Students at Greek universities are to be given the opportunity to turn the tables on their professors, under draft legislation on the assessment of academic institutions made public yesterday.

Part of the assessment process, which will apply to both universities and technical colleges (TEIs), will involve students filling in questionnaires every semester on the quality of teaching provided by all academic staff members.

The whole process will be coordinated by a new independent authority whose 13 members are to be appointed by Parliament and will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Apart from the student questionnaires, the authority will also use independent inspectors, as well as monitoring bodies within universities and TEIs.

The bill also provides for the creation of an international, English-language university in Thessaloniki.