RESPONSIBILITIES

National Strategy for the Hellenic Higher Education

By decision of its Supreme Council , the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education submits proposals to the Greek Minister of Education concerning:

a) the National Strategy for Higher Education;

b) the individual Programme Agreements between the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Institutions;

c) the establishment, merger, division, abolition and renaming of HEIs or their academic units in accordance with the HAHE criteria for academic modifications ;

d) recommendations for maintaining high quality assurance in Higher Education;

e) recommendations and measures to strengthen the international profile of Greek HEIs.

HEIs Funding

By decision of the Supreme Council , the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education submits the following proposals to the Greek Minister of Education regarding:

a) the performance-based allocation of the annual state funding to the Greek HEIs (30% of funding is allocated to each Institution on the basis of quality criteria and performance indicators);

b) the distribution of academic staff among HEIs;

c) the updated criteria for the allocation of state funding to HEIs, ensuring transparency in funding criteria and indicators, through the publication of the relevant data on HAHE’s official website (funding).

To carry out its responsibilities, HAHE:

a) collects and analyses HEIs data;

b) regularly monitors the transition of HEIs graduates in the labor market, and

c) conducts studies and research related to the Authority’s mission.

The Supreme Council of HAHE reserves the right to propose to the Greek Minister of Education the total or partial suspension of a HEI’s state funding, in case the Institution does not provide all necessary material and documentation required for the Authority’s work.

Quality Assurance

The main objective of the Greek Higher Education is to promote, assure and continuously enhance the quality of HEIs, their study programmes and the degrees they award, so as to respond effectively to the needs and expectations of society. The Evaluation and Accreditation Council of the Authority is the body responsible for quality accreditation.

The accreditation standards for the study programmes are available [here] and the quality assurance reports can be accessed [here]

Promoting Centers of Excellence

To reward and support the best quality and innovation practices in HEIs, the designation of Centres of Excellence in higher education has been established.

Higher Education Institutions, Schools, Departments and other academic units or interdisciplinary structures of HEIs, as well as their partnerships with research centers in Greece and abroad, may be designated as Centres of Excellence by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education. This designation is made following a call and the evaluation of candidates is carried out by special expert panels appointed by the Supreme Council . The members are selected from among the Register of External Experts of HAHE .

The excellent quality, the efficiency of teaching and research, the effective structure and organization of the study programmes, the connection between teaching and research, as well as the high quality of administrative services, are the main criteria for selecting a Centre of Excellence. The evaluation criteria and other details, their additional support and all related issues are further determined by decision of the Minister of Education following the proposal of the Authority’s Supreme Council.

Licensing to the branches of University Legal Entities (ULE)

The Law 5094/2024 provides for the establishment and operation in Greece of branches of foreign state or non-state higher education institutions in the form of University Legal Entities (ULEs). These institutions must award Higher Education titles to their graduates, operate as branches of their parent Institution, which is already recognized in member-states of the European Union or third countries, and will be licensed according to a specific process of review and evaluation conducted by the competent bodies of Greece, including the HAHE.

To receive the license, the parent Institution needs to apply to the Ministry of Education and submit the file with the necessary supporting documents. The part

The of the application file concerning primarily the academic operation of the ULE is forwarded to the HAHE, which conducts the review and evaluation, as required by Law.

For more information on the licensing process of University Legal Entities (ULEs), please refer to the relevant documents.