Faculty members of all academic ranks, Special Teaching Staff or Laboratory Teaching Staff of the Department of Digital Industry Technologies or other Departments of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, may be designated as Academic Advisors, provided that teaching responsibilities in the MSc has been assigned to them. The role of the Academic Advisor involves offering guidance to postgraduate students (referred to as students hereafter) concerning their course selections and addressing any challenges that may arise during their studies. The assigned Academic Advisor does not change for each student throughout the duration of their studies.
At the beginning of each academic year, the Director of the MSc Program designates the responsibilities of Academic Advisor to instructors of the MSc, for each new student entering the program. In cases where the Academic Advisor is on educational or other kind of leave, their file and advisory responsibilities are temporarily assumed by a designated substitute (Faculty Member, Special Teaching Staff and Laboratory Teaching Staff) appointed by the MSc Director. Similarly, the MSc Director ensures the replacement of an Academic Advisor who may become unavailable or ceases to contribute to the teaching activities of the MSc. In exceptional circumstances, students have the option to request a change in their Academic Advisor, providing a rationale to the MSc Director. The feasibility of accommodating such requests is evaluated on an individual basis.
A) The primary responsibility of the Academic Advisor is to provide advice, guidance, and support to students in their curriculum and assist with personal issues related to their studies. Additionally, the Academic Advisor offers recommendations to help students achieve their individual goals at each stage of their academic journey.
B) While the suggestions of the Academic Advisor are advisory and not mandatory, they play a crucial role in assisting students with organizing their studies to minimize exam failures, selecting appropriate mandatory courses aligning with their interests, deciding between pursuing a postgraduate thesis or attending courses, and choosing a thematic area for the postgraduate thesis based on their interests, capabilities, and skills.
C) Furthermore, the Academic Advisor assists the student in shaping the best possible understanding of their professional life, leveraging their postgraduate degree. Additionally, they provide support to students on issues that may delay the completion of their studies (e.g., communicates with respective faculty members and collaboratively provide additional educational materials, etc.).