The Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) OF NKUA
Welcome to the website of the Quality Assurance Unit of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (QAU NKUA).
This website aims to promote the activities of Quality Assessment and Quality Assurance at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The Quality Assurance Unit of NKUA operates at a level of autonomy within the Institution, and its activities are overseen by the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs & Student Support. By law, the internal structure of the Quality Assurance Unit is as follows: a) the Quality Assurance Committee and b) the Quality Assurance Office.
The Unit was founded on the 24th of July 2008 to organize, coordinate, and implement the Quality Assessment and Quality Assurance procedures in full alignment with the requirements of the framework legislation for higher education (under Law 3374/2005, Law 4009/2011, Law 4485/2017, Law 4653/2020, Law 4957/2022) and the Principles and Guidelines for Quality Assurance implemented in the European Higher Education Area (ESG 2015).
To date, apart from its core activities, the Quality Assurance Unit of the NKUA has made a definitive contribution to:
. The preparation of the first report of the Institution's accomplishments for 2022, through which NKUA received the highest ranking among Greek higher education Institutions and, consequently, the highest funding.
. The formulation and subsequent certification by HAHE of the first integrated Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) of the University of Athens in November 2018.
. The successful accreditation by HAHE 28 of the Institution’s Undergraduate Study Programmes, from 2018 to date.
. The accreditation by HAHE of the Foreign Language Undergraduate Medical Degree Programme of the School of Medicine of the University of Athens in 2021.
. The completion of the first Institutional Evaluation of the Institution by the External Evaluation Committee of HAHE (formerly HQA) which not only was a complete success but also managed to receive the highest distinction ("worthy of merit").
. The rise of the Institution in the global University rankings through the provision of reliable data, activation of faculty members and researchers in the adoption of tools that promote their research work, but also display their methodology and criteria.
. The completion, in 2014, of external evaluations by External Evaluation Committees of HAHE for all 32 Departments of the Institution.
The QAU of NKUA seeks to improve, evolve, and become more effective over time. The QAU of NKUA does not aspire to be just a mere department amongst the wide array of departments of the Institution. It aspires to be an important advisory body to the University Administration, commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of the Institution, its shortcomings, and needs, while at the same time offer proposes for improvements and changes with the aim of improving educational and research work alike and providing high quality services to the Greek society.
Furthermore, the QAU of NKUA, besides responding in a timely and successful manner to the provisions of the institutional framework, it also carries an obligation to maintain an open dialogue with the academic community, both in relation to the substantial improvements of educational and research quality at hand, as well as to a more critical approach towards the evaluation and accreditation procedures themselves.
Our efforts to improve studies and substantially enhance the quality of academic life at our institution will carry on. NKUA, the oldest public university in the country, is tirelessly “fighting the quality fight”, despite the lack of resources, excessive bureaucracy, and understaffing. Our motto is that we will not settle for anything less than high quality.
Yours sincerely,
Vice Rector of the Academic Faculty. Academic Affairs and Student Support
President of the QAU of NKUA
