Introduction

The Postgraduate Program "CURRENT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC DISEASES" in the academic subject "Pediatrics" aims to expand knowledge on postgraduate level and to provide high quality a) theoretical knowledge and clinical experience regarding to the CURRENT prevention and treatment of pediatric diseases with a focus on prevention but also in diseases that require specialized knowledge and referral to pediatric subspecialties and
b) theoretical and research- based knowledge.

It is addressed to students that have graduated from Medicine and other Health Sciences, but also to paediatricians, general practitioners, health visitors, social workers, nurses who deal with children's health with the aim of a successful professional career in the private and public sector. After their thorough and evidence-based education, graduates will be ready for doctoral-level postgraduate studies.

The Postgraduate Studies Program promotes the cooperation of academics from both clinical and basic science fields in the student’s co-supervision throughout the program. It aims at the student’s holistic training and acquiring an effective ability to follow and adapt to the rapid developments of a highly competitive field of science

The objectives of the PMS are the following:

• Training and specialization of young scientists in the field of Pediatrics and Pediatric subspecialties.
• Training new scientists with thorough and up-to-date literature data.
• Provision of necessary supplies that will lead in the research and production of new knowledge.
• Growing scientists with skills necessary for successful careers in the private, public and academic sectors.
• Preparation for postgraduate studies at the doctoral level.

In conclusion, Postgraduate Studies Program aims to utilize the student potential of the above Science Schools and to promote the cooperation of academics of both clinical and basic science fields. It aims at the holistic training in scientific and social parameters of Pediatrics in order to promote the acquisition of skills that contribute to professional development and to enable students to follow and adapt to the rapid developments of a highly competitive field of Health Sciences.

ARTICLE 1

GENERALLY

The Postgraduate Program "CURRENT prevention and treatment of pediatric diseases", consists of four (4) semesters. The program will award a Postgraduate Diploma in "CURRENT prevention and treatment of pediatric diseases" for candidates who will complete full curriculum.

Staff consists of:

1. The lecturers are faculty members of the relevant department and faculty members of other departments.
2. The Administrative officers.
3. The technical staff.

The Postgraduate Program is operated in the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly. The courses are held in the premises of the new Medical building.

In addition, all postgraduate students are given the opportunity to have modern systems and tools at their disposal, such as an electronic address, secure access to the University network through a virtual connection (Virtual Private Network – VPN), wireless access to the network and the Internet, etc., obtaining an academic identity, in order to carry out their studies.

At the disposal of postgraduate students is the fully equipped Library, which provides all the services of a modern university library, (constantly growing collection of various information materials, some of which are also available in electronic form, access to electronic catalogs and information sources, borrowing , inter-lending, support for people with disabilities, information support and training through seminars aimed at first-year postgraduate students with the aim of acquiring skills in using resources and services, study rooms, plagiarism prevention services).

Post graduate student’ s clinical training will take place in Pediatric Clinic (Ward A and B), Intensive Care Unit of the Pediatric Clinic, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Obstetrics Clinic where full-term newborns are treated, outpatient clinics (Pediatric Clinic, Immunization Clinic, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Pulmonology, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Allergy, Pediatric Gastroenterology clinic and long-term follow-up clinic for high-risk newborns) or in a Primary Health Care Clinic that treats pediatric patients.

ARTICLE 2

ADMINISTRATION – COMPETENT BODIES

For the organization and operation of the Graduate Studies Program of the Department, the competent bodies are the following:

1. The Senate of the University of Thessaly

The Senate is the competent body for the academic, administrative, organizational and financial matters Also, the Senate have responsibilities which are not specifically assigned by law to other bodies.

2. Assembly of the Department of Medicine

The Assembly of the relevant Department has the following responsibilities:
• It is recommended to the Senate through the Graduate Studies Committee for the necessity of establishing a P.M.S., in accordance with law Ν. 4957/2022.
• Designates the members of the S.E.
• Elects the Scientific Officer following the proposal of the Five-Member Coordinating Committee
• Distributes the teaching work among the teachers of the Postgraduate Program.
• Validates the successful candidates
• Appoints the members of the Advisory Committees for the preparation of Diploma Thesis, as well as the members of the Three-member Examination Committees.
• It verifies the successful completion of the course in order to be awarded the D.M.S.
• It awards the Diplomas of Postgraduate Studies.
• It deals with every issue provided for by the individual provisions of the current legislation and the Graduate Studies Regulations of the Department.
• Forms selection or examination committees for prospective graduate students

3. Five-Member Coordinating Committee of the Postgraduate Programme.

The Coordinating Committee of the P.M.S. is made up of five (5) University members of the Department, who have undertaken a postgraduate project and are elected by the Department's Assembly for a two-year term. The Committee is responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operation of the programme as well as for the supervision of the procedures selected by the candidates for Master's Students (MS). In addition it supervises and coordinates the operation of postgraduate studies. Committees’ work includes the elaboration and supervision of the study program as well as the appointment of the Faculty Advisors for each MS, the Head Teachers of the courses, the Teaching Professors, the Supervising Professors for Diploma Thesis and the Evaluation Committee of the MSc.

It consists of five members, the Director and four faculty members of the Department of Medicine participating in the program, who are appointed by the Head of the Postgraduate programme and are approved by the Assembly of the Department of Medicine.

4. The Graduate Studies Committee

The Postgraduate Studies Committee is established in each Institution,it consists of the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs, who acts as chairman and the Deans of the relevant Institution as members, and has the responsibilities provided for Law 4485/2017.

5. The Director of P.M.S.

The Director of P.M.S. is a member of Coordinating committee and is appointed together with his Deputy, by decision of the Department's Assembly for a two-year term. He chairs the Committee, is a member of the university of the first level or of the deputy's level, is of the same or related academic subject as the academic subject of the programme. The Director presides and coordinates the Committee monitors the organization and operation of the Postgraduate studies programme and makes recommendations to the competent bodies of the Foundation on any issue concerning the effective implementation and proper functioning of postgraduate studies.

6. Ethics Committee

The work of the Ethics Committee is to observe the rules of ethics and ethics in the conduct of courses, exams, research papers, the writing and publication of theses, copyright, plagiarism, etc.

7. Graduate Student Selection Committee

The following are the work of the Graduate Student Selection Committee:

• Control and evaluation of all submitted supporting documents.
• Checking the degree's relevance to the academic subject of the studies
• Language proficiency check.
• Final ranking of candidates based on the list of criteria of the studies programme and a proposal to select candidates based on this ranking in the Assembly of the Department of Medicine of the University of Thessaly.

8. Examination Committee

The following are the work of the Examinations Committee:

• Control and selection of topics for the students' exams, from the topics submitted by each teacher for the courses he/she took.
• Selection of semester examination dates.
• Proofreading.
• Validate scores.

ARTICLE 3

Students admission

Graduate students categories admitted to MSc.

Students graduated from Universities and technological educational institutions are accepted. They should be of the country of origin or holders of equivalent foreign qualifications recognized by DOATAP/DIKATSA coming from the Departments of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Social Work and other health sciences and all departments or faculties with related subjects. Selection of students is made in accordance with the provisions of Law 4485/2017, article 4 and these Regulations. Graduate students of universities and colleges of other specialties are also accepted under the conditions of additional criteria and consideration of proven professional and research experience related to the subject of the MSc., after a decision of the Coordination Committee and validation by C.C. a condition for the selection is the sufficient knowledge of at least one language in addition to the language of the MSc and academic criteria, such as the grade of the degree, the score in the courses related to the cognitive content of the Programme as well as the relevant research or professional activity of the candidate. Students are allowed to apply and register as supernumeraries, but only one per year and per MSc, in accordance with the more specific conditions found in article 45 of Law 4485/2017, only if their subject and the work they perform in the Department is related to the subject of the MSc. and if they meet the other admission criteria.

Announcement of positions

Coordinating Committee of the MSc decides on the time of publication in the daily or electronic press, of a relevant announcement to the interested candidates, where the necessary qualifications of candidates for admission to the programme the general way of evaluating candidates, the tuition fees, the deadline and the address of submission supporting documents are specified. Applications are sent on special forms that are sent electronically or delivered to the Graduate Studies Program Secretariat.

Supporting documents that candidates must submit are:

1. Written Application for participation (at the Secretariat of the MSc)
2. Detailed curriculum vitae with details of the candidate's studies, research and professional experience (with the corresponding supporting documents).
3. Copy of diploma or degree or confirmation that the candidate is expected to graduate by the day the courses start. In the case of graduates of foreign Universities, a certificate of recognition from DIKATSA-DOATAP must be submitted.
4. Copy of detailed score.
5. Photocopy of the police ID or passport.
6. Two letters of recommendation
7. Proof of knowledge of foreign languages
8. Recent photo ID (to be attached to the application).

Selection criteria for Postgraduate Students

Selection process for Postgraduate Students (MS) takes into account the special qualifications of the candidates, as evidenced from the supporting documents submitted to the Secretariat of the MSc and the candidates' performance during an interview, if requested by the Graduate Student Selection Committee.

Student evaluation

The evaluation of the candidates, who within the prescribed deadlines, have provided all the required supporting documents, is done by the Selection Committee (EU) in three phases:

Phase I:

Document verification of all candidates.

Phase II:

The grading of the criteria is done on a scale from 0 to 100 and each candidate is credited with a specific number of points. The Coordination Committee in cooperation with the Selection Committee (SC) of the candidates, evaluates and shortlists the candidates based on the following criteria:

General degree grade x 2 (up to 20 points)
• Recognized professional experience which is proven by certificates or insurance company attestations. Years of work x 1 (up to 20 points)
• Knowledge of a foreign language (up to 10 when accompanied by the acquisition of a professional degree). Proficiency in the foreign language will be proven by a corresponding degree, certificate.
• Relevance to the subject of the program (up to 10 points for healthcare workers)
• Additional qualifications (up to 20 points for those with publications in international journals).

Phase III:

For the selection of candidates for the Programme an oral interview is held (up to 20 points). The performance of the candidates during the oral interview is considered for their selection.

The interview aims:

• In determining the general scientific training of the candidate and the formation of his personality.
• In highlighting special qualifications and other characteristics and activities of the candidate.
• In identifying the difficulties that the candidate may have for the complete attendance of the courses and other obligations of the postgraduate studies.

Selection process for Postgraduate Students

After receiving the list of candidates from the Secretariat, who checks the supporting documents that have been submitted and prepares the final list of candidates. After posting the list of candidates, the date of the oral interviews is set. The highest score a candidate can get with the above criteria is 80 points. Those of the candidates who get 40 points or more are considered successful. Unsuccessful applicants may be invited to an interview following a decision by the EC. The overall highest score is 100 points.

Based on the total score obtained by each candidate, the E.E. compiles an evaluation table of the candidates. The evaluation table includes, in order of success, all the candidates and the successful ones are displayed. Then these tables are transmitted to S.E. for review and submission to ST. to be approved. In the event that two or more candidates accumulate the same number of points in total, all those with the same grade are admitted, as long as the maximum admission number is not exceeded.

The successful candidates are invited to respond in writing (electronically or by fax) within seven (7) days whether or not they accept their membership in the P.M.S., accepting its operating conditions. Failure to respond by a selected candidate within the above deadline is tantamount to refusal of acceptance. If there are refusals, the Secretariat informs the next in line of evaluation from the relevant success list.

An objection against the success tables can be made within 5 days from the date of announcement of the tables. The objection, which must be specific, is finally judged by the Assembly of the Department.

Number of admissions

The number of admitted students attending the MSc is a maximum of thirty (30) people per year.

ARTICLE 4

ORGANIZATION OF STUDIES

The program begins in the fall semester. The successful attendance of the P.M.S. corresponds to one hundred and twenty (120) credits (ECTS).

Postgraduate student rights

Postgraduate students have all the rights and benefits provided for first cycle students, except for the right to be provided with free textbooks.

Duration of studies

The duration of studies is four (4) academic semesters, which includes the time required for the preparation and submission of a thesis for assessment

1st (Winter) semester: Theoretical training and practical training

2nd (Spring) semester: Theoretical training and practical training

3rd (Winter) semester: Theoretical training and practical training

4th (Spring) semester: Writing a Master's Thesis

The maximum period of study can be equal to twice the mandatory period of study, i.e. eight (8) semesters, following an application by the student in which he will explain the reasons for requesting an extension of study and if the Assembly of the Department of Medicine approves it, following the recommendation of the Coordination Committee.

Suspension of studies

Every Master's Student has the right to request, with his application, permission to suspend the attendance of courses or the preparation of his thesis. The license is granted by decision of the Coordination Committee and its validation by the Assembly is given only once and cannot be longer than two academic semesters, nor shorter than one semester.

Leave of absence for more than two academic semesters is granted only to students who are fulfilling their military service or in cases of prolonged illness, certified by a public body. The Master's Student's study suspension time is not calculated in case of exceeding the duration of study.
The student who requests suspension of studies without having completed his obligations, will repeat his studies by attending all the courses, workshops, seminars, practical exercises, etc., in which he was not evaluated successfully before the suspension of his studies. The student who takes a leave of absence to study, when he resumes his studies, is still subject to the study status of the time of his suspension as a student. Students who are on educational leave are not entitled to leave to suspend their studies, except in exceptional cases (prolonged illness, etc.)

Removal of a Master's Student from the Postgraduate Programme

The removal of a Master's Student from the programme can be done for the reasons below:

• After a decision of the C.C. and validation by Assembly, due to failure to complete their obligations within the prescribed schedule.
• Upon request of the Graduate Student.
• Other serious reasons, following a proposal by C.C. in the Assembly of the Department of Medicine

 

ARTICLE 5

Exams
The examination of each course can be done orally, in writing, with assignments or in another way determined by the Professor in charge. The exams are held twice a year, at the end of each semester according to the academic calendar of the University of Thessaly. Repeat exams of the 1st and 2nd semesters will be held in September of the same academic year and for the 3rd semester in June of the same academic year. In exceptional cases, the Asembly of the department after a suggestion by C.C.. may modify or postpone the examination time or set an additional examination period.

If a graduate student fails the exam of a course or courses, and again fails in the repeat exams, they are examined, following an application, by a three-member committee of University members of the School, who have the same or related subject matter as the course being examined and are designated by the Department Assembly. The examiner in charge of the previous examination is excluded from this committee. If a student fails to pass this repeat examination, then they are removed from the MSc programme.

Exams aren’t required for the internship and the students will be asked to submit the evidence of the internship to C.C.

Cases of inability to attend the exams of any course due to a serious disability, which will be confirmed by the presentation of certified supporting documents, will be judged by the C.C. which will rule on the adequacy of the presented supporting documents at its absolute discretion.

The grade of the Graduate Students, who have been successfully evaluated, has a minimum grade of 5 (five) with an excellent grade of 10 (ten) and is submitted to the Secretariat of the programme by the Examinations Committee.