The 109th Hellenic University Rectors' Conference was held in Athens from July 11 to July 14, 2025, under the presidency of Professor Christina Koulouri, Rector of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, together with the rest of the Conference’s Presidium members: Professor Athanasios Katsis, Rector of the University of the Peloponnese, and Professor Stylianos Katranidis, Rector of the University of Macedonia.
The Conference was attended by the political leadership of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports: Minister Ms. Sofia Zacharaki, Deputy Minister Mr. Nikos Papaioannou, and the Secretary General for Higher Education, Mr. Dimitris Bourantonis. Also present were Ms. Sotiria Ntouni, President of the Hellenic Court of Audit, Deputy Minister of the Interior Ms. Paraskevi Charalampogianni, Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Christos Triantopoulos, and Professor Pericles Mitkas, President of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education.
The University of the Peloponnese was represented by its Rector, Professor Athanasios Katsis, and the Vice-Rectors of Administrative Affairs, International Relations and Outreach, Professor Efthalia Chatzigianni, Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Konstantinos Mavreas, Finance and E-Governance Professor Efstratios Tzirtzilakis. The Conference was also attended by Professors P. Gougoulakis, I. Kapolos, and P. Alexopoulos, the University’s Executive Director, Ms. A. Gerogianni, as well as other executives of the institution.
During the 6th Assembly of Vice Rectors for Outreach and International Relations, Professor Efthalia Chatzigianni, Vice Rector for Administrative Affairs, International Relations, and Outreach, delivered a substantive presentation. She highlighted the recent activities and initiatives of the Standing Committee on Internationalization, which she chairs. In her address, she emphasized the critical role of specialized internationalization committees, established under this framework, as coordinating and supporting mechanisms for implementing the Committee’s actions. These aim to strengthen and institutionalize partnerships with leading academic institutions and research centers abroad. Her contribution became a focal point of the plenary discussions, making a significant impact on the institutional dialogue and shaping specific policy proposals, which were submitted for consideration to the political leadership of the Ministry of Education.
Additionally, on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, a meeting of Women Rectors and Vice Rectors took place, attended by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Ms. Sofia Zacharaki. The meeting provided a platform for the exchange of experiences, the promotion of best practices, and the strengthening of women’s presence in higher education leadership. The Conference’s findings underscored the need for close collaboration with the Ministry to design and implement policies that foster equality and inclusion in academic governance, acknowledging the existing gender disparities among faculty members and leadership positions.
The participation of the University of the Peloponnese in the 109th Rectors' Assembly reaffirmed its active role in highlighting critical issues in Higher Education and its commitment to the continuous improvement of academic quality, outreach and transparency.
Accompanying this is a brief presentation of the key results, which outline the framework for action toward the sustainability and modernization of Hellenic universities, with an emphasis on their connection with society, research, and international cooperation.
