Kerameos letter to students about the new draft law framework for universities

The Minister of Education and Religions, Niki Kerameos, addressed a letter to the students of the country’s Universities, through the Rectors of the universities.

In her letter, the minister summarizes the benefits for students stemming from the consulted bill for universities. In particular, to the students of Greek universities, the Minister lists the 10 sets of regulations, which, among other things: improve the quality of studies of the programs, their interdisciplinarity, provide additional possibilities such as double, joint degrees, internal Erasmus and professional postgraduates, strengthen the interconnection with the labor market such as e.g. through internships, they establish structures for the practical support of students, such as the Center for Psychological and Counseling Support, they upgrade the representation of students in the governing bodies of universities, such as through the institution of a single ballot.

The Minister also addressed the members of the Academic community with a separate letter, in which she distinctly developed the arrangements that upgrade their daily life at the University.

Niki Kerameos asked the students to actively participate in the public consultation process, in which the bill has been submitted, in order to contribute with their comments and remarks to the joint effort to overall upgrade the University for the benefit of all.

Full Letter:

Dear students,

The draft law of the Ministry of Education and Religions on higher education entitled “New Horizons in Higher Education Institutions: Enhancing the quality, functionality and connection of universities with society and other provisions” was put to public consultation. Its main objectives are to provide tools for the substantial upgrade and development of the Greek University, in accordance with European and international standards. In this context, a significant part of the arrangements concerns the students of our Universities, but also all the young men and women who will soon join the student community, offering them additional opportunities for a substantial upgrade of their studies, the expansion of their horizons. and the utilization of their knowledge and skills in their subsequent course.

I take the initiative to contact you to inform you about 10 regulatory packages included in the proposed bill that aim to provide new opportunities in education, research and labor market entry.

1. Upgrading the quality of curricula and enhancing their interdisciplinarity

Certification of all study programs before their establishment and their periodic evaluation every five years by the National Higher Education Authority in order to ensure the quality level of all study programs, to systematically evaluate the teaching and research work and to monitor the absorption of their graduates in labor market.

Introduction of interdisciplinary undergraduate programs and dual study programs that lead to the award of two degrees in the framework of cooperation of more Departments of the same or another HEI, as well as the possibility of co-organizing study programs in cooperation with foreign universities or within the European Initiative Commission for European Universities.

Reorganization of the existing curricula so that each student has the opportunity to attend courses and educational activities of other curricula with a limit of ten percent (10%) of the total credits of his / her curriculum.

Ability to attend courses and educational activities of foreign language study programs offered to foreign students.

Introduction of an Institutional list of courses, which provides information about the courses and educational activities of all undergraduate study programs of the A.E.I. (curriculum, teachers, credits, course obligations, assessment method, registration conditions, etc.).

2. Additional possibilities during the undergraduate studies

Possibility of attending secondary education programs, of a minimum duration of one year for the undergraduate students of other study programs of the same HEI. (minor degrees), as well as short-term study programs in various scientific fields, in order to provide students with basic knowledge in other scientific fields than that of their basic studies.

Ability to attend a special short-term study program in the field of informatics, the successful completion of which awards a certificate of digital skills equivalent to a certificate of knowledge of computer use, in order to provide the possibility of certification of knowledge to students who have not attended computer science courses their curriculum.

3. Enhancing the mobility of students between undergraduate programs

Introduction of the institution of “Greek Erasmus”, according to which they can study in study programs of another HEI. in the same or another city with the one where the HEI is located, in the same or another scientific field as that of the studies of the mobile student.

Ability to identify the courses / educational activities where the student will be positively evaluated, if it is relevant to the introductory curriculum, otherwise if they do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the curriculum.

Possibility of utilizing the courses and educational activities where it was evaluated positively, even if they are not counted, in the future in case of qualifying exams.

4. Upgrading the framework for organizing postgraduate and doctoral studies

Certification of both postgraduate and doctoral programs (if there is an organized curriculum) before their establishment and their periodic evaluation every five years by the National Higher Education Authority.

Possibility for postgraduate studies with purely professional orientation (professional postgraduate).

Possibility of developing industrial doctorates in collaboration with companies and productive bodies for the development of industrial research and the production of innovative products and services that can provide multiple benefits to doctoral candidates and their absorption in the labor market, while promoting the local or national economy.

Ability to attend applied science and technology programs, which aim to apply scientific knowledge to solve practical problems and develop systematic methodologies with professional orientation.

5. Strengthening the connection of students with the labor market through the institutionalization of internships

Introduction of a comprehensive framework for the internship of students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs with the aim of enhancing experiential learning and the practical application of their knowledge in a real work environment, but also their entry into the labor market, and the return of the corresponding number of credits units.

Compulsory insurance of trainee students for the risk of accident during the internship.

Establishment of a compensation threshold for interns at eighty percent (80%) of the statutory minimum basic salary.

6. Digital transformation of education

Educational activities with the utilization and application of digital technologies for students who wish to choose courses from the Institutional Catalog of the University. provided in a city other than the one where the student is studying, the teaching of Teachers from abroad, the organization of joint study programs and in exceptional circumstances (eg non-operation of the educational infrastructure due to adverse weather conditions).

Ability to attend postgraduate programs organized exclusively with distance education methods.

Support of the educational process of all first, second and third cycle study programs through a platform of asynchronous distance education.

7. Providing employment opportunities within the university environment

Possibility of reciprocal scholarships for the provision of work to the University, as well as the possibility of exemption in part or in whole from the obligation to pay tuition fees to postgraduate programs in which tuition is provided, in case of project or work to the University or program .

Institutionalization of the institution of postgraduate students and doctoral candidates who produce auxiliary teaching work in undergraduate or postgraduate programs.

Possibility of employment of students of all study programs under an employment contract or project in projects / programs of the Special Account of Research Funds following a decision of the Research Committee and a recommendation of the Scientific Officer.

8. Establishment of structures that aim at the practical support of the students

Student Support Unit with the aim of their practical guidance on issues related to their studies, their proper guidance and their absorption in the labor market, as well as the solution of daily problems during their student life.

Psychological and Counseling Support Center with the aim of providing psychological and counseling support services and the prevention of mental health problems.

Technology and Innovation Transfer Unit with the aim of:
-education on technology transfer, entrepreneurship and development of research results, with a view to their commercial use.
-the establishment and development of start-up companies of postgraduate students, doctoral and postdoctoral candidates.
-the development of mentoring actions towards students.

9. Strong representation of all students in the institutions of the A.E.I.

Establishment of a Student Council by student representatives, which will have an active role in submitting suggestions to the governing bodies of the A.E.I. for topics:
-student care,
-improving the educational conditions of students,
-improving the quality of the study programs of the University, taking measures for the equal access of students – People with Disabilities (PWDs) and with special educational needs in the educational and research activities of the University.

Determining the way of promoting the representatives of the students in the bodies of the HEIs. through a single ballot paper and electronic voting.

10. Support for students with disabilities and people with special educational needs

Establishment of an Equal Access Unit for people with disabilities and people with special educational needs, in order to ensure the full participation of members of the university community, who are disabled or people with special educational needs in all educational, research and administrative activities of the SA. Ι.

Establishment of a Committee for Equal Access for Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Special Educational Needs.

The above regulations are only part of the provisions that focus on the upgrading of studies and the daily life of students, but also the provision of additional opportunities, which open new horizons in education and research, as well as new and more attractive professional prospects. .

We invite you to actively participate in the public consultation and the final drafting of the bill that will be submitted to the Greek Parliament in the near future, to shape together the future of the Greek public University.