Staff Support and Development Policy of the Programme

The Postgraduate Programme of Studies “Dermatoscopy” accepts and fully harmonizes with the Staff Support and Development Policy of the School of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as published on the School’s website (https://www.med.auth.gr/politiki-poiotitas) and is as follows:

With the aim of continuously upgrading its staff, the School of Medicine has established criteria for the development and election of faculty members, which are posted on the School’s website (https://www.med.auth.gr/KritiriaDEP). These criteria have been approved by the School’s Assembly (meeting no. 29/27-6-2023), are in accordance with article 143 of Law 4957/2022 and contribute to the fair and objective selection of teaching staff.

In summary, it is stated that the decision for the election or advancement of a faculty member is based on the overall teaching and research work of the candidate, including the evaluation of his teaching ability, his overall scientific and research activity, with emphasis on his international presence, his contribution to the exploitation of knowledge and the transfer of technology, as assessed through patents he has registered, his participation in the extraction of research results that have been the subject of the establishment of spin-off companies and his participation in them as a member or shareholder, as well as the attraction of funding for research and the recognized social presence and intervention. The candidate’s scientific ethos is also taken into account as an essential element for the formation of his personality.

The performance of the faculty members in teaching and research work is posted on the School’s website (https://www.med.auth.gr/content/09-omada-esoterikis-axiologisis-toy-tmimatos-iatrikis) and on the website of MODIP AUTH. The vast majority of the professors of the School of Medicine have been trained at Universities and Research Centers abroad and have transferred the expertise they have acquired to AUTh. There is a large participation of the professors of the School in Greek and international research protocols, the results of which are published in high-prestige international journals. Many of these publications have attracted significant scientific interest, as shown by the large number of citations they achieve.

The School of Medicine encourages the academic activity of faculty members by introducing innovative teaching methods and the use of new technologies, grants educational permits for mobility, further training in leading Universities and Research Centers in Europe and the USA and supports research work by developing infrastructure, supplying modern instruments and assisting in the pursuit of competitive international and Greek research programs. At the same time, it promotes cooperation with Professors from abroad, both at the educational and research level. Also, the professors of the School demonstrate increased scientific mobility by participating in international conferences with announcements, which in several cases have won international awards. Care has been taken to include in the Administrative Support Cost of the English-language Undergraduate Programme of Studies of the School, the financial support of members of the academic staff who take part in mobility programs. It is noted that permission is not required for the participation of teaching staff in conferences, while the School of Medicine supports the participation of faculty members in scientific conferences at home and abroad by providing quick and direct procedures.

The continuous upgrading of the infrastructure of the School of Medicine, with the construction of new or the improvement of existing classrooms, has increased the capabilities of faculty members to introduce new innovative teaching methods. At the same time, the continuous strengthening of laboratory infrastructure, with the provision of modern technological equipment, contributes to the development and implementation of new diagnostic methods to support clinical work, but also increases the possibilities of participation in complex and demanding Greek and international research protocols.

In addition, the School of Medicine operates the Trainer Training Programme (https://www.med.auth.gr/ekpaideysi-ekpaideyton), which is mainly addressed to new faculty members, doctoral candidates, tenured lecturers and unpaid scientific associates of the School, as well as to more experienced teaching staff. The objectives of the programme are to familiarize the instructor with the philosophy of teaching, the special characteristics of today’s youth, strategies for developing critical thinking in medical students, modern teaching methods, issues of bioethics and ethics in the educational process, the application of new technologies and other issues that contribute to the improvement of the teaching work provided.

The above actions, on the one hand, strengthen the connection between teaching and research, and on the other hand, promote the scientific and professional development of the teaching staff. The School encourages the professional and scientific development of its teaching staff, by approving the granting of various types of permits (fast and direct procedures), in accordance with applicable legislation. The approval of the granting of various types of permits concerns all levels of teaching staff:

• Scientific reasons for domestic or foreign service (Article 157 of Law 4957/2022) (one year for every six years of continuous service or six months for every three years of continuous service). The leave is granted on a single salary and in the case of overseas leave the salary is increased by 80% (only if the overseas work does not include remuneration). The leave is granted after three years of actual service at the HEI.
• Employment in Chairs of Greek Studies in foreign universities, up to three academic years (article 158 par. 5 of Law 4957/2022).
• Parallel employment in foreign universities, up to one (1) academic semester per academic year (article 158(3) of Law 4957/2022).
• For other teaching staff, educational leaves are granted for conferences, seminars, etc. in accordance with the provisions of article 6 of the Decree 147/2009.

The School collaborates for staff support and development with the Centre for Teaching and Learning Support of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (https://kedima.auth.gr/).The Centre for Teaching and Learning Support is involved, among other things, in supporting the Postgraduate Programmes of Studies in teaching issues, particularly through the use of new technologies in teaching, taking special care for their use to support teaching to people with disabilities. The Centre collaborates with lecturers and students, as well as with various organisational units of the Institution (such as the General Directorate of Technical Services and Computerisation, the e-Government Centre, the Library and the Information Centre) in order to make the use of new teaching methods more effective and to propose optimal solutions to potential problems.

The Teaching and Learning Support Centre for staff development:

• Organises learning circles, training activities, seminars, etc.
  Collect, design and develop research and training materials.
• Ensures the creation of a repository of supporting research and training material (in printed or electronic form), as well as good practices.
• It cooperates with other corresponding structures of national and foreign universities and develops joint actions and synergies.
• Organises a Register of collaborating faculty members or external experts in teaching and learning, in order to support individual and/or specialised activities of the Office.
• The Teaching and Learning Support Centre may support staff by participating in additional educational activities, such as the provision of services for the preparation of studies, the development of innovative educational material related to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, as well as undertaking relevant research work.

The School’s activities are supported by the Foundation’s own participation in the European University (EPICUR) and in programmes such as ERASMUS Staff Training, ERASMUS+, ERASMUS INTERNATIONAL, ERASMUS MUNDUS, the Utrecht Network, the European University Foundation (CAMPUS EUROPAE) and about 60 other international organisations, networks and associations. These participations give the teaching staff the opportunity to travel abroad for research, teaching and training, thus enabling them to keep abreast of developments at international level.

Furthermore, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, having set as a priority the encouragement of strengthening the connection between education and research, and within the framework of its capabilities, implements, through the ELKE, specific actions, such as:

• Granting scholarships to promote research (annually) to young doctoral/postdoctoral researchers.
• Funding for the procurement of research equipment.
• Funding for the certification and accreditation of service laboratories.
• Financial support for research teams (faculty and students) and for participation in national and international competitions.
• Financial support for young researchers.
• Provision of funding from the Research Committee for the organization of scientific workshops and conferences (annually).
• Organization of seminars for the writing of research proposals.
• Operation of a researcher mobility hub, Euraxess Network, (on an ongoing basis).
• Organization of events for the publication and promotion of special research achievements (on an ongoing basis).
• Provision of support services and protection of the intellectual and industrial property of researchers, through the Legal Support and Technology Transfer Offices of the Research Committee (on an ongoing basis).
• Provision of funding from the Research Committee for the protection of the industrial property of researchers, patents, utility models and industrial designs (on an ongoing basis).
• Provision of support services for the creation of technology-based businesses, through the Technology Transfer Office of the Research Committee (on an ongoing basis).
• Provision of support services for the conclusion of technology transfer/exploitation contracts of research results through the Legal Support and Technology Transfer Offices of the Research Committee (on an ongoing basis).

Finally, it should be mentioned that the Deanery of the School of Health Sciences organizes an annual event and awards Excellence Awards. The Excellence Awards Ceremony of the School of Health Sciences of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki was established in 2017 and has been held every year since then. After a public announcement and objective evaluation of the nominations, Excellence Awards are awarded to those who have excelled in educational work, research, the application of innovative methods and techniques, in the field of international recognition and influence, and in medical and social work and contribution. These awards concern the recognition of performance in the previous year.