The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens held on Friday, 6 October 2023, at the Great Hall of its main building a welcome ceremony for the first-year students of the English-taught ‘BA Program in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece’ (BAAG – School of Philosophy).
The event was also live-streamed:
The NKUA’s ‘BA Program in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece’ (BAAG) was our country’s first-ever English-taught Undergraduate Programme available to international students only. As the Programme enters its 4th year of operation, it is on the upswing in terms of organization, gaining recognition on a global scale, signing bilateral cooperation agreements with renowned Universities abroad (including Universities from the US, Australia, China, and the UK), and attracting accomplished faculty members from foreign Universities. Thus far, it has drawn students from many countries in the world, such as Egypt, Albania, El Salvador, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Iran, Italy, Canada, China, South Africa, Portugal, and the Philippines, who have all come to our country to study the ancient Greek civilization.
On behalf of the University Authorities, the Vice-Rector for Finance and Development, Professor Aristeides Samitas, addressed the ceremony, as did the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion, Professor Sophia Papaioannou.
Professor Samitas gladly welcomed the students present at the event and stressed that: ‘NKUA has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, and we are delighted to providing you with the highest-quality education. As you embark on this educational journey, you will have the chance to work with esteemed faculty members who are experts in their respective fields and engage in the thought-provoking discussions that will expand your horizons.’
Next, Professor Papaioannou said, among other things, the following: ‘This is the 4th year our Programme operates, this year we will have our first graduates. So far, we have had students from 21 countries from all over the world, every year we have more students applying and being accepted and we hope that by the end of your studies you will feel justified for choosing this BA and that you will be fully equipped to pursue your studies or your vocation of choice’.
Shortly afterwards, Mr George Kotsiras, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a welcome address in which he emphasized the importance of Greek Universities’ programmes of study taught in languages other than Greek in contributing to our country’s extroversion and international visibility. In addition to welcoming the new students, Mr Kotsiras spoke highly of Greek Higher Education and its capacity to provide excellent educational opportunities in a contemporary internationalized setting. ‘Greece represents a credible option in the field of International Education. It is within the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support all actions and initiatives that enhance the extroversion of the country and promote Greek culture’, he said and went on to express his full support for Greek Universities’ programmes of study taught in languages other than Greek.
Next, the former Dean of the School of Philosophy and Academic Director of BAAG, Professor Emeritus Eleni Karamalengou, addressed the ceremony, noting, among other things, the following: ‘this is a very special year for the programme and for all of us, as we are welcoming the new students, who are here to commence their studies, but we are also welcoming our 4th year students for the last time, as they begin their final year in our BA and will soon be our very first graduates. I hope that the years that you have spent in Athens have been productive and full of new experiences. I also hope that, at least, part of your expectations has been met. Our wish is the same for our new students!’
Finally, Professor Dimitris Plantzos, Deputy Academic Director of BAAG, gave an overview of the ‘BA Program in the Archaeology, History and Literature of Ancient Greece’.
A short musical programme followed performed by two students of the NKUA’s Department of Music Studies, Thanasis Mantzaris (piano) and Eleni Katsouli (voice). The new students were then presented with commemorative gifts.
