The Agricultural University of Athens Honors “Mamma Erasmus” Sofia Corradi with the Naming of Lecture Hall C.

The Senate of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), in an extraordinary session and following the proposal of the Rector, Professor Spyridon Kintzios, has resolved to honor the outstanding contribution of Sofia Corradi—internationally known as the “Mamma Erasmus”—by assigning her name to Lecture Hall C of the University’s Central Building.

This decision reflects the University’s deep appreciation for her pioneering work, which shaped the European educational landscape and extended well beyond the field of student mobility. Through her determination and vision, Sofia Corradi inspired the creation of the Erasmus Programme, an initiative that:
• Fosters the exchange of knowledge and cultural understanding across Europe.
• Enables millions of young people to expand their perspectives and gain life-changing experiences.
• Strengthens a shared European identity and contributes to the development of the modern “European citizen.”

With the naming of the “Sofia Corradi Lecture Hall,” the Agricultural University of Athens reaffirms its commitment to outward-looking education, international cooperation, and academic excellence. The hall will serve as a lasting reminder of Corradi’s legacy, inspiring future generations of students to embrace multiculturalism and academic mobility—values that lie at the heart of a modern and inclusive European education.

Sofia Corradi (5 September 1934 – 17 October 2025) envisioned a Europe in which studying or training in another country could transform lives and bring people closer together. Her idea, embraced early by academics and students, formed the basis of what later became the Erasmus Programme. What began as a forward-looking vision is now a defining element of European education, with more than 16 million individuals having benefited from Erasmus+.

An Italian academic and leading advocate of international student mobility, Sofia Corradi studied Law at La Sapienza University in Rome and completed postgraduate studies in Comparative Law at Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar. From 1969 onwards, she worked systematically to promote transnational learning opportunities, contributing decisively to the establishment of the Erasmus Programme in 1987—today regarded as the European Union’s most successful educational initiative.

She served as Professor of Adult Education and member of the Senate at Roma Tre University. Her remarkable achievements earned her significant European distinctions, including the Carlos V Award (2016) and the title of Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica Italiana. She remained active throughout her life, participating in international conferences and promoting intercultural education.