The archetype of excellence in universities and TQM

Purpose - The paper aims to present and interpret excellence through the parchments of the ancient Hellenic philosophy and the different schools of management thought and its application in the university context. Design/methodology/approach - The approach taken in the paper is theoretical and is based on the writings of ancient Hellenes philosophers and management researchers, a semasiologic analysis of the term "excellence" in Hellenic and its content in the university context and a comparison with the basic principles of total quality management (TQM). Findings - The findings of the paper support the view that the ancient Hellenes philosophers had a substantial contribution in the development of excellence and TQM fundamental concepts, as proved by their writings 2,400 years ago. It is worth mentioning that the term aristeia (excellence, in Hellenic) hides in it, as appears from the analysis of the word, the idea of good in an exemplary way and the factors that constitute the teachings of TQM. Practical implications - The paper brings out the essence of excellence and proves that deep understanding of the concept of excellence leads to a virtuous personal life which leads in good citizenship in the wider social context that result in a constantly improving and transformative academic or professional life. Originality/value - The paper presents the meaning of excellence through the combination of knowledge from the ancient Hellenic philosophy, management, Hellenic language and TQM.