MSC SOIL, WATER, ENERGY RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

MOBILITY REGULATION

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), in its session No. 2980/20 & 21-2-2019, approved the adoption of best practices for the proper implementation of the ERASMUS+ program. These practices apply proportionally to all cycles of study at AUTh, in accordance with current legislation and the regulations of each Postgraduate Program (PMS).

Furthermore, procedures are continuously updated and specified according to the directives of the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY) and are published by the Department of European Educational Programmes on its website: https://eurep.auth.gr/en/students/studies.

The aforementioned Decision of the AUTh Senate is as follows:

A) Outgoing Students

The following measures aim to safeguard the right of mobile students to automatic and full recognition of their period of study at a partner institution, provided they successfully complete their academic obligations.

  1. Learning Agreement for Studies: Prior to the commencement of mobility, the ECTS Coordinator (as the designated representative of the Department under Ministerial Decision Φ.821/2318Τ/89676/Ζ1) must ensure that the student’s workload at the host institution—declared in the relevant section (Table A) of the agreement—amounts to 30 ECTS credits per academic semester. For flexibility, a deviation (positive or negative) equivalent to the credits of one (1) course for a trimester/semester, or two (2) courses for a full academic year, is permitted.

  2. Recognition Guarantee: At the same stage, the ECTS Coordinator must ensure full recognition of the aforementioned workload by recording in Table B of the Learning Agreement the credits and courses/academic obligations from which the student will be exempted upon successful completion of those in Table A. This process must have the consent of the Departmental Assembly or relevant competent body through a formal decision (which may be taken once). This decision is recorded in the Application-Declaration form submitted by students to the Department of European Programmes.

  3. Categories of Recognition:

    • I. Compulsory Courses: Based on the AUTh Department’s curriculum, provided there is substantial content overlap between the host institution’s course and the home Department’s course. Successful completion abroad results in recognition under the title used by the home Department. The signed consent of the instructor is required before completing the Learning Agreement.

    • II. Elective Courses: Content overlap is not required, but they must fall within the scientific field served by the Faculty, Department, or Sector. These may be recognized either by their title at the host institution or by a corresponding home course title. It is noted that the electronic registries support “Exchange Program Courses” (PAN) in the curriculum. These can be listed by title or generically as “Elective Course.” Departments are encouraged to include a sufficient number of electives in their curricula to provide flexibility and enrich the program with subjects not taught locally.

    • III. Free Elective Courses: Content overlap and strict alignment with the Department’s specific scientific field are not required. These are recognized by their host institution title. The maximum ECTS for free electives must match what is permitted by the home curriculum.

  4. Field-Specific Guidance: Detailed examples for recognition of compulsory and elective courses are found in Appendix I. Courses outside the Department’s scientific field are recognized as free electives. ECTS Coordinators must guide students to ensure credits stay within the limits permitted by their home program to guarantee recognition upon return. This ensures the total period is recognized (60 ECTS for a year, 30 for a semester, 20 for a trimester).

  5. Flexibility and Fair Recognition: In case of ECTS discrepancies between AUTh and the host institution, maximum flexibility should be applied. Following the principle of “fair recognition” provided by the ECTS Guide, a deviation of 1 or 2 credits is permitted, always in favor of the student.

  6. Mandatory Recognition: Recognition of all credits brought back by students who successfully passed their assessments is MANDATORY, based on the signed Learning Agreement, which is binding for the Department and the University. At the end of their studies, students may utilize Article 60 of the AUTh Regulations, which allows them to substitute lower grades of elective courses with two additional elective courses passed abroad, provided they meet the total ECTS requirements for their degree.

  7. Excessive Free Electives: Excessive credits from free electives often indicate improper course selection unless the host institution offers no other options. In such cases, ECTS Coordinators should re-evaluate the bilateral agreement. If the host program does not meet undergraduate recognition requirements, the University may: (a) limit mobility to postgraduate/doctoral levels, (b) limit it to staff mobility, or (c) terminate the agreement.

  8. Early Information: ECTS Coordinators are advised to inform students about Erasmus+ opportunities from their first year of entry to AUTh to facilitate proper planning regarding course categories and credit requirements.

  9. The Role of the ECTS Coordinator: This role is critical for the proper implementation of the Erasmus+ program. To ensure continuity and effective management, frequent changes of ECTS Coordinators should be avoided. It is recommended that the Coordinator be a member of the Department’s Curriculum Committee and the General Assembly to keep the faculty informed on Erasmus matters.

B) Incoming Students

  1. Language Proficiency: It is essential to ensure that incoming students have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction, as per the bilateral agreement. Submission of a recognized language certificate (where required) is mandatory if included in the agreement’s annex.

  2. Transcript of Records: The grades of incoming students must be sent to their home institutions no later than five weeks after the end of the mobility period. Failure to comply may be grounds for terminating cooperation between the institutions.