Meeting of the Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens with the Director - General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission
The Rector of the Agricultural University of Athens, Professor Spyridon Kintzios, welcomed Ms. Themis Christofidou, the European Commission Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (EAC) and Ms. Nelly Paleologou, the Head of Communications Department, at the European Commission Representation in Greece, on Tuesday, the 21st of September 2021, at the Rector’s Office, within the framework of a much fruitful discussion of the European University, upon Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability - EU-CONEXUS.
Indeed, the AUA Rector, Professor Spyridon Kintzios and the EU-CONEXUS team, presented with great pleasure the two - year advancements of the particular European University. It was common ground that EU-CONEXUS can very well display quite remarkable progress, in the process of harmonizing the academic procedures, as well as marking the start of its activities, in comparison to other European Universities.
Furthermore, special emphasis was laid on the effort that has been made until now, in the field of education, as long as, on an Undergraduate Level, the offer of a joint Curriculum and Syllabus, being included in the Minor Programmes, has led the Agricultural University of Athens to stand out as a pioneering Institution, inasmuch having pride in counting its first Minor Programmes Graduates, who can henceforth, obtain the EU-CONEXUS Minor Certificate.
In addition, the creation of the first joint Postgraduate Programme of Studies, entitled “Marine Biotechnology”, has been an important milestone. As a matter of fact, this Masters' level (Second Cycle of Studies) Programme, shall start functioning in a year from today, since all the Partners have the intention of designing and developing a second Postgraduate Programme of Studies. On top of that, the European University EU-CONEXUS has reached innovation, even in the Third Cycle of Studies, by planning the implementation of joint PhD Programmes.
Undoubtedly, the Corona Virus SARS-COV-2 (the Covid 19 disease), has been a significant obstacle to the mobility of the Alliance Partners, however, having boldness for making new achievements, the organization of the first PhD Summer School has been completed in Zadar (Croatia), assuring the participation of four (4) PhD Candidates, from every University - Partner.
It is noteworthy that Alliance mobility has been taking place on a continuous basis, performing the first EU-CONEXUS Festival in Klaipėda (Lithuania), with a wide variety of cultural events (dancing, theatrical plays, singing), acted by the Alliance students themselves. The first Virtual Race has been, recently held, focusing on the cultural and sporting events, the purpose of which was to raise the athletic spirit to a higher level.
Moreover, the EU-CONEXUS actions have started yielding results, even on the Secondary Education Level, by the successful performance of the School Contest in High Schools in Athens, entitled “Think Smart, Create Green”, which is to take place for a second school year.
Teachers Virtual Cafés are also, monthly held, under the framework of improving the educational teaching methods, as well as exchanging good practices and standards for education programmes amongst Teachers, including Research Hours, aiming at the collaboration on a research level and the development of joint Research Programmes.
Nonetheless, the EU-CONEXUS team has been facing institutional constraints to the continuous course of development and upgrade. In any case, the bet for success of the Initiative of the European Universities is based on the cooperation, not only between the Alliance Partners but also, between all the Agencies and Bodies, on a national and european level, fostering the idea that, teamwork forms the principle that will be the key for success.
