General
With the aim of continuously upgrading its staff (Teaching and Research Staff members, Academic Fellows, External Collaborators, Administrative and Technical Staff), the Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering and the Postgraduate Studies Program (P.S.P.) “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems”, of the University of West Attica (Uni.W.A), supports and encourages the development of its staff.
Faculty Members and External Collaborators of the P.S.P.
From the research work of the lecturers in the Master’s Degree Program, it follows that the total citations of the lecturers of the Master’s Degree Program “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems” up to and including the academic year 2022-2023 are 4,045. In the last five years 2018-2023, the citations of the lecturers are 2,773. As a result, the h-index is equal to 81. In the last five years 2018-2023, the h-index is 62.
The lecturers of the Master’s Degree Program “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems” are supported by the Center for Teaching and Learning Support of the University of West Attica, following international standards and good practices of other Higher Education institutions where corresponding structures operate (Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs), whose mission is to ensure the quality of the teaching work. The Center, to support its specialized actions, has created a Registry of collaborating faculty members from Greece and abroad, specializing in Teaching and Learning issues, as well as the utilization of Digital
Technology in Higher Education. The role of the collaborating members is both advisory and educational, as they help the teaching staff select appropriate digital tools and applications, design activities that are effective and tailored to the needs of students, and evaluate the effectiveness of the activities.
There is a high level of participation of the professors of the Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering in Greek and international research protocols, the results of which are published in prestigious international journals. Many of these publications have attracted significant scientific interest, as shown by the large number of citations they achieve.
The Master of Science in Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems 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 at recognized 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 foreign professors, both at the educational and research level. Also, the professors of the Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering who participate in the Master’s Degree Program “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems” demonstrate increased scientific mobility by participating in international conferences with presentations, which in several cases have won international awards. Care has been taken to include in the budget of the Master’s Degree Program “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems” the financial support of members of the academic staff who take part in mobility programs for teaching and/or training.
The continuous upgrading of the infrastructure of the Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, with 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 procurement of modern technological equipment, contributes to the development and implementation of new methods to support the research project, but also increases the possibilities of participating in complex and demanding Greek and international research protocols.
The above actions, on the one hand, strengthen the connection between teaching and research, and on the other hand, they promote the scientific and professional development of the teaching staff.
The Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering supports the participation of faculty members in scientific conferences at home and abroad by providing relevant permits through quick and direct procedures.
Administrative and Technical Staff of the P.M.S.
The Administrative Personnel Department of the University of Athens includes an Administrative Personnel Training Office, with responsibilities for the planning, organization, and implementation of training programs for all of the Institution’s Administrative Personnel. The training programs concern the training of personnel in new student records tools, the evaluation platform, the upgrading of websites, the electronic issuance of certificates, etc.
At the initiative of the Department of Study Support of the University of Athens, the administrative and technical staff participate in programs of the National Center for Public Administration and Local Government (EKDDA). The Director of the Master’s Degree Program “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems” and the Coordinating Committee encourage and support the training of the administrative and technical staff participating in the implementation of the Master’s Degree Program “Unmanned Autonomous and Remotely Controlled Systems”.
The evaluation of the E.K.D.A. programs is carried out based on international standards with the aim of further strengthening and effectiveness of the training/educational intervention in improving both the operation of public bodies and the services offered. It is based on specific qualitative and quantitative indicators while making the cooperation of the E.K.D.A. with public bodies essential and utilizing the knowledge and experiences of trainees and trainers. The evaluation is carried out at the end of the program by both the trainers and the trainees, for whom the evaluation is a prerequisite for obtaining a certificate of successful attendance.
Participants in the E.K.D.A. programs are required to submit, within a reasonable time, an evaluation report on the effectiveness of the training intervention in improving the organization and operation of the service or body they serve.