The Rector of NKUA at ‘Greece as an Educational Hub’ of the Delphi Economic Forum 2023

The Rector of NKUA, Professor M.-A. Dimopoulos participated in the Delphi Economic Forum 2023 in the session entitled ‘Greece as an Educational Hub’. The Rector noted, among other things, that, even though Greek Higher Educational Institutions are severely understaffed and underfunded—a significant impediment to development—great efforts have been made to improve infrastructure, increase research output, and channel its findings into creating beneficial, innovative products and services for the society at large.

‘Our mission is to ensure that our students and graduates receive education of the highest quality so that they can flourish in Greece and internationally’ he said. He also mentioned the NKUA’s 15 Centres of Excellence, 18 Centres of Expertise for Rare Diseases, the Fundraising Office, and the ‘Archimedes’ Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He further emphasized that NKUA has made significant progress in curriculum quality assurance while also applying an internationalization strategy to advance its educational, research, and social work and raise its global reputation. Illustratively, he referred to the NKUA’s partnerships with Universities like Harvard and Yale, Research Centres, University networks, and educational organizations worldwide, as well as to the Institution’s English-taught Undergraduate Programmes and its participation in the European University alliance CIVIS.

Chaired by Mr Apostolos Lakasas, a journalist at the Kathimerini newspaper, ‘Greece as an Educational Hub’ also included the Rector of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Ms Christina Koulouri, the President of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils (GFCC, USA), Ms Deborah Wince-Smith, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, USA, Mr Endy Zemenides, and the President of the College Year in Athens/DIKEMES (International Centre for Hellenic and Mediterranean Studies), Mr Alexis Phylactopoulos.

Ms Deborah Wince-Smith, President of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils (GFCC, USA) spoke next. ‘We are at a period of transformation’, she said, ‘and Greek Universities have the opportunity to expand further through partnerships’.  She also suggested that Greek Higher Educational Institutions join the GFCC.

For his part, the Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, USA, Mr Endy Zemenides, stressed that the goal of making Greece a hub is correct and achievable. He described, for instance, the drawing of students from the United States as relatively simple, given that studying abroad, even for short periods, is prevalent in the culture of American students.

The President of the College Year in Athens/DIKEMES (International Centre for Hellenic and Mediterranean Studies), Mr Alexis Phylactopoulos, pointed out why extroversion is crucial. To quote his own words, ‘It benefits the academic community, boosts Greece’s soft power, and has a significant economic impact on the country’.  

Finally, the Rector of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Ms Christina Koulouri, took the floor to stress that extroversion should primarily benefit students and teaching staff. ‘Opening up to international students is critical but must be subject to academic, educational, and scientific principles and priorities’, she said, adding that ‘Greek Higher Educational Institutions must maintain and deepen their quality’.