Christos Michalakelis, the challenge supervisor and president of Examine in Greece – whose members now include all 24 public universities in Greece – spoke with The PIE Information about what’s coming subsequent for Greece’s worldwide schooling sector.

In 2014, the time of Examine in Greece’s inception, the ministry of overseas affairs and the ministry of schooling have been trying to present a supply of data for worldwide college students trying to examine on Greek language applications, on account of an inflow of curiosity. “College students have been turning as much as consulates asking for info,” Michalakelis famous.

These have been principally Cypriot college students, because of the nations largely sharing the identical language.

Examine in Greece’s web site, which was based initially by a volunteer group as an information hub, then started to obtain the help of the federal government departments, Michalakelis defined.

In 2019, a brand new administration got here into energy which started to additional push the thought of internationalisation within the nation’s universities, he added.

Steadily, some masters applications started to be allowed to manage worldwide language-taught applications – over 140 have been accessible in 2021.

“It impressed an amazing quantity of demand,” Michalakelis, who can also be a professor in Informatics and Telematics on the Harakopio College of Athens, defined – however the masters’ provisions nonetheless weren’t offering sufficient vary to actually internationalise Greece’s establishments.

“Final 12 months, the federal government modified the structure, which has allowed for universities to start out providing bachelor’s English-taught applications,” he stated.

This regulation change, which occurred in July 2022, was a turning level. On the Aristotle College of Thessaloniki, for instance, its medication program in English acquired over 1,200 purposes from 45 nations – for simply 60 locations.

“A masters’ is just round €5,000 a 12 months for a two 12 months course”

“[Greece] now has three overseas language applications in medication, one in classical research, and there are extra to seem within the close to future – different disciplines like economics and maritime research, laptop science and engineering science,” Michalakelis stated.

By that very same regulation, the organisation expanded into a totally fledged internationalisation organisation, with funding and a full-time crew as an alternative of the volunteer mannequin.

As a part of the brand new initiatives being pushed, Michalakelis stated the US and UK have been key components of their efforts.

“We’re trying on the US for shorter applications, maybe accredited ones for even two to 3 weeks, after which for the UK we’re actively joint masters and bachelors between sure British universities and Greek establishments.”

Greece shall be trying to totally enter the race for Indian college students – one thing already set in movement by way of a Cultural and Academic Trade program launched between the 2 nations for 2022-26.

“Indians typically wish to come for a grasp’s diploma, or a bachelor’s in economics or laptop science.

“We’ve talent shortages sciences particularly associated to the sciences and laptop science, round 8,000 instances per 12 months,” he famous.

“Every nation has totally different wants. Our job is to help all of those sorts of applications and assist them come alive,” he added.

Worldwide PhDs are additionally within the pipeline, however testing continues to be underway for 4, 5 or 6 12 months applications.

A gathering with related ministries later this 12 months may even focus on the prospect of post-study work rights.

“We’re conscious of what’s occurring in the remainder of the world, so our intention is to [expand post-study work rights].

“We would like [students] to remain and discover a job, not just for their very own sake, but additionally as a result of we now have a demographic downside right here in Greece ,” Michalakelis defined.

What Michalakelis desires worldwide college students world wide to learn about primarily, although, is the affordability of a Greek schooling.

“A medical diploma prices solely €10,000 per 12 months, which may be very low in comparison with the remainder of Europe – a masters’ is just round €5,000 a 12 months for a two 12 months course – and the lodging is comparatively low-cost,” he famous.

“We’re very optimistic about what’s to come back.”