Geography and Applied Geoinformatics

Quality Policy
MSc in "Geography and Applied Geoinformatics"

(Decision of the Department Assembly, 3rd/19.10.2022)

The Quality Policy of the MSc in "Geography and Applied Geoinformatics" at the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean, in harmony with the corresponding Institutional Quality Policy, is based on the commitment of all its human resources and its official documents to providing education and promoting research in conditions of safety, equality, and transparency befitting academic ethics. It aims at continuous improvement and excellence in all strategic goals set by the Foundation and the Department, to provide high-level education and conduct research for the benefit of society.

The Quality Policy is implemented through two main axes:

1. Strategic Axis: Mission and strategic quality objectives

2.Operational Axis: Processes of implementation and quality assurance

1. Strategic Axis: Mission and strategic quality objectives

Mission (objective purpose): The mission of the MSc is to produce highly specialized scientists and researchers capable of contributing to the design, development, and application of Geoinformatics methods and techniques to solve geographical problems.

Strategic Quality Objectives (SQOs):

SQO.1: Continuous improvement of educational work and enhancement of student performance by expanding educational activities in the provision of study programs with alternative learning formats.
SQO.2: Support for research work and research personnel.
SQO.3: Support for the international and international dimension of educational and research work.
SQO.4: Expansion and deepening of the MSc's contribution to the societies of the Aegean Sea.
SQO.5: Improvement of the quality of the organizational and operational conditions of the human resources of the MSc.
SQO.6: Implementation of the integrated operation of all the infrastructure and services of the MSc.

2. Operational Axis: Implementation and quality assurance processes

Integral to the quality policy are the processes of implementation and assurance to provide excellent education and conduct research under qualitative terms. Each member of the academic community of the MSc will contribute to the common purpose of achieving its goals responsibly towards social partners, respecting human rights, the environment, and the principles of Bioethics.

Specifically, the MSc implements the quality policy in the following ways:

Systematically monitors and modifies the curriculum whenever necessary to ensure it continuously aligns with modern scientific and research developments at the international level.
Ensures the achievement of learning outcomes as outlined in course syllabi and offers qualifications in accordance with Level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
Provides cutting-edge knowledge and expertise at the international level in the fields of geoinformatics applications in natural hazards, the environment, human geography, and geoinformatics as an autonomous area of scientific knowledge.
Prepares postgraduate students for the advancement of their careers or for employment in the public and private sectors at national and international levels in positions related to the subjects of the MSc.
Emphasizes and seriously considers regular evaluations of teachers and courses by postgraduate students, as well as self-evaluations of teachers.
Ensures the maximum effectiveness of teaching staff through the provision of excellence scholarships, continuous updating of necessary equipment, software, suitable rooms with modern specifications, supervisory means, participation of postgraduate students in national and international conferences, and support for publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Makes continuous and systematic efforts to prevail in a fertile climate of academic ethics, mutual respect, and collaboration among teachers, administration, and postgraduate students.
Has adopted the system of advisors who provide personalized advice and guidance on study matters, scientific and academic progress to postgraduate students.
Makes continuous and systematic efforts to respond timely and documented to the requests of postgraduate students in accordance with the MSc regulations.
Informs and facilitates postgraduate students to participate in student mobility programs or research projects.
Actively maintains relationships with alumni and monitors developments in national and international labor markets to ensure appropriate interaction and feedback with the study program.
Ensures continuous modernization and updating of the MSc website and the use of all modern information/networking means for the benefit of postgraduate students and alumni.
Places particular emphasis on the effective and efficient administrative support and collaboration with all bodies and services of the University of the Aegean to ensure the smooth operation of the MSc.
Specializes on a regular basis the SQOs into individual QOs and indicators and makes efforts to achieve them.