Article 1

Head of the Integrated Distance Learning System

1. By decision of the Programme Studies Committee (PSC) of the Postgraduate Programme (P.P.S.), a natural person is appointed as the Head of the Integrated Distance Learning System (HIDLS), and their details are communicated to all users of the system.
2. The HIDLS is a person who possesses the necessary expertise to provide technical support and all relevant assistance to students and teaching staff who use the integrated distance learning system.

Head of the Integrated Distance Learning System (HIDLS) has been pointed Panagiotis Bourgiezis (panosbourg@ionio.gr) -  Substitute: Alexandra Duzevic (antouzevic@ionio.gr)

Article 2

Access to e-Learning

1. The organization of distance education takes into account the ability of learners to participate without exclusions. For this reason, all parties involved (teaching staff, supervisors, students, technical and other personnel) are provided with a range of digital services that ensure uninterrupted access to e-learning.
2. The supporting digital services related to e-learning are described in detail in a relevant Guide published on the official website of the Ionian University (https://ionio.gr/services/it-noc/noc/) and include:

1. A) Access to a synchronous distance learning platform

The integrated distance learning system used for synchronous distance education must include the following features:
a) Use of videoconferencing and virtual classroom technologies so that instructors and students located in different places can receive immediate feedback in real time.
In particular, the system must support:
aa) Audio and visual communication in real time using appropriate equipment (computers, cameras, microphones, speakers, headsets, high-speed networking, and videoconferencing software), enabling instructors and learners to communicate verbally and visually while being in different locations.
ab) Application and document sharing.
ac) Use of an electronic board (whiteboard).
ad) Access to discussion spaces (chat rooms), both between instructors and learners and among learners, for collaboration, exchange of views, and joint assignments.

1. B) Access to an asynchronous distance learning platform

The integrated system used for asynchronous distance education must support a Learning Management System (LMS), which shall include:
a) a Learning Content Management System (LCMS), and
b) an Authoring Tool for course development.

Within this system, educational material may be uploaded per course or educational activity, including notes, presentations, exercises/activities with corresponding feedback, indicative solutions, as well as multimodal material (recorded lectures, provided that applicable personal data protection legislation is observed), simulations, interactive educational material based on distance learning methodology, etc.

All educational material is provided exclusively for the educational use of students and is protected with respect to intellectual property rights in accordance with Law 2121/1993 (Government Gazette A’ 25).

1. C) Access to the VPN (Virtual Private Network) remote access service of the Ionian University

1. User authentication procedures and access rights per user category are defined by the Digital Governance Unit of the Ionian University or the administrative structure of the Institution until its establishment.

Article 3

Student Registration Procedure

1. After admission to the Postgraduate Programme, students submit a file with their personal details. The Secretariat of the Programme registers the data and creates an account for each student in the electronic student registry of the Ionian University, assigning them a student registration number.
   Subsequently, an activation slip is issued for each student, including the institutional email address and access credentials to the University’s electronic services (OpenCourses, DIAS system, academic ID, etc.).
   The activation slips are sent to students via personal email messages by the Secretariat.

Article 4

Teaching Staff Matters

1. Each instructor is provided with access credentials to the synchronous and asynchronous learning systems, as well as to the electronic student registry of the Department, with instructor-level permissions.
2. Each instructor’s ability to meet the requirements of distance teaching is evaluated under the responsibility of the Programme Studies Committee. The evaluation is based on the instructor’s curriculum vitae and a practical assessment. The PSC may propose improvement measures (e.g., participation in training seminars).
3. Instructors serving as academic advisors are required to support their assigned students in the use of e-learning methods by any appropriate means.
4. The evaluation of the digital skills of teaching staff participating in distance learning postgraduate programmes is conducted by the Director of the Programme by assessing their effective use of synchronous and asynchronous systems, as well as by students during the teaching process.
5. The enhancement of digital skills of teaching staff participating in distance learning postgraduate programmes involves participation in seminars and activities implemented by the Teaching and Learning Support Center of the Ionian University.

Article 5

Student Assessment

1. When assessing students through distance learning methods, the most appropriate method must be selected according to the nature of the course, ensuring objectivity, transparency, and prevention of copying or plagiarism. Specifically:
   a) During individual or group oral examinations, the presence of a proctor is mandatory.
   b) During written examinations, continuous use of an open camera is mandatory, and examination topics must not require closed-book materials.
   c) Student assignments are subject, upon submission, to plagiarism checks using the system provided by the Ionian University. Responsibility for submission to the plagiarism detection system lies with the course instructor.
   Plagiarism constitutes a serious offense, and the competent body of the Programme must be informed of any incident. Plagiarism may result in expulsion from the Programme, regardless of the weight of the assignment.

Article 6

Pedagogical Framework

1. The pedagogical framework for designing and implementing courses and educational activities via distance learning includes elements affecting how such activities should be structured and delivered. For each course or educational unit, the following must be defined:

• Objectives and content: clear learning objectives and content to be covered.
• Assessment: methods for evaluating learning outcomes.
• Environment and technology: selection of appropriate platforms and tools, chosen from those available at the Ionian University or freely available online.
• Interaction and collaboration: methods promoting interaction between learners and instructors and collaboration at a distance.
• Encouragement and support: provision of support and motivation to learners for successful participation.
• Adaptation and evaluation: revision and adaptation of distance learning methods based on learner needs and learning outcomes.
• Development of educational material: specially designed distance learning material, combined with instructional guidance and encouragement, fostering learner autonomy and self-directed learning.

Article 7

Technical Issues

1. The Digital Governance Unit, or the relevant administrative structure until its establishment, supervises the technological infrastructure, technical support, maintenance, and upgrading of systems and technologies supporting the distance education process, as well as user obligations.

Article 8

Security and Personal Data Protection

1. The infrastructures used by the Postgraduate Programme for e-learning must comply with the Ionian University’s information systems security policy, confidentiality policy, personal data protection policy, and cybersecurity standards.
2. Personal data protection policies comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Law 4624/2019.
3. Processing of personal data during distance examinations is carried out with appropriate security measures against risks such as unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. Teaching staff, proctors, and support personnel are bound by confidentiality obligations.
4. Personal data of users (teaching staff and students) are processed exclusively for providing access to educational material and distance learning services and for managing educational activities, in accordance with GDPR and Law 4624/2019. The Data Controller is the Higher Education Institution providing administrative support to the Programme.
5. Data processing is conducted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Law 4624/2019.
6. Transparency is ensured by informing users of essential characteristics of data processing. Users retain rights of access, rectification, erasure (under conditions), restriction, and objection.
7. Distance assessment procedures must be secure and protect user data in accordance with applicable ministerial decisions and legal provisions.

Article 9

Additional Criteria for Periodic Internal Evaluation

1. Due to its implementation through distance learning methods, additional internal evaluation criteria of the Postgraduate Programme are defined by the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of the Ionian University and may include:
   a) the level of technological support,
   b) the degree to which educational units are properly organized for distance teaching,
   c) the training level of teaching staff for distance education.