University of Macedonia

Department of Applied Informatics and Democritus University of Thrace Law School

Inter-institutional Post-graduate Program "Law and Informatics"

M1.1 Quality Policy of the academic unit for the development and improvement of the IPPS

December 2023

A. The Quality Policy of the IPPS (Inter-institutional Post-graduate Program) is aligned with the Quality Policy of the (coordinating) Department of Applied Informatics [https://www.uom.gr/en/dai/department-of-applied-informatics-quality-policy] of the University of Macedonia, which is fully harmonized with the Quality Policy of the University of Macedonia [https://www.uom.gr/modip/politikhpoiothtas], as well as with the Institutional strategy and objectives [https://www.uom.gr/assets/site/content/stratigikos_programmatismos_2022.pdf]. The Department of Applied Informatics is fully committed and dedicated to providing high-quality higher education studies, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in the scientific fields of Informatics and its Applications in Economic, Administrative, and Social Sciences, and to ensuring this level through the implementation of specific procedures and the activation of its entire human resources, towards the continuous improvement of the provided educational and administrative services.

The Department of Applied Informatics, through its bodies and committees, designs and implements appropriate quality assurance procedures for its offered services. The main objectives of the Quality Policy of the Study Programs of the Department of Applied Informatics are:

• The high quality of the Programs of Study regarding the expected learning outcomes, the intended qualifications (in accordance with the European and National Higher Education Qualifications Framework), and the subject matter of the courses offered.

• The high quality of the educational process and its support, with emphasis on students' needs and its connection to the labor market.

• The high quality of research and its promotion to the scientific community and society.

Success factors of the Department's Quality Policy include attracting high-qualified teaching and administrative staff, attracting students with high potential to evolve into sought-after researchers and professionals in the field of Informatics and its Applications, as well as the adequacy and suitability of the Department's infrastructure.

B. The Department of Applied Informatics (as the coordinating Department of the IPPS) is committed to implementing its QUALITY POLICY within the IPPS "LAW AND INFORMATICS", which it offers and will continue to offer in the future, by executing the procedures provided for by the Institution's certified Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS), with the ultimate goal of its continuous improvement.

Specifically, for the implementation of this policy, the Department of Applied Informatics is committed to applying to the IPPS, in a specialized manner, the quality processes/procedures of the IQAS Quality Manual of the University of Macedonia [https://www.uom.gr/assets/site/public/nodes/5926/5037-egxeiridio-esdp-pamak.pdf], in collaboration with the IPPS Program Committee and the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of the University of Macedonia. All quality procedures/processes of the IPPS are subject to constant monitoring and annual updating by the Internal Evaluation Group (OMEA), in collaboration with the Institution's Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP).

C. The main objectives of implementing the IPPS Quality Policy, on a continuously improving scale and within an environment of transparency and accountability, are:

i. To provide high-level postgraduate studies and to attract highly qualified prospective students and faculty members. ii. To train specialized graduates with a strong scientific background, experience, and expertise in the fields of Law and Informatics and its applications—focusing on contemporary developments—as well as to develop the ability to handle complex practical problems in these scientific fields through an interdisciplinary approach. iii. To promote interdisciplinary research on complex research subjects in Law and Informatics, and to develop the relevant critical and research skills required for doctoral-level studies. iv. To equip graduates with highly sought-after interdisciplinary knowledge that will enable them to successfully fill relevant professional positions in the Private and Public Sector, as well as positions in Research and Educational Institutions.

The guiding principles of the IPPS are, on the one hand, to provide postgraduate students with solid scientific foundations, modern cross-disciplinary knowledge, and appropriate research methods and principles; and, on the other hand, to develop the critical and creative skills necessary for responsible scientific, professional, and research activity.

D. Within the framework of the aforementioned objectives of the IPPS, the Department of Applied Informatics is committed to ensuring, on a steadily increasing scale and in an environment of transparency and accountability:

• Appropriate structure and organization of the IPPS, as well as the pursuit of learning outcomes and qualifications in accordance with the European and National Higher Education Qualifications Framework, linked to specialized interdisciplinary knowledge that is highly sought after in the academic and professional spheres.

• Continuous improvement of the educational process and the effectiveness of teaching work, also through the selection of high-qualified teaching staff and the attraction of high-caliber students.

• Linking teaching with research and promoting research results to society.

• Connecting the educational process and its outcomes with the labor market.

• Ensuring resources in terms of both human resources (teaching and administrative) and infrastructure, in order to promote the continuous development of the educational process, with an emphasis on the student-centered goal and the continuous improvement of support services, such as administrative services, the library, and student welfare services for the IPPS.

Implementation of procedures within the framework of the IQAS (Internal Quality Assurance System) of the University of Macedonia for monitoring and improvement, in collaboration with the Department’s Internal Evaluation Group (OMEA) and the Institution’s Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP); these include annual internal evaluation and annual goal setting. The IPPS Program Committee (EPC) is responsible for the organization, administration, and management of the IPPS, ensuring it remains adapted to current scientific developments, responsive to labor market needs, and continuously improving.

The IPPS Program Committee collaborates with the OMEA of the Department of Applied Informatics, which is responsible for drafting the annual internal evaluation report, as well as with the MODIP of the University of Macedonia for the implementation of the Institution’s IQAS in all aspects of the IPPS operation.

E. The quality assurance policy of the IPPS is published at the link [https://www.uom.gr/mli/politikh-poiothtas-ths-akadhmaikhs-monadas-gia-thn-anaptyksh-kai-thbeltiosh-toy-dpms] on the IPPS website (www.mli.uom.gr), which is hosted both on the website of the coordinating Department of Applied Informatics and directly on the University of Macedonia website (to which there is a link from the participating Law School of the Democritus University of Thrace [https://law.duth.gr/postgraduate/...]). This publication aims to inform those involved for the purpose of implementing the prescribed procedures, as well as to disseminate information to every interested party, within the framework of transparency and accountability.