The Rector of the University of the Peloponnese, Professor Athanassios Katsis, the Vice-Rectors of Academic and Student Affairs,, Professor Konstantinos Mavreas, Finance and E-Governance Professor Efstratios Tzirtzilakis, Administrative Affairs, International Relations and Outreach, Professor Efthalia Chatzigianni, the members of the Board of Administration, Professors Sofia Zyga, Ioannis Kapolos, Panagiotis Alexopoulos and Petros Gougoulakis, the Executive Director Mrs Anastasia Gerogianni and other administrative staff of the University of the Peloponnese, actively participated in the 106th Hellenic Universities Rectors' Conference, held at the Conference and Cultural Center of the University of Patras from July 16 to 19, 2024.
The last day of the Conference held on Friday 19 July 2024 was also attended by the political leadership of the Ministry of Education, Religion & Sports, Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Secretary General of Higher Education Odysseas Zoras, and the Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Ioanna Lytrivi. Additionally, the following guests participated with speeches and presentations: Professor/MP/Former Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Angelos Syrigos, the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt Nikolaos Papageorgiou, the Secretary General of Research and Innovation of the Ministry of Development Athanasios Kyriazis, the Secretary General of Information Systems and Ε-Governance of the Ministry of Digital Governance Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, the President of the National Authority of Higher Education Periklis Mitkas and the Head of the General Directorate of Integrity and Accountability of the National Transparency Authority Maria Konstantinidou, Regional Director for Greece - Times Higher Education Rosie Sanniti.
The Conference members and participants discussed critical contemporary issues that concern Higher Education, with emphasis given on the internationalisation and outreach of Greek Universities, economic and development issues, e-governance, European Student Card, student, academic and administrative issues and Lifelong Learning issues and issues related to the Universities’ Special Research Funds Accounts.
On behalf of the University of the Peloponnese, in the context of the 3rd Conference of Vice-Rectors of Internationalisation & Outreach, the Vice-Rector of Administrative Affairs, International Relations and Outreach of the University of the Peloponnese, Dr. Efthalia Chatzigianni during her joint presentation with the Vice-Rector of International Relations and Outreach of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, Associate Professor Dr. Konstantinos Petridis, presented the conclusions of the 24th Meeting of International Relations Offices and Erasmus offices of the Greek Universities. They mainly focused on issues related to the outreach of the Greek universities and the significance of the European Student Card as well as the understaffing of International and Public Relations offices, the strengthening of funding and better training of respective employees, including their education on digitalization and e-governance. The Vice-Rectors also proposed the establishment of a Hellenic Public Universities Office in Brussels as a lobbying tool. Among other, emphasis was given on the support and networking required to the increase of internationalization of Greek universities, the role of Study In Greece and the significance of cooperation between academic, diplomatic and political institutions in Greece.
On the sidelines of the Plenary Session of the Conference, the first meeting of the representatives of all Greek Universities participating in European university alliances was held, where discussions focused on issues such as the ERASMUS+ program, the common European Degree and other European initiatives.
The Presidency of the Hellenic University Rectors' Conference for 2024-2025 will consist of the University of the Peloponnese, the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and the University of Macedonia. The next Hellenic University Rectors' Conference (107th) will be held in December by the University of the Peloponnese (presided by the Rector of the University of the Peloponnese, Professor Athanassios Katsis).