Policy for Staff Support and Development
The School of Agriculture aims to continuously enhance its personnel and encourages the strengthening of education and research. In the spirit of transparency, the School publishes on its website the criteria/qualifications for the selection and advancement of faculty members (https://www.agro.auth.gr/), as described in Article 143 of Law 4957/2022. In summary, the evaluation for selection or advancement of a faculty member is based on their overall teaching and research work, including assessment of teaching ability, scientific and research activity with emphasis on international presence, contribution to knowledge utilization and technology transfer (e.g., patents), participation in research outcomes that led to spin-off companies, involvement in such companies, and success in attracting research funding and recognized social engagement. The candidate’s scientific integrity is also considered essential to their professional character.
Faculty performance in teaching and research is published on the School’s website and the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of AUTH’s site. There is significant participation in national and international research forums, with results published in international journals, many of which have garnered notable scientific interest.
The School encourages academic activity through innovative teaching methods and new technologies, grants educational leave for mobility and training at universities and research centers worldwide, and supports research through infrastructure development, modern equipment acquisition, and assistance in securing competitive international and national research programs. It also promotes collaboration with foreign professors in both educational and research contexts. Faculty members show high scientific mobility by attending domestic and international conferences, for which no leave approval is required.
These initiatives strengthen the link between teaching and research and promote the scientific and professional development of staff. The School supports professional and scientific growth by approving various types of leave (fast and direct procedures) in accordance with current legislation. Leave approval applies to all faculty ranks:
- For scientific purposes domestically or abroad (Article 157 of Law 4957/2022): one year for every six years of continuous service or six months for every three years.
- Leave is granted with basic pay, and if abroad, pay is increased by 80% (only if the collaboration abroad is unpaid). Leave is granted after three years of actual service at the university.
- Employment at Chairs of Hellenic Studies abroad for up to three academic years (Article 158, paragraph 5 of Law 4957/2022).
- Concurrent employment at foreign universities for up to one academic semester per academic year (Article 158, paragraph 3 of Law 4957/2022).
- For other educational staff such as the Special Teaching Staff (EEP) and the Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP), educational leave for conferences, seminars, etc., is granted according to Article 6 of Presidential Decree 147/2009.
The School collaborates with the AUTH Teaching and Learning Center (https://kedima.auth.gr/) for staff support and development. The Center supports postgraduate programs in teaching, especially through the use of new technologies, with special attention to supporting teaching for individuals with disabilities. It works with instructors, students, and various institutional units (e.g., Technical Services, Digital Governance Unit, Library and Information Center) to improve teaching methods and propose optimal solutions to potential issues.
The Teaching and Learning Center contributes to staff development by:
- Organizing learning cycles, training activities, seminars, etc.
- Collecting, designing, and developing research and training materials.
- Creating repositories of supportive research and training materials (print or digital), and best practices.
- Collaborating with similar structures in domestic and foreign universities to develop joint actions and synergies.
- Organizing a registry of collaborating faculty or external experts in teaching and learning to support specialized initiatives.
The Center may also support staff through additional educational activities, such as study services, development of innovative teaching materials related to Higher Education, and undertaking relevant research projects.
The School’s initiatives are further supported by the institution’s participation in the European University (EPICUR) and programs such as ERASMUS Staff Training, ERASMUS+, ERASMUS INTERNATIONAL, ERASMUS MUNDUS, the Utrecht Network, the European University Foundation (CAMPUS EUROPAE), and about 60 other international organizations, networks, and associations. These opportunities allow faculty to travel abroad for research, teaching, and training, keeping them informed about global developments.
Published policy links: