Within the framework of the Quality Policy of the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) of the University of Piraeus, it is recognised that the academic staff constitute the cornerstone of the University’s pursuit of continuous improvement in the educational and research services it provides and of its further development. Consequently, supporting the advancement and continuous development of the staff of all cycles of study and of all the academic activities and services they provide is a standing commitment at institutional level.
Given the above commitment, each Academic Unit and each postgraduate programme, applying the processes and individual procedures provided for by the IQAS, proceeds to set specific objectives, the achievement of which reflects the acknowledgement that it bears responsibility for encouraging and supporting the development of its academic staff. More specifically, the Department of Tourism Studies, recognising the indisputable contribution of its staff to its wider advancement, declares that the MSc programme “Digital Transformation and Innovation in Tourism” is committed to:
- Establishing the appropriate quality conditions in relation to the triad of teaching, research and learning.
Providing opportunities through the design and implementation of actions aimed at the academic/professional advancement of its teaching staff. - Focusing, within the learning process, on the pairing of teaching and research, on the condition that appropriate preparation is in place to strengthen academic activity.
- Encouraging and improving research output, both quantitatively and qualitatively, by providing meaningful incentives.
- Monitoring compliance with the prescribed procedures relating to the framework of competences and obligations/rights, as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of the academic staff, through a variety of methods (e.g. self-assessment, targeted training activities, etc.).
In order to fulfil the above commitments, the MSc programme “Digital Transformation and Innovation in Tourism” has adopted a series of objectives. Indicatively, these include:
- The integration of research methodology into the content of the Programme.
- The promotion of academic research and its connection with the teaching material of all courses of the Programme.
- The attraction and inclusion, among the academic staff of the Programme, of teaching staff with an extensive and recognised research record.
- The strengthening of collaborations with teaching staff and researchers in Greece and abroad who are active in educational or research institutions of recognised standing.
At this point, the commitment to the following should also be underlined:
- An emphasis on equipping the research laboratories with the most modern and advanced facilities, so as to ensure the smooth conduct of innovative research.
- A focus on staffing with Special Technical Personnel possessing the skills required to support the research work of the faculty members
- The adoption of practices oriented towards group-based research activities within the framework of cooperation between teaching staff and students.
With specific regard to the support and development of the teaching staff, the MSc programme “Digital Transformation and Innovation in Tourism” recognises the importance of setting objectives that are framed by corresponding actions, such as:
- Training in the fields of innovative teaching techniques and pedagogical methods.
- Training on the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in teaching and learning.
- Development, through targeted seminars, of skills that ensure meaningful communication between teaching staff and students and the effective support of the latter.
- The dissemination of innovative research practices and encouragement to take up opportunities for higher-quality research and academic activities in general, which ensure the distinction of the teaching staff at national and international level.
The success of the actions referred to above requires the seamless cooperation of the Department of Tourism Studies and of the programme “Digital Transformation and Innovation in Tourism” with the Centre for Teaching and Learning Support, which strengthens participation in knowledge networks, encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, and identifies and disseminates best practices in the teaching and learning experience, while continuously monitoring developments in the European Higher Education Area and, at the same time, exploring in depth the substance and framework of Lifelong Learning.
Finally, the Academic Unit of the Department of Tourism Studies and the MSc programme “Digital Transformation and Innovation in Tourism” undertake, in cooperation with the Institution, to create the conditions for making available the necessary material and technical resources, in terms of providing the equipment required for carrying out teaching and research activities, as well as for making available the financial resources required for access to software and databases, which are essential components both for a high-quality learning process and for high-quality academic and research operation.
The policy for the support and development of the staff of the MSc programme in matters of distance education is published on the website of the Programme here.