Quality Policy

The Quality Assurance Policy of the Department of [Specify Department Name] fully aligns with the quality policy of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as approved by the University Senate, reflecting its core values.

The School of Dentistry is dedicated to ensuring and promoting the quality of its educational, research, and administrative work through continuous improvement of all its functions, with the active participation and contribution of all its members.

The department organizes and implements high-standard Postgraduate Programs in key areas and fields of its scientific discipline, oriented towards modern trends and requirements, thereby enhancing its academic profile. Additionally, the department is committed to fostering a creative research and work environment for all its personnel, including teaching, research, and administrative staff, as well as creating a conducive academic environment for its students.

Quality is recognized as a fundamental element for realizing the vision and achieving the mission of the department, and thus, the establishment of a quality culture is deemed essential.
“Implementation of Quality Policy – Quality Assurance

The Department of Dentistry and the Postgraduate Program in Dental Surgery are dedicated to implementing a quality policy that enhances the academic profile and orientation of the postgraduate programs. This policy promotes their purpose and objectives, realizes their annual strategic goals, and defines the means, actions, and methods to achieve them. It ensures the involvement of stakeholders and applies appropriate internal and external quality processes with the ultimate aim of continuous improvement. In addition to the above, the Department commits to fostering a climate of communication and collaboration among all members (staff, students, and stakeholders) of the Department.

The Department of Dentistry and the Postgraduate Program in Dental Surgery apply the established quality assurance procedures of the Quality Handbook of the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. These procedures are tailored to the specific requirements of the Postgraduate Program. The implementation of IQAS processes is conducted in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) of the University. Quality assurance processes serve as a valuable tool for the Department and individual Postgraduate Programs to carry out their teaching and research activities, achieve their set goals, and enhance overall academic work.

The Department of Dentistry and the Postgraduate Program in Dental Surgery commit to implementing quality processes that demonstrate:
• The suitability of the structure and organization of the Postgraduate Program
• Alignment of learning outcomes and qualifications with the European and National Qualifications Framework
• Promotion of the quality and effectiveness of the teaching/research work of the Postgraduate Program
• Suitability of qualifications of the teaching staff for the Postgraduate Program
• Formulation, implementation, and review of specific annual quality goals for the improvement of the Postgraduate Program
• The demand level of graduates’ acquired skills in the job market
• The quality of support services
• The efficient utilization of resources, possibly derived from tuition fees
• The conduct of annual internal assessment and review of the quality assurance system for the Postgraduate Program in Dental Surgery, in collaboration with the Internal Evaluation Unit (OMEA) and the QAU of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

“Processes implemented for monitoring and continuous improvement of the quality of Postgraduate Programs are analyzed as follows:

• Implementation of a quality assurance policy for the Postgraduate Program, periodic review, and revision (when required).
• Design of the Postgraduate Program in accordance with current legislation and regulations of AUTh, considering the opinions of departmental students, alumni, and collaborating bodies within feasible limits.
• Alignment with the current legislative framework and regulatory provisions.
• Implementation of Regulations of the Postgraduate Program and other Regulations and Decisions of AUTh.
• Submission of the Individual Curriculum Vitae and the Course Description Form to the QAU’s information system by the instructors.
• Conducting evaluation of courses and instructors by students.
• Various methods of student assessment.
• Effort to monitor the progress and professional placement of Postgraduate Program graduates.
• Academic staff (selection, regulations, performance, support).
• Allocation and management of resources for the Postgraduate Program (facilities, equipment, etc.).
• Collection and processing/analysis of quality data (complete, accurate, and up-to-date information) to ensure the quality of the Postgraduate Program in Dental Surgery with the aim of improvement.
• Monitoring, analysis, and comparison with national and international indicators.
• Publication of information about the Postgraduate Program.
• Quality and systematic updating of the Postgraduate Program’s website (in Greek, English, and possibly other languages) for the dissemination of relevant information.
• Mechanisms for feedback on strategy and goal-setting, review, implementation of actions, and corrective measures (when required).
• Conducting annual internal evaluation (monitoring, review, and revision of the Postgraduate Program) according to all the aforementioned, based on the guidelines of ESGAEE and the QAU.

Quality Objectives
The quality objectives on which the Department of Dentistry will focus its efforts for the Postgraduate Program in Dental Surgery are as follows:
• Specialization in modern areas of activity
• Improvement of participation in the learning process and support of students in timely completion of their studies
• Enhancement of Quality Culture
• Activation of Counseling Studies
• Student involvement in research processes
• Improvement of the quality of the research work produced by the Instructors of the Postgraduate Program based on publications and scientific impact
• Internationalization of studies
• Attraction of Instructors from domestic and international institutions
• Increased participation in activities of collaboration with European universities (e.g., CIVIS, ERASMUS mundus)
• Implementation of actions to connect the Postgraduate Program with the job market and Society
• Improvement of the Computational Adequacy of existing infrastructure
• Development of Information Systems for Administration and Digital Governance Services
• Improvement of infrastructure and support services for the student community of the Postgraduate Program
• Improvement of Accessibility for People with Disabilities to the facilities of the Department
• Promotion of gender equality

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