On Tuesday, October 22, 2025, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, welcomed a delegation from the University of Balamand, Lebanon, to the Rector’s Office. The delegation was headed by Dr Elias Warrak, President of the Institution.
Also in attendance, on behalf of the University of Athens, was Professor Christos Karagiannis, Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs, Student Welfare, and Lifelong Learning. Representing the University of Balamand were the Vice-President, Dr Salim Kanaan, and the Dean of St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Right Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil.
During the meeting, the Lebanese delegation gave an overview of the University of Balamand, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, has eight Faculties, and serves a student body of over 6,000. They placed particular emphasis on the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, which follows the American standards, offers an English-taught programme of study, and is affiliated with ten university hospitals, where students undergo their clinical training.
The presentation from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens focused on the Medical Degree – English Programme and the Cyprus Branch in Nicosia, which includes a Medical School and will begin classes in November 2025.
The two sides explored the possibility of collaboration between their respective institutions, initially in the field of Medicine, through faculty and student exchanges, with the Cyprus Branch of the University of Athens potentially engaged, owing to its geographic proximity to Lebanon. The discussions took place in a warm and constructive atmosphere, confirming the shared intention to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Universities, with a view to expanding cooperation into other scientific fields in the future.
