Quality Policy of the Academic Unit for the Development and Improvement of the Postgraduate Program
The Quality Assurance Policy of the Department of Communication and Media Studies is fully harmonized with the quality policy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The Department is committed to providing high-quality higher education—in both Greek and English—to its students through the organization and implementation of Postgraduate Programs of high academic standards and significant added value in the Department's core fields of study.
The Department seeks to cultivate a creative environment that promotes research, free scientific expression, and professional development for all staff and members of its academic community. It is committed to implementing this quality policy across all current and future postgraduate programs, in accordance with the quality procedures stipulated by the University's Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS), with the ultimate aim of continuous improvement. This Quality Policy strengthens the academic character and orientation of the Postgraduate Programs, advances their purpose and objectives, supports the implementation of annually established goals, defines the means and methods for achieving them, and ensures stakeholder participation in evaluation and redesign processes.
For the implementation of this policy in the MSc in Journalism and New Media specifically, the Department commits to applying the quality processes and procedures outlined in the Quality Manual of the Institution's IQAS. These are implemented at the program level with the required specialization for this MSc, in close cooperation with the University's Quality Assurance Unit (QAU). All quality assurance procedures of the Department's Postgraduate Programs are subject to annual inspection, review, and revision by the Internal Assessment Team (IAT), in collaboration with the University's QAU.
The processes implemented for monitoring and continuously improving the quality of the Postgraduate Programs are as follows:
1. Quality Assurance Policy Implementation
Implementation of the Quality Assurance Policy for Postgraduate Programs, including specific quality assurance actions designed to establish the operational framework within which all Postgraduate Programs must function.
2. Resource Allocation and Management
Allocation and management of departmental postgraduate program resources through procedures that support optimal decision-making, ensuring an appropriate environment for achieving the Institution's objectives. This includes securing necessary personnel, funding, infrastructure, and equipment to support operations and continuously improve program effectiveness in meeting established quality objectives.
3. Annual Quality Assurance Objectives
Establishment of annual Quality Assurance Objectives by all operating or commencing postgraduate programs within the academic year. Following consultation and agreement between Departmental and Postgraduate Program management, each program selects specific, measurable, readily observable quantitative and qualitative objectives assessed through particular indicators. Achievement of these objectives is considered essential for improving the efficiency of administrative, educational, and research functions within the Postgraduate Programs.
4. Periodic Internal Evaluation and Monitoring
Annual internal evaluation and monitoring of all departmental Postgraduate Programs, conducted in collaboration with and supported by the University's QAU. This evaluation assesses all implemented processes across programs, identifying areas requiring correction and implementing jointly agreed improvements with the QAU to achieve established objectives and ultimately enhance program quality.
5. Quality Data Collection, Measurement, and Analysis
Implementation of effective procedures for collecting and analyzing information on Postgraduate Programs, including student data, faculty data, course structure and organization, teaching quality, and student services. Data is submitted to the National Information System for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NISQA) of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE), as well as to departmental and institutional internal information systems.
6. Information Publication
Dissemination of information regarding the Department's Postgraduate Programs through directly accessible, current, objective, and clearly formulated channels. This includes maintaining a specialized area on the Department's website promoting the Postgraduate Programs, featuring bilingual pages, and implementing procedures for regular content review and updates.
7. External Evaluation
Periodic accreditation of all departmental Postgraduate Programs by HAHE through external evaluation conducted by committees of independent experts.
Implementation in the MSc "Journalism and New Media"
The implementation of the above procedures in the MSc "Journalism and New Media" will ensure:
a) The appropriateness of the Program of Studies' structure and organization
b) That learning outcomes and graduate qualifications align as closely as possible with the European and National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (Level 7)
c) The promotion of teaching quality and effectiveness through monitoring by the Coordinating Committee, IAT, Departmental administration, and QAU
d) That teaching staff qualifications—particularly those of external collaborators—are appropriate for postgraduate education
e) The drafting, implementation, and review of specific annual quality objectives for program improvement
f) Assessment of graduate qualification demand in the job market through regular investigation of market needs and monitoring of graduate progress
g) Provision of high-quality support services to postgraduate students, including those with disabilities, through accessible administrative services, libraries, online services, scholarships, and student affairs services appropriate to the MSc
h) Efficient use of financial resources derived from tuition fees to provide necessary services to postgraduate students and facilitate program operations, including on-site visits to off-site locations for integrated education
i) Implementation of annual internal evaluation and review of the quality assurance system for the English-language MSc "Journalism and New Media," in collaboration with the IAT and departmental QAU
Quality Objectives for "Journalism and New Media"
The Department of Communication and Media Studies will focus its efforts on the following quality objectives for the MSc "Journalism and New Media":