EKPA gets excellent! – THE STEP –

Another important success for the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as confirmation of the excellent work done at all levels of its educational, research and administrative work, is the certification of the Institution’s Internal Quality Assurance System (QAS) by the National Authority of Higher Education ( ETHAAE).

The seven criteria that constitute the evaluation framework for obtaining the quality certification and in which the EKPA is certified with “Excellent” are:

1. The Foundation’s Strategy, Planning and Implementation of Quality Policy and Targeting
2. The procedures of Planning and Allocation of material and human resources
3. The Structure, Organization and Operation of the Institution’s Quality Assurance Unit and the Internal Quality Assurance System of EKPA
4. The Application of Internal Evaluation Procedures in all the Study Programs of the Institution
5. The processes and tools for collecting, measuring, analyzing quality data and information in order to make decisions that lead to changes and improvements
6. The means and procedures it uses to publicize information (websites, social media, etc.)
7. The degree of utilization of the observations and proposals arising from the previous External Evaluation and Certification of the ESDP that took place in November 2018.

What the five-member committee studied

An external evaluation of the Foundation was preceded by a live on-site visit, by a five-member committee of external evaluators and experts appointed by the National Authority for Higher Education (ETHAAE), which visited the EKPA during the week 26/6 – 1/7/2024 and held working meetings and interviews with the Central Administration of the Institution, Presidents and Professors members of the External Evaluation Teams (EOEA) of the Departments, representatives of Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral Students, Directors of Departments and Administrative Services, Graduates of the University as well as representatives of Social Partners.

At the same time, the Committee visited the teaching, research and other infrastructures of the Foundation to ascertain their quantitative and qualitative adequacy. It should be noted that the National Kapodistrian University of Athens was preceded by many months of preparation, which, among other things, included the preparation and submission of a complete certification file to the National Authority of Higher Education. The entire process was coordinated by the Vice Chancellor of Academics, International Relations and Outreach, Professor Ms. Sofia Papaioannou.

The decision of the National Authority of Higher Education

The External Evaluation Committee then drafted and submitted its Report and Recommendation for the Foundation to the ETHAAE with the competent Council of the Authority to accept it and issue the Certification decision. Based on this Report and the decision issued by ETHAEE, the Internal Quality Assurance System of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens complies with the principles of the ETHAEE Quality Standard and the Principles and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area ( ESG).

The President of the National Authority of Higher Education (ETHAE), Professor Periklis Mitkas, in his letter sent to the Foundation, congratulated EKPA for its excellent response to the certification process and expressed his confidence that the Foundation will take into account and make use of in the best way, all the recommendations of the Certification Committee for its continuous improvement, according to the provisions of the Certification Guide.

“We don’t settle for anything less than high quality”

“The first and largest public University of the country is fighting with great success the struggle to achieve high quality services provided in the Greek Society and beyond, conquering “peaks” here as well”, emphasizes the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siassos.

“The Certification of the Quality System of the University of Athens by the National Authority of Higher Education, and in fact with the highest degree, proves, on the one hand, our commitment to the continuous improvement of academic and administrative processes, and on the other hand, the commitment of the Leadership to the implementation of a strategy for Quality, which it does not remain in words but is done in action with visible results. The results of the evaluation confirm the first place of our University in all international rankings. Warm congratulations are due to all the staff of the Foundation as for the first time our University is rated EXCELLENT in all criteria. We don’t settle for anything less than high quality.”