Our Department
18 January 2024 2024-01-28 15:41- January 18, 2024
- 8:12 pm
Our Department
A few words about the department
The vision of the Department of Tourism Studies is to serve as the catalyst for Tourism Higher Education in Greece and internationally, leading to the formation of tourism executives and managers for tourism businesses, organizations and destinations, with an excellent level of education, business intelli- gence and innovative thinking, as well as a culture of collectivity and inclusion, towards avail of society and of sustainable tourism development.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Tourism Studies is:
- To develop highly educated professionals in the field of higher university education who meet all the requirements for a career in all branches of tourism, as well as in all tourism interest entities that deal with development and policy in tourism at an international, national, regional, and local level.
- To promote excellence in tourism education and the utilization of knowledge, aiming to shape high-level tourism scientists with values and comprehensive knowledge on tourism issues.
- To develop and support research and innovation that contribute to addressing the contemporary economic, social, and business challenges of tourism enterprises, organizations, and destinations at a local, regional, national, and international level in an ever-changing international environment, with rapid technological developments that bring new models of corporate governance.
- To shape scientists capable of understanding the challenges of the constantly changing modern tourism environment and contributing to the progress of tourism development and entrepreneurship.
- To shape future leaders in Tourism, with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to effectively manage tourism enterprises-organizations and be able to play a significant role in the broader economic and social life of the country or the international tourism community.
- To promote professional specialization and training in tourism, through flexible, targeted, and modern lifelong learning and training programs (either in-person, distance learning, or blended learning).
- To promote extroversion and cooperation with academic, research, social, and other bodies, for the development of tourism entrepreneurship and society.
- To develop a unique culture of collectivity by promoting the values of Sustainability, Accessibility for all, and Inclusion.
- To connect the Department and the student community with the tourism labor market.
Quality Assurance
«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:
- Academic freedom in education, research process, free expression, and circulation of ideas within the framework of the Constitution and the laws of the state.
- Respect for meritocracy, academic and scientific ethics, and morality.
- 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:
- Commitment to alignment with the broader institutional-legal framework of Higher Education and the National Authority for Higher Education.
- Alignment with the Internal Regulation and Quality Policy of the University of Piraeus.
- Implementation of the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) in accordance with the guidelines of the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of the University of Piraeus.
- 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).
- 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:
- Quality assurance processes used in the international academic community related to providing excellent education and ensuring high-level research.
- Quality assurance through the recruitment of high-level academic, research, and administrative staff.
- Continuous mobilization and support of students in deepening knowledge in cutting-edge fields and acquiring skills in modern scientific areas.
- Documentation of the quality system, including the definitions of the quality policy and systematic monitoring of performance indicators.
- Evaluation of research, education, social interaction, as well as administrative and support services.
- 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.
Curriculum and Faculty Evaluation
The evaluation of the curriculum and the faculty by undergraduate students of the Department aims at the continuous improvement of the curriculum and the teaching work of the Department. The evaluation is carried out by completing a special questionnaire designed for this purpose. The evaluation questionnaire for each course is filled out by the students during the last weeks of each semester.
Students Evaluation Report for undergraduate study program academic year 2017-2018 (in Greek)
Students Evaluation Report for undergraduate study program academic year 2018-2019 (in Greek)
Students Evaluation Report for undergraduate study program academic year 2019-2020 (in Greek)
Students Evaluation Report for undergraduate study program academic year 2020-2021 (in Greek)
Students Evaluation Report for undergraduate study program academic year 2021-2022 (in Greek)
Curriculum Evaluation by graduates
With the goal of improving the quality of the undergraduate study program, an annual survey is conducted regarding the evaluation of the experience of the Department’s graduates.
Graduates Evaluation Report for undergraduate study program academic year 2020-2021 (in Greek)
The certification process ensures that the study program of the Department meets all the formal specifications set by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (H.A.H.E.) and followed by the University of Piraeus. It also guarantees that the performance and capabilities of the graduates of this study cycle (learning outcomes) correspond to the expected professional qualifications required by society and the labor market. Finally, it certifies that the study program meets the minimum quality criteria as formed by the HQA (Hellenic Quality Assurance).
Administrative Bodies
For the biennium 2023-2025, the Chair of the Department is Professor Angelos Kotios, and the Vice-Chair is Professor Petros Maravelakis.
The Department Assembly consists of:
a. All faculty members of the Department.
b. Faculty members from other Departments of the School.
c. Student representatives, accounting for 50% of the faculty members.
d. Representatives of Special Technical – Laboratory Staff (EDIP, ETEP) and non-doctoral assistants, Scientific Associates, and Curators, accounting for 5% of the faculty members.
Each year, the Chair of the Department appoints faculty members to various committees that deal with matters concerning the Department, in order to assist in the recommendations to the Department Assembly. Such committees include the Internal Evaluation Team (ΟΜ.Ε.Α.), the Study Program Committee, the Student Affairs Committee, etc.
The Head of the Secretariat of the Department is Theodora Rouvali.
Advisory Board
In the context of realizing its vision, namely establishing itself as a catalyst for superior tourism education in Greece and internationally, leading to the development of highly trained personnel for tourism enterprises, organizations, and destinations with entrepreneurial and innovative thinking, and a culture of collectivism and inclusion for the benefit of society and sustainable tourism development, the Department decided to form an informal advisory committee with the primary purpose of providing guidance and advice to the Department.
Specifically, the Advisory Committee discusses and formulates proposals for:
- The strategic direction of the Department and its undergraduate study program.
- The development and strengthening of the Department’s networking in Greece and abroad.
- The continuous improvement of the undergraduate study program and the operation of the Department.
- The effective connection and cooperation with the labor market.
The Advisory Committee of the Department of Tourism Studies of the University of Piraeus consists of the following:
- Athanasios Kouremenos, Emeritus Professor of Marketing (Chairman).
- Alexandros Vassilikos, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels – President of the European Organisation of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes (HOTREC) – CEO of Airotel Hotel Group (Member).
- Stefano Dominioni, Director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (Member).
- Noel Josephides, Chairman of the Tour Operator Sunvil – former Chairman of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) – Chairman of the Travel Foundation (Member).
Employment Opportunities
The Department of Tourism Studies allows students flexibility and access to a wide educational area of management, which will enable graduates of this Department to pursue careers across the entire spectrum of the international services economy.
Graduates of the Department can work in significant positions in airline companies or leisure shipping line companies, as researchers and analysts in national or local tourism services, as consultants in United Nations or European Union services, as professors in Tourism Schools, as executives in Travel Agencies or Tour Operator Companies, as managers of Tourist Information Centers, as middle or senior executives in all functions of the tourism industry enterprises, as executives in consulting firms specialized in the Tourism Industry, etc.
The degree in Tourism Studies will become the starting point for the graduates’ career in the management of tourism and hospitality organizations. Tourism is the most rapidly developing industry today and therefore can provide excellent career opportunities for university-educated graduates both in Greece and internationally.
Our graduates will acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to become competent managers in the rapidly growing tourism sector.
