Acropolis, National Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum. Ancient market and museum of ceramics, Delphi, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus. These symbolic places for Greek culture and history have been visited by the new “ambassadors” of Greece, who this year participated in the University of Athens Greek Studies (THIESPA) Summer Scholarship Program. Its purpose is to promote Greek science, Greek language and culture, as well as the general promotion of our country abroad. This year, the program is completing its 35th anniversary by accepting 6,507 students from many countries and educational institutions around the world.

The program is addressed to teachers and students of departments of the Modern Greek language of foreign universities, lasts six weeks and includes intensive teaching of the Modern Greek language, as well as lectures on Modern Greek literature and history, as well as a special seminar for teachers on new methods of teaching Modern Greek as a foreign language. It is complemented by visits to archaeological and cultural sites in general. The scientific, didactic and administrative part of the program is supported by the Faculty of Philosophy and the Department of Modern Greek Language of EKPA.

The aim of the program is to promote Greek science, Greek language and culture, as well as the general promotion of our country abroad.

This year the program was attended by 54 students from 17 countries (Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Georgia, USA, Spain, Italy, China, Cyprus, Belarus, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey), of 29 universities, bringing the total to 6,507 in these 35 years. THYESPA was launched in 1988 by a decision of the Senate at the suggestion of the then Rector Michalis Stathopoulos – he attended the closing ceremony and delivered a touching welcome – and on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in 1987.

“We consider you members of our academic community. The doors of our university will always be open for you,” said Thanos Dimopoulos, Rector of the University of Athens, to this year’s participants at the closing ceremony of the program. “THIESPA is a valuable tool for cultural and educational diplomacy with many benefits for the country and, of course, for our university. At a time when extraversion is one of the requirements, THYESPA proves that the National and Kapodistrian University of the country was, is and will remain an extrovert, tangible actions with an important history,” he added.

The President of the Study Committee and Scientific Director of the Programme, Emeritus Professor Eleni Karamalekou mentioned the importance of resuming the program after its two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, its international impact and its contribution to the promotion of the Greek language and Greek culture. He stressed that the goal is to find a permanent source of funding – EKPA Property Development and Management currently finances most of the funds – that will allow it to operate smoothly and meet very high demand around the world. The ceremony was also attended by the former head of the EKPA secretariat, the “soul” of THYESPA for a number of years, Mr. H. Professor Panagiotis Kontos.