, to train highly qualified scientists, capable of staffing any national or international research, production or administrative organization, and on the other hand, to encourage research in interdisciplinary, topical and critical areas for the country, such as health, food and materials. The programs also provides opportunities for students to engage in research and produce high-quality scientific texts, including dissertations. To ensure ongoing qualitative development, the Department actively involves students in program development, regularly seeking and incorporating their feedback into the redesign of the Master’s programs.

 

Continuous improvement

The Department of Chemical Engineering is dedicated to the ongoing enhancement of its educational programs, striving for continuous improvement to offer students an outstanding education that prepares them for successful careers. In pursuit of this objective, the Department actively engages in the continuous evaluation of its MSc programs.

 

Regular assessments are conducted, encompassing reviews of the curriculum, teaching methodologies, and, to the extent possible, the facilities and infrastructure to ensure their alignment with the evolving needs of students. As previously mentioned, the Department actively solicits feedback from both students and faculty to pinpoint areas for improvement. This feedback is carefully considered and serves as a basis for implementing changes in the MSc programs, including updates to the curriculum, modifications to teaching approaches, and enhancements to facilities.

The Quality Objectives that the Department of Chemical Engineering will formulate for the MSc “Chemical and Biochemical Engineering: Health & Safety Food” are the following:

1. Strengthening the MSc’s presence in the Greek and European university landscape, enhancing its external orientation, and elevating its international profile
2. Improving the strategic communication of the MSc
3. Amplifying the dissemination of research across academia, the public sphere, and educational settings
4. Ensuring academic excellence in the educational process through ongoing monitoring and periodic updating/revision procedures, incorporating criteria for modernization, adaptation to developments, and improvement of learning outcomes
5. Increase visibility
6. Continuous improvement of educational facilities, learning environment and day-to-day operations, as well as continuous improvement of all its educational activities, in order to provide students with an excellent education that prepares them for successful careers in chemical & biochemical engineering, food, pharmaceuticals, (bio)materials, etc.
7. Continuous upgrading of the infrastructure and services offered by the Department to students
8. Linking academic education with the acquisition of experience and skills of students in the productive fabric and in the research process
9. Improving Information and awareness
10. Improve the connection with the graduates of the MSc.

 

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The Quality Policy is communicated and disseminated to academic and administrative staff, students and other stakeholders. The Quality Policy is posted on the website of the relevant Postgraduate Program.