«The Department of Tourism Studies at the University of Piraeus recognizes Quality as the primary means to achieve a high level of educational and research work with a focus on the student. The quality culture of the Department is manifested by the commitment of its academic, research, and administrative staff, as well as its students, to this goal. The members of the Department work and cooperate according to the values and goals of the Department, as defined by its Vision and Mission, adopting common policies and practices that allow universal participation in continuous improvement processes».

Department of Tourism Studies Quality Statement

The Department of Tourism Studies is committed to ensuring Quality with a student-centric approach in all its academic, educational, and research activities, providing contemporary and competitive study programs, focusing on innovation and utilizing applied research in tourism. The Department also recognizes the contribution of Quality as a means to enhance equal access to knowledge, extroversion, international recognition, and cooperation with productive bodies in tourism.

Implementation of Quality Policy of the Department of Tourism Studies

The Quality Policy of the Department, and specifically of the Undergraduate Program, is shaped with the academic identity, vision, and mission of the Department in mind, as reflected and defined within a coherent strategy that forms the basis for setting goals, especially quality goals. These goals dictate specific actions and are accompanied by corresponding indicators that allow continuous monitoring and thorough tracking of the level of implementation.

The goal of the quality policy is to provide academic and research services that fully meet the requirements of students, the academic community, and the broader field of Higher Education. A pivotal point in relation to the above is the processes for providing excellent education and ensuring a high level of teaching and research.

Based on the aforementioned, a culture of quality is developed, cultivated, and promoted, manifested by the commitment, cooperation, and coordinated effort of the academic, research, and administrative personnel, as well as the students of the Department. In this context, the quality culture lies in supporting a Policy that includes fundamental values such as:

1. Academic freedom in education, research process, free expression, and circulation of ideas within the framework of the Constitution and the laws of the state.
2. Respect for meritocracy, academic and scientific ethics, and morality.
3. Continuous improvement and dedication to the development of tourism science and the creation and dissemination of knowledge to students and the community.

Specifically, the Quality Policy is implemented through:

1. Commitment to alignment with the broader institutional-legal framework of Higher Education and the National Authority for Higher Education.
2. Alignment with the Internal Regulation and Quality Policy of the University of Piraeus.
3. Implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) in accordance with the guidelines of the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of the University of Piraeus.
4. Proper procedures, involving all stakeholders of the Department (administrative bodies, instructors, researchers, students of all study cycles, administrative staff, technical staff, collaborators, university fellows, alumni, cooperating professional, research, academic and social bodies, and other interested parties).
5. Recognition and support from all members of the Department’s academic community.

A key pillar for the implementation of the Quality Policy and the consequent assurance of the Department and its programs’ quality is the establishment of the aforementioned procedures in cooperation with Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP), which explicitly dictate (through manuals and flowcharts):

A) The Department’s internal evaluation using the appropriate tools/questionnaires for collecting primary quality data.

Β) The collection and processing of quality data is carried out by the Department’s Internal Evaluation Committee (OMEA) in collaboration with the Institution’s Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP).

On their part, the members of the Internal Evaluation Committee (OMEA) contribute to:

• Monitoring the implementation of quality objectives.
• Aligning the quality policy with the broader strategic objectives of the Department and the Institution.
• Implementing actions for continuous quality improvement of the Department’s educational, research, and administrative work.
• Applying corrective actions in case of deviation from the objectives.
• Conducting Internal Evaluation.
• Constructive collaboration with the Institution’s Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP).

The guide and starting point in the close collaboration between the members of the Institution’s Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) and the Department’s Internal Evaluation Committee (OMEA) is the Internal Quality Assurance System that has been established, promoting the implementation of actions concerning:

1. Quality assurance processes used in the international academic community related to providing excellent education and ensuring high-level research.
2. Quality assurance through the recruitment of high-level academic, research, and administrative staff.
3. Continuous mobilization and support of students in deepening knowledge in cutting-edge fields and acquiring skills in modern scientific areas.
4. Documentation of the quality system, including the definitions of the quality policy and systematic monitoring of performance indicators.
5. Evaluation of research, education, social interaction, as well as administrative and support services.
6. Internal evaluation.

Publicizing the Quality Policy

The Quality Policy is publicized on the Department’s website and social media, and disseminated electronically and in print, to inform all interested parties (instructors, researchers, students of all study cycles, administrative staff, technical staff, collaborators, university fellows, alumni, cooperating professional, research, academic and social bodies). Through its publicization, the aim is to ensure consensus and active involvement of all in the prescribed processes.