The path from December 2019, when the first discussions began, to yesterday’s official welcome event for representatives 30 American Universities in Greece – Pharos Summit 2022, as it was called, was impassable, littered with obstacles created by the pandemic and beyond. However, the cooperation of Greek university students with their counterparts in American universities, combined with the strong political will of the Greek government to carry out the extraversion project of our country’s universities, constituted the source material. “Greece is not just a place where you can come and study archeology, classics, history. It is also a laboratory of constant change. This is a country that is in a very critical geopolitical position, a country where, in addition to classical studies, you can focus your research on issues such as migration, security issues, climate. The Eastern Mediterranean is a region in which climate change is strong. But Greece is a country whose government is committed to implementing innovative public policy solutions,” the Prime Minister told representatives of American universities. Kyriakos Mitsotakis opening of the event. “A country’s most valuable asset is its people, especially the younger generation,” he said.

Functions

Joint Programs, Dual Degrees, Joint Degrees, free tuition for Greek students, joint research programs, joint publications are just some of the opportunities for cooperation between Greek and American universities. Education Minister Niki Kerameos highlighted the benefits when he said the new collaboration between the University of Athens and Yale included student exchanges from the two institutions and free courses. As K has already reported, as part of the cooperation, EKPA undergraduates and doctoral students will be able to attend semester or one-year courses in the natural sciences and at the polytechnic, medical and environmental schools of Yale University, which will be taken into account when receiving a degree. In addition, as the new academic year begins, the EKPA graduate program in Environmental Health will be co-taught by Yale University professors. It is this cooperation that is a model for the development of young people who will bring tangible benefits to the students of our country, opening up new horizons and creating opportunities.

Yesterday’s event also featured two other synergies launched under the international academic collaboration program launched in September 2019: NTUA with Columbia and Ionian University with Johns Hopkins.

Two more synergies were introduced: NTUA with Columbia and Ionian University with Johns Hopkins.

“It was a unique opportunity to understand the complexity of the migration phenomenon and to understand the challenges in migration policy making,” said a Harvard student who participated in a summer program in Lesvos in collaboration with the Hellenic National University. Athens, and about the flows of refugees, an area in which our country has gained experience due to its geostrategic position.

Of course, quite a few Greek scientists have scientific channels with their colleagues in American universities – channels that will contribute to the success of the visits of representatives of American universities to Greece, which began yesterday. In particular, the first meetings took place at the University of Athens, NTUA and the Athens University of Economics. It is significant that the administration of NTUA, deans of faculties and professors met with representatives of 16 US universities. Rector Andreas Butuvis presented NTUA activities related to academic cooperation with the United States, prospects for its expansion and strengthening, and pointed out the main problems, and representatives of all American universities that took part in the meeting briefly presented their policies and proposals for its possible bilateral cooperation. The two-hour meeting ended with a discussion of specific practical issues of bilateral cooperation.

Difficulties

The biggest challenge is covering the tuition fees that Greek students have to pay for the one or two semesters they choose to study at a US university with which their institution is affiliated. One of the tools is scholarships. The issue of high US tuition was discussed yesterday at the “wells” arranged by Greek and American university students, and the political leadership is also worried. Yes, I like it was handed over to “K” by a high-ranking executive Ministry of Education, a free exchange of students from EKPA and Yale University will force other institutions to find financial instruments for such exchanges. On the other hand, joint research programs to be carried out in Greece in collaboration with American universities are estimated to be able to attract funding from the private sector. In addition, according to with information from “K”The private sector has shown interest in the clean energy research program they are promoting at EKPA with Yale University.

From local to global

Two years after the first relevant talks between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, the idea is becoming a reality. Greece is among the few countries in the world that will acquire Colombia’s global hub.
In particular, in the context of the visit of representatives of 30 US universities to Greece, Mr. Bollinger announced the opening of the Columbia International Education Center in Athens. Colombian Global Centers exist in Paris, Beijing, Istanbul, Amman, Nairobi, Santiago, Rio, Mumbai and Tunisia. They were created to give students the opportunity to learn, collaborate and enjoy the benefits of Columbia’s programs. At the same time, the purpose of these Centers is to help students and young people understand international challenges. Characteristically, the Colombian Global Centers, according to the vision of Lee Bollinger, were founded with the aim of “connecting the local with the global, creating opportunities for the dissemination of knowledge and the expansion of global dialogue.

In service in 2023

In Greece, the Center is expected to start operating in 2023. In fact, in cooperation with Greek universities, social agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, it will organize programs “with the aim of enriching the educational, scientific and research work that is developing in our country, in close contact with Greek universities and the Greek university community”, as was announced. Of course, as the Ministry of Education explained, these are not programs that lead to a university degree (ie, for example, a bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate degree).

The idea of ​​establishing a Columbia Center in Greece was first raised at a meeting between Ms. Kerameos and Mr. Bollitzer in January 2020, and in February of the same year, Ms. Kerameos traveled with her colleagues. , to Istanbul and visited the Columbia Global Center there to see how it is organized and how it works. Ms. Kerameos and her team were met and briefed by the Director of the Global Center for Colombia in Istanbul, Ipek Cem Taha, daughter of former Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

Role of Greek teachers

An important role in the cooperation between Greek and American universities is played by Greek scientists working in these universities. Like he said yesterday in “K” Deputy Minister of Education responsible for higher education Angel Sirygos, about half of the representatives of American universities participating in the mission are Greek or have a Greek origin. “They see their participation as a way to help Greece, they are a testament to the value of Greek scientists and the relationship that has developed between Greek and American universities. At the same time, their help is valuable because they know the language and how our universities work,” Mr. Sirygos said.

“We have important collaborations with Greek universities such as the Athens University of Economics and Business and the Department of Classical Studies of this institution is organizing a very popular summer school in Greece. American professors working with their Greek colleagues are delighted.” watching Costas Orginos in “K”., professor of physics at the College of William and Mary. “Thanks to the cooperation of the universities of the two countries, Greek students will have access to US universities, which are at the forefront of technological progress and innovation. On the other hand, Americans will see what important work is being done in the universities of our country.” “Both sides are excited. Greece has great professors and students who manage to do well when they go abroad,” he adds for his part. in “K” Vassilis Vassiliouprofessor of epidemiology at Yale University.

Something is changing

“I think that Greek universities have for many years remained introverted, not only in relation to foreign universities, but also among themselves. Climat is changing. Many Greek professors and researchers work at American universities and their presence is a testament to the quality of the work done in Greece.” Konstantinos Liketsos indicated “K” yesterday, professor at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He added: “American universities are a model. Scientific contact with American universities will benefit Greek higher education.”