Quality Assurance

The Department of Economics is committed to ensuring Quality in all its academic, educational and research activities by providing modern, reliable and competitive postgraduate programmes, focusing on innovation, specialising in academic subjects of Economics and making use of applied research. In conclusion, the Department recognises the crucial role of Quality as a means to enhance equal access to knowledge, extroversion, international recognition and cooperation with productive actors in society.

In particular, to implement this policy, the academic unit is committed to implementing quality procedures that demonstrate:

1. the appropriateness of the structure and organisation of postgraduate programmes
2. the pursuit of learning outcomes and qualifications under the European and National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education Level 7
3. the promotion of the quality and effectiveness of the teaching work in the MSc
4. the suitability of the qualifications of the teaching staff for the MSc courses
5. the drafting, implementation and review of specific annual quality objectives for the improvement of the MTPs
6. the level of demand for graduates’ acquired qualifications in the labour market
7. the quality of support services, such as administrative services, libraries and student support services for the MSc programmes
8. the efficient use of the financial resources of the MSc that may come from tuition fees
9. conducting the annual internal evaluation and review of the quality assurance system for the MSc programmes with the cooperation of the OMEA and the Foundation’s MOHIP

The Department’s primary objective for the MSc “Competition Policy and Market Regulation” is to apply the ideas of industrial organization theory to the understanding of the important issues observed in the world of business. In addition, a key objective of the MSc. is to help students understand the practical challenges of applying empirical analyses of economic theory. To achieve this, the Department follows the quality policy of the University of Piraeus, committed to implementing the processes, procedures and work instructions provided and elaborated in the Manual of the Internal Quality Assurance System (EQAS) of the Institution (Certification-of-the-Internal-Quality-Assurance-System-EQAS) in collaboration with the Internal Evaluation Team (IEG) of the Department and the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) of the Institution. At the same time, the quality policy is harmonized with the standards and guidelines for ensuring                        Quality Assurance   in the   European Higher Education Area (European_Standards_and_Guidelines_for_Quality_Assurance_in_the_EHEA_2015_MC_613 727.pdf) and also complies with the relevant specific standard of the HEA, with the ultimate aim of continuous improvement of the programme.

Based on the quality objectives of the University of Piraeus, as well as the strategic development plan of the University, the quality policy of the Department of Economic Science for the development and improvement of the MSc “Competition Policy and Market Regulation” focuses on the following main objectives:

The Department is committed to the production, dissemination and application of cutting-edge knowledge, while continuously adapting the curriculum to scientific developments. Achieving this goal requires the employment of highly qualified teaching staff, both members of the department and delegated staff, who are experts in their respective fields and dedicated to teaching, research and didactic support for students. At the same time, the Department takes full advantage of both the annual internal evaluation processes of the institution and the direct contact of the members of the Program Coordinating Committee with the marketplace to ensure that the curriculum is consistently upgraded to meet the needs of society. In this context, the MSc in “Competition Policy and Market Regulation” aims to attract high-quality and internationally recognised academic staff combining theoretical knowledge with organisational experience. The educational process of the MSc aims to produce scholars with values that will effectively address the contemporary challenges facing the private and public sectors.

The provision of high-quality university education and training in line with the European and National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education is essential. Students’ analytical, synthetic, critical and creative thinking is continuously promoted through the use of modern methods, techniques and tools, with an emphasis on ICT. This approach aims to continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching, maintaining constant contact with students and setting clear and measurable objectives. The structure and organisation of the programme are designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the different areas of public finance and policy, including theory, methodology and practical applications.

The Department focuses on strengthening human resources and developing an environment conducive to the success of all participants. Institutions such as the Faculty Advisor and Student Advocate are used to ensure continued adequate support for Master’s degree students at all stages of their studies. The teaching staff of the MSc is continuously strengthened through staffing the Department of Economics with faculty members who specialize in the topics addressed by the Department. In addition, the resources of the MSc are used to establish partnerships with highly qualified and skilled external teachers, promoting a culture of continuous improvement of knowledge and skills among human resources.

Research and innovation are essential aspects that the Department aims to strengthen by linking applied research with production. The high quality research carried out by the Department’s teaching staff plays a key role in achieving this objective. It allows the programme to engage in cutting-edge issues in collaboration with societal actors. The existence of laboratories in various disciplines of economic analysis within the Department enables the MSc students to actively participate in the research process.

The MSc emphasises extroversion and internationalisation by tapping into a dynamic alumni community with strong links to the programme. This community serves as a feedback mechanism on the quality of the programme and helps to develop partnerships with social partners. Encouraging student mobility through Erasmus+ actions and establishing strategic partnerships (MOUs) with international academic institutions are also key objectives of the programme.

Infrastructure and services are continuously upgraded and expanded by the Department to support postgraduate students. Modern or renovated classrooms, computer labs, and research facilities are provided to ensure that students have the resources necessary for their studies. Access to a wide range of academic resources, including online databases, e-journals and books, is also facilitated.

The Department’s strong communication strategy for the Programme focuses on strengthening the connection with the local community and enhancing social impact. Developing partnerships with private and public, local and national stakeholders is a key aspect of knowledge transfer to effectively address social, economic and technological challenges.