Quality Policy of the MSc Programme “Applied Ecology & Environmental Management” of the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology, in collaboration with the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) and the relevant services of the University, has aligned the Quality Policy of the MSc Programme with the Quality Policy of the Department of Biology and the University of Patras.

Vision / Mission of the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology of the University of Patras, the first Biology Department in Greece, has consistently aimed, since its establishment in 1967, to provide high-quality education and to shape new scientists with a broad knowledge and understanding of Biology. The Department offers studies covering all aspects of the biological sciences, from molecular and cellular levels to the level of organisms and ecosystems, providing additional career opportunities for young biologists and conducting high-quality research across all fields of modern Biology.

The commitment to the quality of educational services is a central goal of the Department of Biology, which, according to its external evaluation, supports its academic identity. It invests in the high quality of its teaching staff and infrastructure to offer modern undergraduate and postgraduate education, as well as in the production of high-quality, innovative research work. The Quality Policy of the Department of Biology aims at the continuous improvement of the curriculum’s quality, both in teaching and research, following the latest academic developments.

The scope of the Master’s Programme “Applied Ecology and Environmental Management” of the Department of Biology is:

  • Postgraduate education, with an emphasis on student-centred learning, for graduates of the Department of Biology and other related Departments in Greece and abroad, in cutting-edge areas of the Biological Sciences directly related to Environmental Biology.
  • Advancement of knowledge and research in the cutting-edge fields within the broader areas of Applied Ecology, Ecosystem Management, Monitoring and Evaluation of Ecological Quality, Conservation Status of Habitats, Ecosystem Quality, Ecosystem Services (benefits), Biological Resource Management, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Ecotoxicology, Evolutionary Biology, Functional Ecology, and Biodiversity.
  • Development of highly trained professionals with extensive knowledge in the scientific field, enhancing the scientific and professional careers of the programme’s graduates.
  • Formation of scientists capable of pursuing and successfully completing doctoral studies in related scientific fields, as well as furthering their academic development.
  • Linking education with contemporary challenges in science, equipping MSc graduates with knowledge and research tools that will enable them to staff private and public sector organisations and services related to the assessment, monitoring, protection, and management of the environment (e.g., Management Bodies, regional and local authorities, development agencies focusing on sustainable management, consulting firms, public and private education, etc.).
  • Retention of the country’s scientific talent, preventing graduates from seeking similar studies abroad.

The strategic objectives of the MSc Programme are aligned with those of the Department and include:

  • Providing high-level education, with an emphasis on student-centred learning, continuous enhancement of the MSc Programme, updating academic functions, and focusing on Learning Outcomes.
  • Improving the connection with the job market and scientific organisations.  Strengthening external outreach by promoting and supporting collaborations, networking activities, and publicity efforts.
  • Producing high-quality research based on international developments through the promotion of research collaborations, and utilising and disseminating results for the benefit of the economy and society.
  • Effectiveness of administrative processes and improvement of the Department’s infrastructure, with a priority on Student Support.

To implement the Quality Policy of the MSc Programme, the Department of Biology applies the necessary control procedures of:

  • the structure and organisation of the Master’s programmes (MSc programmes),
  • the intended Learning Outcomes and qualifications of postgraduate students, in accordance with the European and National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (Level 7),
  • the suitability of the teaching staff with regard to the quality and effectiveness of the teaching provided and the focus on Learning Outcomes for the MScago; programmes,
  • the connection between teaching and research,
  • the competitiveness of graduates in the labour market,
  • the promotion of the quality and quantity of the research conducted by the members of the academic unit,
  • the quality of support services (with an emphasis on administrative services, the Library, the Information Centre, and student support services), the annual review and internal evaluation of the quality assurance system of the MSc programme, as well as the collaboration of the MSc Programme Quality Assurance Committee (O.M.E.A.) with the University’s Quality Assurance Unit (M.O.D.I.P.),
  • the preparation, implementation, and review of specific annual quality goals for the improvement of the MSc programme,
  • the strengthening of the programme’s external outreach through enhanced collaborations, networking activities, publicity, and the international presence of the Department.

Upon completion of their studies, the graduates of the MSc Programme will be able to:

  • Formulate valid scientific questions and hypotheses concerning the ecology of organisms,
  • Design ecological experiments and sampling methods, analyse ecological data, and construct ecological models,
  • Understand the methods for evaluating the conservation status of species and habitat types, as well as the methodologies for implementing monitoring plans,
  • Understand the basic concepts of protected areas management, environmental planning, and the modern framework for drafting and implementing management plans for areas within the NATURA 2000 network,
  • Understand the methods for sampling fishing data and design sampling strategies,
  • Analyse fishing data and address questions concerning fish population dynamics and fisheries management,
  • Understand the basic principles of fish ethology and their applications in aquaculture,
  • Assess the risks threatening aquatic ecosystems and use the appropriate tools for managing ecological risks,
  • Employ suitable methodological approaches for assessing and evaluating the ecological condition of aquatic ecosystems,
  • Propose strategies for maintaining the favourable status of these ecosystems, within the framework of sustainable development/management,
  • Comprehend the basic functional adaptations of plants to the particularities of the Mediterranean environment, the key environmental stress factors, and the most significant impacts of climate change on Mediterranean plants.

The quality assurance procedures recorded in the Institution’s Quality Manual are applied at the Department level with the specialization required on a case-by-case basis.

All quality assurance procedures of the Biology Department are subject to inspection and review, which is carried out on an annual basis by O.M.E.A. in collaboration with MO.DI.P. of the Foundation.