The Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, and the Ambassador of France to Greece, Ms Laurence Auer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, 26 November 2024.
Also present at the signing ceremony were, on the part of NKUA, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion, Professor Sophia Papaioannou, the Chair of the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema, Associate Professor Ioannis Skopeteas, and the Vice-Chair of the Department of French Language and Literature, Professor Loukia Efthymiou.
The MoU provides a framework for agreement and collaboration between the Embassy of France to Greece—through its Service of Cooperation and Educational Action—and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens—through the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema.
The primary areas of cooperation are as follows:
- Student internships on productions of the INSTITUT FRANÇAIS DE GRÈCE (IFG) and student work placements at its premises.
- Student involvement in IFG initiatives, including ‘Digital November’, ‘Digital Museum’, ‘Francophone Film Festival’, ‘Night of Ideas’, etc.
- Hosting of events (exhibitions/festivals) on IFG premises in collaboration with the Institute.
- Access and use of IFG archives for research purposes.
- Exchange of knowledge between IFG staff and faculty members at the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema through lectures.
- Student projects on IFG cultural activities.
- Cooperation in European programmes and research projects between IFG staff and faculty members/students at the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema.
- Strengthened collaboration between the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema and French Higher Educational Institutions.
A Joint Monitoring Committee, consisting of two (2) members on behalf of NKUA and two (2) on behalf of the Embassy of France to Greece, has been established to execute, oversee, and monitor the Memorandum of Understanding. Assistant Professor Angeliki Poulou and Associate Professor Ioannis Skopeteas, both from the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema, will be in charge of this on behalf of NKUA.
Implementing this MoU between the Embassy of France to Greece and NKUA will result in significant cultural and social benefits, as it will contribute to the expansion of cultural activities, social cohesion through improved quality of life and the promotion of the cultural dimension of sustainable development.
Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis