Within the framework of the Quality Policy of the University of Piraeus's Quality Management System, it is recognized that academic staff constitute the cornerstone of its pursuit of continuous improvement of its educational and research services and its further development.

Consequently, supporting the evolution and continuous development of staff of all study cycles and all academics and the services they offer, constitutes a permanent commitment at the Institutional level.

Given the aforementioned commitment, each Academic Unit and each Postgraduate Program, implementing the foreseen processes and individual procedures of the Quality Management System, proceeds to set specific objectives, the achievement of which leads to the assumption that it bears the responsibility of encouraging and supporting the development of its academic potential.

More specifically, the Department of Informatics, recognizing the undeniable contribution of its staff to its broader development, declares that the Master of Science in "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" is committed to:

The formation of appropriate quality conditions with regard to the teaching-research-learning triptych
The provision of opportunities by planning and implementing actions aimed at the academic/professional development of its teaching staff.
The focus, within the framework of the learning process, on the teaching-research duality, with the condition of an appropriate preparation for the strengthening of academic activity
The encouragement and improvement, quantitatively and qualitatively, of research production by providing substantial incentives
The control of compliance with the prescribed procedures related to the framework of responsibilities and obligations/rights, as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of academic staff with various methods (e.g. self-assessment, targeted training actions, etc.)

In order to comply with the above commitments, the Master's Degree Programme "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" has adopted a series of objectives. Indicatively, the following are mentioned:

The integration of research methodology into the content of the Programme.
The promotion and connection of academic research with the teaching material of all courses of the Program.
The attraction and integration, into the academic staff of the Program, of teachers with rich and recognized research work.
The strengthening of collaborations with domestic and foreign teachers/researchers, who are active in educational or research institutions of recognized prestige.

At this point, the commitment to:

Emphasis on equipping research laboratories with the most modern and sophisticated means, in order to ensure the smooth conduct of innovative research.
Focus on staffing with Special Technical Personnel possessing the required skills to stimulate the research work of faculty members
Adoption of practices that will be oriented towards research activities by groups within the framework of cooperation between teachers and students.

Specifically for the support and development of teaching staff, the Master's Degree Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" recognizes the importance of setting goals that are framed by corresponding actions such as:

Training in the fields of innovative teaching techniques and pedagogical methods
Training regarding the effective use of ICT in teaching and learning
Development, through targeted seminars, in the acquisition of skills that ensure effective communication between teachers and students and the effective support of the latter
Dissemination of innovative research practices and encouragement to exploit opportunities for higher-quality research and academic activities in general that ensure the distinction of teaching staff at a national and international level

The success of the actions mentioned above dictates the seamless cooperation of the Department Informatics and the Postgraduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" with the Teaching and Learning Support Center, which enhances participation in knowledge networks, encourages interdisciplinary collaborations, focuses and transmits the best practices of teaching and learning experience, continuously monitoring developments in the Single European Higher Education Area, while at the same time delving into the essence and context of Lifelong Learning.

The Department of Informatics and the Postgraduate Program "Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies" undertake, in collaboration with the Foundation, to create the conditions for the provision of the required logistical resources regarding the provision of equipment necessary for the performance of teaching and research activities, as well as the provision of financial resources necessary for access to software and databases, essential components for both qualitative learning and qualitative research.