During a special session of the Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs of Parliament, chaired by Professor Christodoulos Stephanadis, the MP from Samos, a discussion on “Greek Higher Education: Current Status and Future Prospects” took place. Professor Pericles Mitkas, President of the National Committee for Higher Education (NECE), provided a detailed presentation on the state of higher education in Greece, including insights on educational, post-educational, and research activities, along with future prospects backed by data.
The Deputy Minister of Education overseeing higher education, Nikos Papaioannou, discussed the development of universities, increased funding, and the legislative measures planned by the Ministry to enhance university operations. Currently, approximately 68,000 undergraduate students are enrolled in Greek universities, alongside 1,307 postgraduate programs, with 97.70% of these holding international quality accreditation.
A significant number of graduates maintain high quality standards. In 16 universities, there are 188 postgraduate programs offered in foreign languages in collaboration with international institutions. Notably, seven Greek universities have expressed interest in establishing undergraduate branches abroad, including the historic EKPA, which plans to open a branch in Cyprus. Additionally, 12 applications have been made for foreign universities to operate in Greece, all of which are under review by the National Center for Higher Education Accreditation (NCHAE) to ensure educational quality and continuous curriculum oversight. Should accreditation be granted, some could be operational by the new academic year.
The future challenges facing Greek higher education include internationalization, the necessity of in-person instruction, the implementation of artificial intelligence, demographic shifts impacting student enrollment, connection to the job market, and aligning research with national needs. Furthermore, the government aims to address operational issues at higher education institutions through increased funding and legislative adjustments. During the special committee session, political party representatives presented their views, posed questions to the Deputy Minister, and discussed NTHAE-related topics.
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