The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of Harokopio University runs a Postgraduate Program (P.P.) in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics since 2000 (L. 3685/2008).

Objective

The aims of the Postgraduate Program in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics are:

·         to promote research and development and dissemination of new knowledge in the area of Nutritional Sciences

·         to train specialized scientists capable of designing and managing nutritional interventions at a personal and/or a group level, thus addressing the needs of executive personnel of institutions operating in the fields of Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition and Exercise, Nutrition and Public Health and Food Science, both in the public and the private sector. Program graduates are expected to staff higher education institutions and other entities operating in the field of Nutrition and Health.

·         establish a framework for cooperation with other academic institutions in Greece and abroad

·         facilitate student and academic personnel mobility

·         attract students and academic personnel from other higher education institutions in Greece and abroad. For this purpose, whenever required, courses or specific teaching units will also be delivered in English. 

Postgraduate Degrees

The Postgraduate Program awards:

a)  Master's Degrees on a Full Time and Part Time basis in:

·         Clinical Nutrition

·         Nutrition and Exercise

·         Nutrition and Public Health

b)  Doctoral Degrees in subject areas relevant to the discipline of Applied Nutrition and Dietetics.

Operating Bodies

Responsible for the administration of the Postgraduate Program are the following bodies:

a) The Senate is responsible for all administrative issues relating to the postgraduate studies. It consists of the Academic and Research Staff (A.R.S.) members who are members by law and two (2) postgraduate student representatives.

b) The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of Harokopio University is responsible for the supervision and overall coordination of the postgraduate studies within the Institution.

c) The Postgraduate Program General Assembly (P.P.G.A.) is in charge of framing the departmental policy on research and postgraduate studies, as well as of pursuing the strategies and goals set by the Departmental General Assembly. The P.P.G.A. is also responsible for all administrative issues relating to the postgraduate studies at the departmental level, including the design or the modification of courses. The P.P.G.A. consists of the A.R.S. members who are also members of the Departmental General Assembly and two (2) postgraduate student representatives.

d) The Coordination Committee (C.C.) is in charge of monitoring, supervising and coordinating all postgraduate activities within the Department. The C.C. consists of at least five (5) A.R.S. members who have either undertaken academic work or served as Doctoral student supervisors. C.C. members are appointed by the P.P.G.A.

e) The Director of the Postgraduate Program is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the program. The Director proposes to both the C.C. and the P.P.G.A. for all matters concerning the effective operation and the qualitative improvement of the P.P. The Director is appointed by the P.P.G.A. and is an A.R.S. member, at the level of Professor or Associate Professor.

Student Representation in Collective Entities

Postgraduate students participate in the decision-making and electoral entities of Harokopio University through their representatives.

Student Care

Postgraduate students are entitled to health care and transportation conveniences the same way undergraduate students are.

Facilities

Courses take place in modern lecture rooms and fully equipped laboratories that effectively support the Postgraduate Program. In particular, there are three laboratories:

• Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics
• Laboratory of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Food Physical Chemistry
• Laboratory of Biology, Biochemistry, Human Physiology & Microorganisms

Moreover, a fully equipped laboratory of Exercise Physiology-Ergometrics, part of the laboratory of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, and a computer lab with up-to-date hardware and software provide for the needs of the P.P. in Nutrition and Exercise.

Registration

a) Student status is acquired during registration. Students are required to register for and attend all optional and compulsory courses each semester, as provided for by the curriculum. In exceptional cases, students may be allowed to interrupt their studies for one or more semesters.

b) Student registration is compulsory and should be completed by the deadline posted on the Academic Activities Log. Registration is required every semester for the Full-Time Program and every year for the Part-Time Program. Failure to meet the deadline results in loss of right to attend courses.. In that case and in order for student status to be reinstated, a decision by the Coordination Committee is required.

Student Rights and Obligations

  a) Postgraduate students agree to abide by:

·         the P.P. regulations as specified in this handbook and recognize the P.P.G.A.s right to terminate studies in case of failure

·         the student obligations outlined by the course instructors regarding course structure and grading.

b) Depending on the undergraduate program the student has completed, he/she may be required to attend and successfully complete undergraduate classes offered by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, before is allowed to proceed in the program. This issue is decided by the C.C. on a case-by-case basis.

c) Course attendance is compulsory and assessed by the course instructors accordingly. Problems concerning course attendance are dealt with individually, initially by the instructor and subsequently by the Director of Postgraduate Studies and the C.C.

d) Postgraduate students who fail to attend at least 75% of classes, lose the right to sit the respective exams. In exceptional cases and after a substantiated proposal by the C.C., the P.P.G.A. may allow a student to sit the exams without having attended classes.

f) In case of unsatisfactory attendance in one (1) course, the C.C. may allow the student to attend the course again or fulfill the requirement in an alternative way. In case of insufficient attendance in more than one course, the C.C. may propose the student's disqualification from the Postgraduate Program for the P.P.G.A. to consider.

g) Postgraduate students have the right to change one optional course for another within 20 days of the beginning of the semester. After the 20-day deadline has expired, an approval by the C.C. and written permission by the Director is required.

h) Postgraduate students have the right to temporarily discontinue their program of studies for a period of up to one academic year. In this case, postgraduate students do not pay additional fees.

Faculty Obligations

a) respect the personality of the students

b) protect the value and integrity of the scientific and research process by clearly outlining the path to scientific knowledge.

c) constantly broaden his/her intellectual horizons and stay up-to-date on issues relevant to his/her scientific field.

d) be approachable and cooperative and share his/her knowledge and experiences with the postgraduate students without practicing discriminations or prejudice.

e) present a lucid course plan including directives, bibliography and a comprehensive list of topics in accordance with international practice, so that the teaching material fully satisfies the scientific requirements of the discipline.

f) post the results of examinations, coursework, laboratory exercises and other assessments within ten (10) working days of submission and allow students to access their papers after marking.

g) assume responsibility for the selection of the research topic for each of the supervised postgraduate students and fully contribute to a successful outcome no matter his/her overall workload.

h) inform the Director in due course in case that for any reason he/she cannot carry out the supervision of a student, so that supervision is assigned to another instructor.

i) accept the teaching and research assessment procedures that the P.P. adopts.