What is your vision for the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki?
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is one of the leading institutions of higher education in Greece and beyond. Founded in 1925, our University is the largest educational and research establishment in Greece with over 50,000 students and 8,000 professors and scientists covering all disciplines ranging from natural and technological to social and health sciences, arts and humanities.
Our vision is to become the best multidisciplinary university for studies and research in the South East Europe as well as a pole of attraction for both faculty and students internationally. Additionally, to be a leading and attractive partner in international research and development programs. This is a result of our strategic choice for an extroverted international orientation in education and research.
How does being a member of the European University Alliance EPICUR feed into this vision?
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is interested in participating in recognized international educational and research networks leading to strategic alliances. In this framework, the AUTH is proud to participate in the European University alliance EPICUR. Being a member of this Alliance is feeding the vision of our University in many ways.
Firstly, the learning offering for our students. EPICUR Inter-University Alliance offers a rich portfolio of flexible learning formats and mobilities to our students. These activities support our vision to offer multicultural scientific skills to our students and to engage them in a European learning experience.
Secondly, EPICUR Inter-University Alliance supports the internationalization of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki by offering the opportunity to our faculty and staff to internationalize their courses their programs of studies and their impact.
Thirdly, our goal to be a supplier of interoperable digital solutions fits very well with the EPICUR’s mission to empower digital transformation and to become the preferred supplier of European independent, public digital teaching and learning platform for universities and academic networks.
What does EPICUR mean for your University? What do you think is the role of a Greek University in this initiative?
The participation of our university in the EPICUR Inter-University Alliance supports our strategic choice for the internationalization of our studies and fits very well with our vision to foster and develop closer collaborations with European universities and advance innovation in higher education throughout Europe.
We expect that EPICUR will have an impact in the transformation of our university towards the new European Community recommendations for the development of European Degree as well as the quality assurance in higher Education. Finally, it will develop and train the new generations to be European decision-makers capable of leading a changing European society.
Since Aristotle University is the biggest university in Greece and globally recognized in different scientific areas, it could contribute to the EPICUR Inter-University Alliance initiative by offering the scientific, teaching and administrative experience of its faculty and staff, access to its international collaborations, technical expertise and organizational efficiency.
Looking into the near future: what are the milestones you are envisioning for the next six months at AUTh?
The main milestones at AUTh related with EPICUR Inter-University Alliance are the following:
- To develop more the institutionalization of the EPICUR courses to our University study programs.
- To increase the participation and engagement of our students in both EPICUR mobility and education.
- To increase the participation of our faculty in order to create more EPICUR hybrid classroom.
- To improve our digitalization, adopting the EPICUR Digital infrastructure and interconnecting with all the partner Universities.
- To contribute to the set-up of International Centre for Teaching & Learning (ITLC) and increase the lifelong learning opportunities.
- Improve the dissemination of the EPICUR Inter-University Alliance both locally and internationally.