The vision of the Department of Applied Informatics is for both professors and graduates of the Department to become acclaimed scientists and professionals in the field of Information Technology and its applications in the economy and society.

The Mission of the Department is:

• to promote and transmit knowledge through teaching and research in the field of Computer Science with particular emphasis on the development of systems for their application in Economics, Finance, Management and other social sciences and
• to train high-level executives for the needs of the public and private sector.

 

The fact that both undergraduate and postgraduate studies of the Department of Applied Informatics give emphasis on Information Science as well as Finance, Economics, Management, and other Social Sciences, gives a strong comparative advantage to the Department by significantly differentiating it from other Informatics Departments operating in Greece. Graduates of the Department acquire high-level knowledge and skills in Information and Communication Technologies, as well as in their main applications in the contemporary economy and society. Particularly, after the updating of the Undergraduate Program and the creation of two new introductory Specializations ("Computer Science and Technology" and "Information Systems"), the interdisciplinary character of the Department is further enhanced, the courses offered to conform to the needs of the business world (in titles, content and learning outcomes) and the Department's Undergraduate Program is consistent with internationally recognized undergraduate standards.

To maintain the above advantages, a quality policy is designed and implemented to ensure high-quality studies promoted by all the faculty activities.

The main Quality Policy pillars of the Department of Applied Informatics are:

• The high quality of the Undergraduate Study Program in terms of expected learning outcomes, the expected qualifications (according to the European and National Qualifications Framework) and the subject matter of the courses offered.
• The high quality of the educational process with emphasis on the needs of students and its connection to the labor market.
• The high quality of research and its promotion within the scientific community and society, as well as the assessment of its impact.

The main success factors of the Department’s Quality Policy are:

• The attraction of ambitious, high-level students, who then develop into acclaimed scientists and professionals in the field of Informatics and its applications.
• The attraction of highly qualified scientific and administrative staff and its continuous development.
• The adequacy and appropriateness of the Department’s technical infrastructure.

 Through its bodies and committees, the Department designs and implements the appropriate procedures to ensure the quality of its services. The Internal Evaluation Team, the Curriculum Committee, and the Foreign Relations Committee play an important role in ensuring the quality of the Department's services. Specifically, the Internal Evaluation Team, in collaboration with the University 's Quality Assurance Unit, draws up the annual internal evaluation report, the Curriculum Committee updates the Undergraduate Program when such action is required and the Foreign Relations Committee designs and coordinates the Department’s outward activities. In addition, when an external evaluation of the Department is imminent, a Certification Committee is set up with a view to undertaking the drafting of the Undergraduate Program's Academic Certification Proposal.

Some of the quality assurance procedures are designed and implemented at a University level (e.g. student counseling and support), others are carried out within Departments (e.g. students’ evaluation on courses and teachers), while others are implemented according to the relevant legislation (e.g. admission of students to the Department). A rather detailed description of the procedure is reported and presented on the University and Department websites. The Dean of the School of Information Sciences and the General Assembly of the Department establish procedures, as appropriate, for resolving critical problems (recurring or not) that disrupt the proper functioning of the Department. For example, the General Assembly of the Department has set a specific annual procedure with deadlines which includes consultation, submission of proposals and other actions for continuous improvement of the Undergraduate Program. Depending on the nature and subject matter of the process, there may be key performance indicators whose values are calculated and compared based on the data collected at University and/or Department level (by Internal Evaluation Team). In the future, efforts will be made to collect data and execute processes (where permitted) in a fully electronic manner. Either in whole or partially, several processes (e.g. grading, student communication, teaching) are carried out electronically.

The promotion and development of collaboration with other Greek or foreign bodies, institutes, and organizations, is of great importance in order for the Department of Applied Informatics to become a pole of attraction for educational and research activities and to further promote the city of Thessaloniki for scientific and business initiatives.

Accordingly, within the framework of quality assurance, the following constitute objectives and actions:

• Enhanced stakeholder awareness of the benefits of continuous evaluation and improvement (information meetings, workshops, etc.).
• Involvement of all parties concerned in the functions of Content Management System (CMS).
• Preliminary discussions and consultation on important issues, with all members of the Department prior to the decision-making Assembly.
• Intensification of research activity and publications in the context of the List of Acclaimed Journals compiled by the University for award conferrals to faculty members who publish their work.
• Maximization of participation in research projects, both Greek and international, and in basic research programs designated by the University.
• Orientation of basic and applied research towards innovation.
• Enhancement of the Department's collaborations with research and professional bodies within Greece and abroad.
• Enrichment of overseas academic departments with which the Department has concluded bilateral Erasmus+ mobility agreements.
• Establishment of a Center of Excellence.
• Intensification of internships in order for students to meet the demands of the labor market.
• Periodical evaluation of all Department functions for their continuous improvement.
• Periodic evaluation of the Undergraduate Program against current international curriculum guidelines, and its continuous updating in content or enrichment with new courses.
• Periodic evaluation of the Undergraduate Program and its continuous alignment with labor market requirements / Biannual report recording curriculum gaps in relation to industry indicators.
• Alumni observatory in order to receive feedback.
• Announcement of new Faculty vacancies with specific justification rationale and explicit reference to the courses they will undertake from the list of existing ones as well as the new courses that they will potentially offer.

It should be noted that the Quality Policy of the Department of Applied Informatics is aligned with the Strategy and Objectives of Quality Assurance of the University of Macedonia.