The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens participated in Greece’s first oceanographic and scientific diving expedition to Antarctica. The mission formed part of the Second Greek Scientific Expedition, organised by the Hellenic Polar Zones Society, and was conducted in the coastal waters of Livingston Island.

Representing the University’s Department of Biology, PhD candidate Dionysia Rigatou joined forces with Eleni Kytinou of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) in a multidisciplinary investigation into the effects of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on coastal marine food webs.

The research integrates satellite observations and advanced climate modelling with in situ measurements across multiple depths, complemented by scientific diving and the deployment of a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Primary production—focusing on phytoplankton and macroalgae—is examined through systematic sampling and laboratory analysis, while high-resolution underwater recording techniques are employed to assess the abundance, biomass, and structural complexity of benthic ecosystems.

Conducted over 17 days under demanding polar conditions, the expedition involved continuous sampling both aboard a research vessel and at the Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island. Notably, the mission included the first Greek scientific dives in Antarctic waters, carried out in water temperatures below 2°C and with limited visibility.

The expedition was made possible through the support of Laskaridis Shipping Co. Ltd., with hosting provided by the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute. Participation by the University of Athens was coordinated through the Oceanography and Earth Observation research group of the Department of Biology, under the academic leadership of Dionysios Raitsos, further consolidating the institution’s presence in cutting-edge polar research.

The National & Kapodistrian University of Athens the School of Law and the Athens Public International Law Center (AthensPIL) organize the Annual “Nicolas Politis” Lecture entitled:

The Strength of Multilateralism: A Judicial Perspective on the Relationship  between Member States and the United Nations by  H. E. Xue Hanqin Judge and former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice.

The event will take place on Friday, April 3rd, 2026 at 6:00pm at the Great Hall of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (main building, 30 Panepistimiou Street).

You are cordially invited to attend.

The Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos

PROGRAMME

Welcome address by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion of the National & Kapodistrian University of  Athens, Professor Sophia Papaioannou.

Address by the Dean of the School of Law, Professor Konstantinos  Christodoulou.

Presentation of the keynote speaker by the Director of the Athens Public  International Law Center (AthensPIL), Professor Photini Pazartzis.

Keynote speech by H.E. Xue Hanqin, Judge and former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice.

The event will be conducted in English.

Invitation

On 29 March 2026, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens published, in partnership with ‘To Vima’ (Sunday edition), the seventh issue of ‘The University of Athens: A Newspaper for Science, Education, and Culture’.

The front page features a leading article titled ‘The Third Gulf War–The Fault Line of a New Era’. Six faculty members from the University of Athens examine the many dimensions of the recent conflict and analyse what happens when ‘the fault line breaks’.

Topics covered include:

The dynamics of escalation and the prospects for a prolonged conflict

The growing normalisation of war in global affairs

The expansion of the Iranian front beyond the Gulf region

Europe’s vulnerability and the wider implications for energy and the global economy

The resurgence of the nuclear threat within contemporary security frameworks

Iran: regime change or internal transformation?

Also in the March issue:

Sir Roderick Beaton: ‘Europe is approaching a crossroads’ – The British historian and philhellene, featured in ‘To Vima’ (Sunday edition), reflects on Greek history and literature, sharing his insights and concerns. ‘In 2026, Europe finds itself alone in a “multipolar” world. The challenge for Europeans and their governments will be to move beyond the national—often nationalist—divisions of the past’, he observes.

Pharmacy: New medicines for the challenges of the 21^st century – From nature’s pharmacy to the discovery of enzyme-linked receptors and signalling pathways, advances in biotechnology have driven a revolution in pharmacology.

Climate: When the environment… drives migration – An exploration of climate migration and the risks facing Greece and the Mediterranean, including rising sea levels and increasing flood hazards in coastal areas.

History: The University of Athens and Classical Antiquity in the 19^th century — Since its founding in 1837, the institution has highlighted the interplay between ancient Greek heritage and contemporary culture, with a focus on language, architecture, symbols, and education.

Published as a supplement to ‘To Vima’ (Sunday edition), the University’s newspaper brings science, education, research, and the perspectives of young scholars into the public sphere. It offers accessible coverage of social and political issues, showcases research conducted at the University of Athens, and follows international developments shaping academic and scientific discourse.

On Monday, 30 March at 13:20 (Greek time), Greece and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens marked a milestone in aerospace history. Three ERMIS CubeSats, proudly ‘Made in Greece’ and developed by the University’s Department of Aerospace Science, were successfully deployed into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometres following a short flight aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

See images and video from the launch

Three ERMIS CubeSats, developed in Greece by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, are scheduled for launch into a 500 km low-Earth orbit on March 30 at 13:20, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle.

The launch will be live-streamed: https://www.spacex.com/launches/transporter-16

The ERMIS Project – [ERMIS Hellenic CubeSat Demonstration Mission] aims to validate innovative space technologies and applications, including 5G/IoT communications, satellite telecommunications, and hyperspectral Earth observation.

ERMIS constitutes the first phase of the Greek National Small Satellite Programme, a €200 million initiative funded through the European Recovery Fund (RRF – Next Generation EU). The project has a total budget of approximately €4.9 million and is coordinated by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (www.aerospace.uoa.gr). Partners include OQ Hellas, the University of Patras, the University of the Aegean, and the National Observatory of Athens. The mission is implemented under the oversight of the European Space Agency (ESA), with the support of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance.

Project page: https://www.aerospace.uoa.gr/erevnitika-erga.php

ERMIS mission video: https://youtu.be/zrI1dOoIvr4

The EFP General Assembly (GA) was held on 21 March 2026 in Athens, Greece, with 38 member societies represented. The presidents and the delegates of the national societies convened to review the past year’s achievements under the presidency of Assist. Professor Spyros Vassilopoulos (Greece) and set the agenda for the future.

The GA warmly welcomed Panama as a new international associate member, and Bulgaria as new associate member of the EFP. The GA concluded with anticipation for International Perio Master Clinic 2027 (30 April to 1 May) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well as EuroPerio12 in Munich, Germany (10-13 May 2028), and Perio Master Clinic 2029 in Athens, Greece.

More information’s about EFP can be found here:

https://www.efp.org/about-the-efp/who-we-are-what-we-do

Shane R. Jimerson, distinguished scholar and Professor of School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Department of Psychology at the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday, 19 March 2026, in the University’s Great Hall.

Proceedings opened with welcoming remarks by the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

University of Athens Newspaper to Be Published with ‘To Vima’ on Sunday, 29 March

On 29 March 2026, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will publish, in partnership with ‘To Vima’ (Sunday edition), the seventh issue of ‘The University of Athens: A Newspaper for Science, Education, and Culture’.

The front page features a leading article titled ‘The Third Gulf War – The Fault Line of a New Era’. Six faculty members from the University of Athens examine the many dimensions of the recent conflict and analyse what happens when ‘the fault line breaks’.

Topics covered include:

The dynamics of escalation and the prospects for a prolonged conflict

The growing normalisation of war in global affairs

The expansion of the Iranian front beyond the Gulf region

Europe’s vulnerability and the wider implications for energy and the global economy

The resurgence of the nuclear threat within contemporary security frameworks

Iran: regime change or internal transformation?

Also in the March issue:

Sir Roderick Beaton: ‘Europe is approaching a crossroads’ – The British historian and philhellene, featured in ‘To Vima’ (Sunday edition), reflects on Greek history and literature, sharing his insights and concerns. ‘In 2026, Europe finds itself alone in a “multipolar” world. The challenge for Europeans and their governments will be to move beyond the national—often nationalist—divisions of the past’, he observes.

Pharmacy: New medicines for the challenges of the 21^st century – From nature’s pharmacy to the discovery of enzyme-linked receptors and signalling pathways, advances in biotechnology have driven a revolution in pharmacology.

Climate: When the environment… drives migration – An exploration of climate migration and the risks facing Greece and the Mediterranean, including rising sea levels and increasing flood hazards in coastal areas.

History: The University of Athens and Classical Antiquity in the 19^th century — Since its founding in 1837, the institution has highlighted the interplay between ancient Greek heritage and modern culture, with a focus on language, architecture, symbols, and education.

On March 6, 2026, Professor Patrina Paraskevopoulou, Department of Chemistry, NKUA, delivered an invited online seminar at NASA Glenn Research Center on “X-biopolymer aerogels: Extending NASA-GRC X-aerogel technology to renewable biomaterials for environmental, biomedical, and energy applications”.

She presented her group’s work on mechanically strong biopolymer-based nanostructured materials (aerogels), a new class of materials developed at the Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The seminar was organized by Dr. Sadeq Malakooti (NASA Glenn Research Center) and was open to all NASA centers, fostering engaging and in-depth discussions on the novel bio-based materials and their applications.

On Friday, 20 March 2026, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Enterprise Greece – Invest and Trade signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Athens, in the presence of Rector Professor Gerasimos Siasos and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Haris Theoharis.

Svante Twetman, Professor Emeritus of Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, has been awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Department of Dentistry at the School of Health Sciences of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The award ceremony was held on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, in the University’s Great Hall.

Health misinformation is widely recognised as one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age. Within the framework of CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens leads the CIVIS Open Lab ‘Combating Health Misinformation’, an interdisciplinary initiative examining how misleading health information spreads—and how it can be effectively addressed. The project is led by Professor Flora Malamateniou and unites researchers from the Departments of Nursing and Communication and Media Studies.

As part of the initiative, two workshops were held on December 16 and 18, 2025, at the Health Informatics Laboratory of the Department of Nursing. The sessions brought together undergraduate students from the University, along with students from the Hellenic Military Nursing Academy, fostering active discussion on the impact of misinformation on public health.

The project is conducted in collaboration with partner institutions across the CIVIS alliance, including Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Bucharest, highlighting both its European scope and the value of cross-institutional cooperation.

From 2 to 6 March 2026, the Department of Digital Industry Technologies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens successfully hosted the DIGITRANS Student Training School, organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ DIGITRANS project.

The five-day training event was delivered online via the Webex platform and brought together students from several partner universities participating in the project. The training aimed to strengthen students’ competencies in emerging digital technologies for modern energy systems and to promote international knowledge exchange within the DIGITRANS academic network.

The programme included lectures, demonstrations, and simulation-based discussions covering key topics such as microgrid design and modelling, cybersecurity in digital energy infrastructures, and electric vehicle charging technologies. Participants gained valuable insights into digital tools and engineering approaches that support the development of smart, resilient, and sustainable energy systems.

The training school contributed to the DIGITRANS project’s broader goal of modernizing engineering education and strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions and industry partners.

Professor Gerassimos D. Pagratis of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Department of Italian Language and Literature) has been elected Visiting Professor at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris, following a decision by the institution’s Academic Assembly. During his stay, he will be based at the Centre de recherches historiques (CRH), a research laboratory jointly affiliated with EHESS and the CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), with Professor Mathieu Arnoux as academic host.

As part of this invitation, Professor Pagratis will deliver a series of four seminars and will participate in the research and teaching activities of the institution.

The invitation forms part of the broader collaboration between the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and EHESS.

Founded in 1949 by Fernand Braudel, CRH is one of the most important international centres for historical research, promoting interdisciplinary approaches and international collaboration in the field of historical studies.

https://crh.ehess.fr/index.php?10970

On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens hosted a concert by the University of Central Missouri Choral Union, directed by Dr Jackson Thomas—conductor, composer, and tenor—as part of the ‘NKUA in the City’ series curated by Achilleas Chaldaeakes.

The concert programme, aptly titled Our Corner of the Earth, was built around a timeless symbolic theme: the four elements of nature—earth, air, fire, and water—which from antiquity to the present have offered one of the most enduring ways to understand the relationship between humans and the world. The concept of the four elements traces its origins to Pre-Socratic philosophy, where early thinkers sought to interpret the structure of nature through basic, fundamental principles. In music, these elements acquire a distinctive poetic dimension: earth evokes stability and memory, air suggests movement and breath, fire conveys intensity and transformation, while water embodies flow and renewal. Through these symbolic qualities, music turns natural phenomena into immersive soundscapes, creating a space where nature, humanity, and art converge.

The programme explored this symbolic journey through works from different periods and musical traditions. From the Renaissance polyphony of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina to contemporary choral creations by composers such as Katerina Gimon and Ayanna Woods, the concert offered a rich musical narrative centred on humanity’s relationship with the surrounding world. African-American spirituals, together with works of contemporary choral writing, formed a musical landscape in which past and present entered into a creative dialogue.

Particular attention was drawn to the ensemble’s interpretative quality. Comprising students and graduates of the University of Central Missouri’s Choral Programme, the choir, under the direction of Dr Jackson Thomas, sensitively brought out the expressive nuances of each work, rendering both the clarity of Renaissance polyphony and the intensity of contemporary choral writing. Our Corner of the Earth concluded as a musical journey, reminding the audience that humanity’s connection with the elements of nature is not only material but deeply symbolic. Through sound and voice, music revealed how the fundamental forces of the world are transformed into experiences of memory, emotion, and shared human expression.

New analytics reveal that the Communication Hub of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (https://hub.uoa.gr) is reaching an increasingly broad international audience, further strengthening its role as the University’s central digital platform for sharing news, research, and institutional developments.

Strong growth in users

Between 1 September 2024 and 17 February 2026, the platform recorded:

1,082,225 active users, an increase of 83.77% compared with the previous reporting period (16 March 2023 – 31 August 2024).

1,051,559 new users, up 81.45%, reflecting the steady expansion of the Hub’s readership.

These figures underscore the growing importance of the Hub as a primary source for news and updates from the University of Athens.

Rising engagement with content

Audience engagement has also increased markedly during the same period.

2,216,060 page views were recorded, representing an 84.99% increase.

In addition, the platform logged 7.25 million interaction events, a rise of 64.56%, indicating sustained and meaningful engagement with the Hub’s content.

Mobile access dominates

Most readers now access the Hub through mobile devices:

Web / Mobile: 813,603 users (+86.05%)

Web / Desktop: 231,690 users (+61.40%)

Web / Tablet: 31,005 users (+132.81%)

The data confirm the continued shift towards mobile-first access, with smartphones now accounting for the majority of visits.

How readers discover the Hub

New users most frequently reach the platform through:

Direct visits

Organic search

Organic social media traffic

The Hub’s strong performance in search results highlights its high visibility across search engines, while the large number of direct visits suggests that it has established itself as a trusted and widely recognised source of information.

A growing international readership

Analytics data also point to a steadily expanding global audience.

The countries generating the largest number of users include:

Greece: 903,877 users (+73%)

China: 44,734 users (+8,740%)

United States: 23,490 users (+110%)

Cyprus: 19,952 users (+108%)

Substantial growth has also been recorded in Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

Traffic from Asia has increased particularly sharply, while readership in the United States and across Europe continues to rise—an indicator of the expanding international visibility of the University of Athens.

A platform with growing international impact

Overall, the data confirm that the University of Athens Communication Hub is evolving into an increasingly influential platform for communicating the University’s work to audiences in Greece and around the world.

The steady rise in users, page views, and international readership reflects the success of the University’s digital outreach strategy and its efforts to enhance the global visibility of its research, partnerships, and academic initiatives.

To date, more than 10,000 stories have been published on the platform.

At the same time, the English edition of the Hub continues to expand, further strengthening the international presence of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens:

https://hub.uoa.gr/en/

From 3 to 6 February 2026, Havana, Cuba, hosted the International Congress on Comparative and Constitutional Law ‘Cuba CON-PARA’ (https://cubaconpara.com/es/).

Organised by the Faculty of Law of the University of Havana, Cuba CON-PARA took place at the historic Hotel Nacional, with the support of prominent academic associations from across Europe and Latin America. The event was the second in the series, following the inaugural congress held two years earlier.

The conference programme was developed following an international call for papers and featured presentations by scholars from a wide range of countries, including Italy, Cuba, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Türkiye, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, Tunisia, Angola, and Greece.

Among the participants was Professor Elina Moustaira of the School of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, who presented a paper titled:

‘The Importance of Cryptotypes for Reaching Realistic Conclusions about the Identity of Rights’.

Cuba CON-PARA was widely regarded as exceptionally well organised and highly successful, and it was an honour to contribute to its programme.

The third International Congress on Comparative and Constitutional Law is scheduled to take place in Havana in 2028. The event will coincide with the 300^th anniversary of the founding of the University of Havana, a milestone of particular significance for Cuba. Professor Moustaira has already been invited by the organisers to participate and has gladly accepted the invitation.

Christos Rachiotis, Professor of Operative Dentistry at the University of Athens, actively contributes to the European Association for Sports Dentistry (EA4SD), where he serves as a member and has been elected Chair of the Scientific and Education Committee.

The Committee’s primary goal is to advance scientific knowledge and evidence-based practice in sports dentistry, while also developing and coordinating the Association’s educational and research programmes.

Through this role, Professor Rachiotis enhances the University of Athens’ international presence and fosters collaboration with leading European scientific networks in sports dentistry.

In late 2025, the United Bible Societies published the sixth revised edition of the Greek New Testament (UBS Greek New Testament, see https://www.die-bibel.de/scholarly-bible-editions/greek-new-testament-gnt/the-sixth-edition-of-the-greek-new-testament-ubs6).

Professor Christos Karakolis of the Department of Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens serves as co-editor, alongside Professors Hugh Houghton and David Parker of the University of Birmingham, Holger Strutwolf of the University of Münster, Stephen Pisano of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Dr David Trobisch of the Museum of the Bible (Washington, USA), and Dr Klaus Wachtel, also of the University of Münster.

Published eleven years after the fifth, this new edition is designed for New Testament translators worldwide, as well as academics, students, and anyone interested in the history of the text and its different versions in manuscript tradition.

A key feature of the sixth edition is the revised order of the New Testament books, reflecting the arrangement found in the majority of Greek manuscripts. In particular, the Catholic Epistles now appear after the Acts of the Apostles, followed immediately by the Pauline ones.

For more information on the history of the UBS Greek New Testament, visit here: https://www.die-bibel.de/scholarly-bible-editions/greek-new-testament-gnt/the-greek-new-testament-history.

Professor Chryse (Sissy) Hatzichristou of the Department of Psychology was recently honoured with the Judith Kaufman Award for Outstanding Training Contribution to School Psychology, recognising her exceptional commitment to scholarship, teaching, service, and leadership in the field at both national and international levels. Notably, this is the first time the award has been presented to a scholar outside the US educational context, by the American organisation Trainers of School Psychologists.

The awards ceremony took place on February 23, 2026, during the association’s conference at Loyola University, Chicago.

Sissy Hatzichristou serves as Professor of School Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Director of the MA Programme in School Psychology, and Head of the Laboratory of School Psychology: Education, Research, and Applications. She is also a former President of the International School Psychology Association and has held board positions in numerous international and American psychology societies.

This recognition adds yet another significant international accolade to both the Department of Psychology and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, highlighting the University’s continued impact on the global academic community.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has officially opened a new facility for its School of Economics and Political Sciences. Located in the heart of the city, the building provides a modern academic environment designed to meet the needs of contemporary university teaching and research.

In attendance at the opening were Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Sofia Zacharaki, Greece’s Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports; and Professor Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, who each addressed the audience. His Eminence Gregorios, Metropolitan of Peristeri and faculty member of the University’s School of Theology, officiated the traditional blessing to commence the ceremony.

Also present were Professor Nikolaos Thomaidis, Alternate Chair of the University’s Administration Council; Professors Spyridon Vlachopoulos, Dimitrios Kenourgios, Athanasia Smirniotou, and Achilleas Chaldaeakes, Members of the Administration Council; Professor Efstathios Efstathopoulos, Sophia Papaioannou, Aristeidis Samitas, and Christos Karagiannis, Vice-Rectors; Professor Dimitrios Thomakos, Chair of the Department of Business Administration; Professor Manos Spyridakis, Chair of the Department of Sociology; as well as numerous academic and administrative staff from the Departments that will occupy the newly renovated building.

A team of undergraduate students from the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has achieved a notable distinction at the European Law Moot Court Competition (ELMC) 2025-2026. After successfully completing the written phase of the competition by submitting written pleadings, the team advanced to the Regional Final in Bratislava, held from 5 to 8 February 2026. The students received particularly high grades for their written submissions and delivered outstanding oral pleadings during the hearings, achieving an excellent overall performance.

The Athens Law School team comprised the undergraduate students Anastasia-Ioanna Anastasaki, Despina Damigou-Zamanika, Ariadni Mathioudaki, and Stavroula Bouterakou.

Established in 1989 and organised under the auspices of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Law Moot Court Competition (http://www.europeanlawmootcourt.eu/) brings together teams of undergraduate and postgraduate students from more than 80 universities across Europe and the Americas, including the College of Europe, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, University College London, KU Leuven, and the University of Bologna.

The competition simulates proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union and consists of both written and oral phases. A distinctive feature that sets the ELMC apart from other moot court competitions is its bilingual format, which is itself assessed: participants must plead in both English and French.

This year’s case addressed complex issues of contemporary significance in EU law, including:

the horizontal direct effect of the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union for private individuals not only when Union law is applied, but also in private contractual relations, allowing national courts to disapply or interpret private contractual terms;

the legality of fixed-per-capita awards—differentiated by gender and age—for non-material damage arising from representative actions concerning data protection breaches, in light of Article 82 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) and Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; and

the compatibility with Article 63 TFEU of national legislation restricting third-party litigation funding to entities established within the European Union.

Alexandra Alexaki, Maria-Eleni Kotzia, and Sofia Bandana—members of last year’s ELMC team—prepared this year’s participants. Assistant Professor I. Kourtis also made a significant contribution.

The team enjoyed the academic guidance of Associate Professors R. Papadopoulou and E. Perakis.

We are also grateful to Dryllerakis and Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firms, whose generous sponsorship enabled the team to participate in the competition.

The 1^st Department of Cardiology at the University of Athens’ School of Medicine, based at Hippocratio General Hospital, is proud to host CardioAthena 2026—the 22^nd International Meeting on Cardiovascular Medicine.

Alongside the conference, the Organising Committee is inviting students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens to take part in ‘Heartworks: The Heart Through Art and Artificial Intelligence’, a one-of-a-kind art competition. This initiative explores the heart not just as a vital organ but as a universal symbol of life, emotion, rhythm, memory, and human experience—through the lens of cutting-edge AI technology.

As creativity meets technology like never before, AI offers fresh ways to tell stories, create visuals, experiment with sound, and bring movement to life. Heartworks gives students a chance to turn scientific inspiration into tangible art, expressing ideas, emotions, and visions sparked by the human heart. The competition welcomes both scientifically informed and free-form, poetic, symbolic, or narrative approaches.

The University of Athens and Sorbonne University are launching a joint postgraduate seminar in Ancient Studies, bringing together expertise from both institutions. The seminar is organised by the Departments of Philology and History and Archaeology at Athens and the Institute of Antiquity Sciences at Sorbonne.

The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two universities and reflects their commitment to advancing collaborative research and education.

Titled ‘Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Ancient Studies: Exemplary Transformations of Roman Imperial Ideology: Before and After Nero’, the seminar will be delivered online in English from 11 March to 15 May 2026.

Full details on speakers, lecture topics, and the timetable are available in the seminar’s official programme below. Teaching materials and access links can be found on the seminar’s e-class platform via the QR code provided in the programme and event poster.

The seminar is open to postgraduate students from the participating departments at both universities, as well as to doctoral candidates.

Poster

Programme

The Department of Russian Language and Literature and Slavic Studies of the School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), is organizing the International Interdisciplinary Conference entitled “Paths of Bakhtinian Thought Then and Now”, to be held on 5–6 March 2026 at the School of Philosophy in the Zografou University Campus.

The conference focuses on the work and lasting influence of Mikhail Bakhtin, one of the most important theorists of the twentieth century. Concepts such as dialogism, polyphony, heteroglossia, and the chronotope are discussed “then and now” through new readings, applications, and interdisciplinary approaches, with the aim of strengthening dialogue between the humanities and the social sciences.

The programme brings together 50 scholars delivering 43 papers, from 15 universities (6 Greek and 9 international, representing a total of 22 university departments) and 2 organizations. It spans fields including literature, linguistics, philosophy, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, education, health sciences, and artistic creation, highlighting the continuing relevance of Bakhtinian thought across diverse academic contexts.

The conference will open on Thursday, 5 March, at 16:15, in the Library Auditorium of the School of Philosophy, NKUA (registration: 15:15–16:15). Proceedings continue on Friday, 6 March, with thematic panels and presentations on the reception of Bakhtin, interdisciplinary applications, and contemporary readings of Bakhtinian theory.

The event forms part of NKUA’s outreach activities and aims to serve as a meeting point for researchers from Greece and abroad, as well as a space where theory and practice intersect—from language study and the interpretation of literary texts to issues of education, culture, and health. Through the breadth and polyphony of its themes, the conference presents Bakhtin as a timely interlocutor for contemporary scholarship and invites the public to engage in a lively dialogue of ideas.

Admission is free to the public, and certificates of attendance will be issued. The Conference Programme/Invitation is attached.

Information – Contact (Organizing Committee):

Email: int.conf.bakhtin@gmail.com

Πρόγραμμα

The second lecture of the LSE Athens Lecture Series 2025–2026, organised by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Department of Business Administration, and the MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) programme, attracted a lively and engaged audience.

The event was held on Friday, 27 February 2026, in the Great Hall of the University’s Main Building (Propylaea), under the title ‘Gender Roles and Parental Time Allocation’.

Keynote speaker Almudena Sevilla CBE, Professor of Economic and Social Policy at LSE, presented research on gender roles and parental time allocation, highlighting persistent inequalities in household and childcare responsibilities and their impact on labour markets and public policy.

During the academic year 2026-2027, the Law School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will offer an intensive LL.M. Programme in International & European Legal Studies.

Description

The LL.M. Programme in International and European Legal Studies (IELS) provides students with an advanced and in-depth study in the European and international aspects of private law, as well as the economic, social and political factors that drive its development. This LL.M. seeks to provide students with a solid doctrinal and practical background which shall allow them to successfully cope with the ever-demanding academic environment, while developing their careers at the highest level of national and international practice.

Students will also benefit from the strong network and various academic activities of the European Law School Network, which consists of 8 capital city universities, the National and Kapodistrian of Athens, the Humboldt Universität in Berlin, King’s College London, Paris 2 (Panthéon-Assas), La Sapienza University in Rome, the University of Amsterdam, the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Duration of Studies

The duration for the award of the Postgraduate Studies Diploma (Master’s degree) of the Programme is set at one (1) academic year (i.e. two academic semesters), without any student holidays).
The award of a Master’s degree requires the successful completion of two semesters of compulsory study in a cycle of systematic specialised studies, with parallel research work and the writing of a postgraduate thesis.

During the two semesters, a total of nineteen (19) courses are taught, of which six (6) are defined as core modules and the remaining thirteen (13) as optional modules. The optional modules are common to both specialisations of the Programme.

Successful completion of a minimum of four (4) modules is required to complete each semester of study. At least two (2) of these modules are selected from the list of core modules that are compulsory for each specialisation per semester of study, while the remaining two (2) can be freely selected either from the list of core modules for each specialisation per semester of study, or from the list of optional modules per semester of study, which are common to both specialisations.

How to apply

Applicants are encouraged to consult the website of the LL.M. Programme https://iels.law.uoa.gr/ which provides information on admission requirements, the application procedure, tuition fees and visa requirements.

The application period for the academic year 2026-2027 starts on Friday 27th February 2026 and ends on Monday 15th June 2026.

Each applicant is invited to fill in the Application form (see Annex 1) and submit it with all relevant documentation to pms@law.uoa.gr

Each applicant may apply for a maximum of two LL.M. courses, which may belong to the same or different LL.M. programmes offered by the Athens Law School.

Προκήρυξη

META-TOO (A transfer of knowledge and technology for investigating gender-based inappropriate social interactions in the Metaverse) as a WIDERA project aims in strengthening NKUA’s research excellence and management capacity by enhancing staff knowledge and skills, elevating its profile in Metaverse research, and fostering sustainable research and innovation partnerships that expand its collaborative network. META-TOO, as a twinning initiative, focuses at understanding, preventing, and combating gender-based harassment in the emerging digital worlds. The project examines social dynamics and harassment mechanisms within Virtual Reality (VR) environments to develop innovative intervention tools, safety policies, and technical specifications. By studying user behavior, META-TOO seeks to create a Metaverse that is safe, inclusive, and protected from gender-based discrimination and violence by design.

To tackle such a complex issue, technology alone is not enough. It requires a team that bridges Computer Science, Psychology, and Ethics. Meet the three key partners collaborating toward this goal:

1. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

NKUA, the project coordinator, provides the scientific and administrative foundation necessary for the project’s implementation. It supports the research through the interdisciplinary connection of three departments, ensuring that technological development remains aligned with social responsibility:

• Informatics & Telecommunications: Focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) design and the development of the XR experiences where experiments are conducted.
• Psychology: Analyzes social dynamics, perpetrator behavior, and the impact on victims within immersive environments.
• History & Philosophy of Science: Establishes the ethical framework, ensuring that the design of the Metaverse respects fundamental human values.

2. Inria

The French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology serves as the project’s technical pillar. With over 3,800 scientists and 220 research teams, Inria brings unparalleled expertise in virtual humans and interaction. The Seamless and VirtUs teams specialize in crowd simulation and the creation of realistic digital spaces where real and virtual humans coexist. Their contribution allows the team to study how users interact in high-density environments, analyzing “digital movement” and social dynamics where the risks of harassment increase.

3. IDIBAPS

Based in Barcelona, IDIBAPS is a premier biomedical research center closely linked to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, providing the project with clinical and neuroscientific insights. Its contribution focuses on the “human factor” and brain function within immersive environments. Through virtual embodiment (the psychological sense that a virtual avatar’s body is one’s own), IDIBAPS researchers study how Metaverse experiences affect the brain and mental health. This research is vital for understanding the deep “imprint” that negative social interactions or harassment leave on users, as well as for fostering empathy through technology.

The Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach

Gender-based harassment in the Metaverse is a problem that touches many fields simultaneously. Addressing it requires a deep understanding of VR’s technical capabilities, the psychological impact of virtual embodiment, and the social and ethical norms governing user interaction.

The partnership between NKUA, Inria, and IDIBAPS enables researchers from diverse backgrounds to exchange expertise and data daily. This interdisciplinary collaboration is what makes the study of such complex problems more effective, ensuring that the research covers every aspect of the user experience in the Metaverse.

Stay connected with META-TOO

Follow our journey and be the first to receive updates on our upcoming experiments and research findings through our official channels:

• Website: meta-too.eu
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/meta-too-eu/
• Instagram: instagram.com/meta_too_eu/
• YouTube: youtube.com/@META-TOO

Join us in building a safer and more inclusive Metaverse.

META-TOO project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No 101160266.

META-TOO

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens held its now firmly established and highly symbolic Annual Faculty Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at 18:00, in the filled-to-capacity Great Hall of the University’s Main Building.

The awards recognized achievement across three categories:

Outstanding Contribution to the University and Society,

Outstanding Teaching, and

Excellence in Research.

Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, delivered the opening address.

Minister of Education Sofia Zacharaki also addressed the ceremony.

The Deans of the Schools introduced the award recipients, followed by the presentation of awards by the Rector, Vice-Rectors, Minister of Education, Sofia Zacharaki, and Deputy Minister, Nikolaos Papaioannou.

Spyridon Vlachopoulos, Professor and member of the Administration Council at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has recently published his book ‘Political Correctness as Modern Censorship? From Legal to Political Correctness and to the Boundaries of Intellectual Expression’ with Springer Nature on an open access basis.

According to the publisher, the book examines the rise of political correctness as a cultural and normative force that has reshaped public discourse, legal norms, and democratic values. The author argues that what began as a movement for inclusion and respect has evolved into a system of informal censorship that increasingly constrains freedom of expression, artistic creativity, and academic inquiry.

Grounded in legal theory and enriched by interdisciplinary analysis, the book explores the shift from legal correctness to moral conformity. It traces how political correctness influences education, the media, science, and international relations.

The book is available through Springer Nature’s platform:

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-17643-1

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the conclusion of the ‘Al-Farabi and Greek Philosophy’ workshop in Athens on February 24. The event was supported by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Greece. Sophia Papaioannou, Vice-Rector of the University of Athens, signed the agreement, while Professor Georgios Steiris, Chair of the Department of Philosophy, attended the ceremony.

Al-Farabi (870-950 CE) was a renowned philosopher from what is now southern Kazakhstan. He studied the works of Plato and Aristotle, producing detailed analyses that introduced Greek philosophy—and with it aspects of Greek culture—to the Islamic world.

His efforts helped shape and preserve the Aristotelian tradition in the East, earning him the title of ‘the Second Teacher’, following Aristotle.

Nonna Mayer, a distinguished French political scientist, Professor Emeritus at Sciences Po, and researcher at the CNRS, has been awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Department of Sociology at the School of Economics and Political Sciences of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Professor Mayer served as president of the French Political Science Association from 2005 to 2016. Since 2015, her research has focused on the factors driving the electoral gains of the European extreme radical right, with particular attention to the roles of gender, sexism, and social precarity in shaping voting behaviour.

At the same time, she investigates changes in racism and antisemitism, drawing especially on data from the annual ‘Racism Barometer’. Her work also examines intercultural relations between majority and minority groups, with a focus on interactions of Jewish and Muslim communities.

‘There is every reason to rejoice in this outward-looking development. Prospective academic collaborations with the University of Cyprus—a public institution of high standing—will undoubtedly prove mutually enriching, and it is society at large, in both Greece and Cyprus, that will ultimately reap the many benefits and achievements that flow from such cooperation. In an uncertain global environment, marked by unprecedented developments and uncharted waters at every level, education and learning will always remain the indispensable condition for any meaningful journey into the future. Young people in Cyprus will now have at their disposal yet another trusted arena in which to test themselves, to excel in research and innovation, to engage critically and creatively with the realities of their lives, to pass knowledge on to future generations, and to attain heights of scientific excellence and moral integrity—qualities of which our world stands in such pressing need’, said, among other things, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II, in his address at the event marking the founding and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

‘For the Hellenism of Cyprus, Greek education has always been a fundamental condition of survival and progress. In this light, the presence in Cyprus of a historic Greek university—heir to the Kapodistrian vision—assumes particular significance for the present and the future of our homeland. For this reason, we warmly congratulate the Rector, the academic staff, and all who have contributed to the realisation of this important undertaking. We wish the students every success in their academic pursuits and every strength as they prepare to offer their own creative service to society’, said, among other things, the Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus, Georgios, in his address at the event marking the founding and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

‘Greece and Cyprus form one homeland—the place where the heart of Hellenism beats. Warm congratulations are therefore due to Rector Professor Siasos and to the University’s leadership for the courage, foresight, determination, and effectiveness with which they have brought this undertaking to fruition. It is an initiative that both symbolises and strengthens the unity of Hellenism. The Cyprus Branch is now called upon to become a point of reference for progress, innovation, and international academic collaboration at the heart of the Eastern Mediterranean. If we are to preserve and deepen the ties between Greece and Cyprus—ties stretching back through the centuries—we shall do so only by opening new paths for the generations to come’, said, among other things, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Constantine An. Tasoulas, in his address at the event marking the founding and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

‘The founding and operation of a Cyprus Branch of the University of Athens—an institution whose academic and social tradition stretches back to 1837—marks the beginning of an important new chapter, further strengthening the brotherly ties between Greece and Cyprus. These are bonds forged in shared struggles, values, and aspirations. Generations of Cypriots—myself among them—encountered the light of knowledge within this intellectual nursery. The University has long been more than a place of study: it has been, and remains, a beacon of learning and a cradle of culture, steadfast in its moral and practical support for the struggles of the Hellenism of Cyprus. I feel a deep sense of pride that many of my compatriots, whether as students or scholars, secured a distinguished place in the history of this University, their names indelibly inscribed in our collective memory. The establishment of the Cyprus Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the natural continuation of a long historical journey’, said, among other things, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in his address at the event marking the founding and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

He added: ‘The creation of the Branch constitutes an important milestone in our broader effort to further internationalise and upgrade higher education in Cyprus. It reinforces our strategic objective of transforming our country into a regional hub for knowledge, research, and innovation, with tangible, multi-layered benefits for society, the economy, and the international standing of the Republic of Cyprus’.

‘The University of Athens, the first and most historic university of our country, extends its reach beyond our borders. Alongside this, new pathways now open up for students, academics, and researchers alike. New opportunities for knowledge, outward engagement, innovation, and creative endeavour. We demonstrate in practice that Greek public universities are emerging as centres of learning in South-Eastern Europe, institutions of quality, standing, and international outlook. They stand on equal footing with leading universities worldwide. They are capable of meeting the demanding educational challenges of our time’, said, among other things, the Greek Minister of Education, Sofia Zacharaki, in her address at the event marking the founding and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

She added: ‘I wish to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, to its Rector, and to its academic community for their vision, dedication, and perseverance’.

The Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, warmly invites guests to the Annual Faculty Awards Ceremony for the 2024-2025 academic year, recognising academic staff across three categories: Outstanding Contribution to the University and Society, Outstanding Teaching, and Excellence in Research. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at 18:00, in the Great Hall of the University’s main building (30 Panepistimiou St, Athens). Programme of Events: Opening remarks by the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos. Address by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion, Professor Sophia Papaioannou.   Outstanding Contribution to the University and Society School of Theology: Spyridon Tsitsigkos, Professor at the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies School of Health Sciences: Dimitrios Boubas, Professor at the School of Medicine School of Law: Linos-Alexandros Sicilianos, Professor at the School of Law School of Philosophy: Angeliki Gena, Professor at the Department of Educational Studies, Chryse Hatzichristou, Professor at the Department of Psychology School of Science: Christina-Anna Mitsopoulou, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Apostolos Burnetas, Professor at the Department of Mathematics School of Economics and Political Sciences: Charalambos Chryssanthakis, Professor at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Eleni Sella, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies School of Physical Education and Sport Science: Nikolaos Geladas, Professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science   Outstanding Teaching School of Theology: Stavros Giagkazoglou, Associate Professor at the Department of Theology School of Health Sciences: Athanasios Papavasileiou, Professor at the School of Medicine, Athina Kalokairinou, Professor at the Department of Nursing School of Law: Photini Pazartzi, Professor at the School of Law School of Philosophy: Platon Petridis, Professor at the Department of History and Archaeology, Maria Papadima, Emeritus Professor at the Department of French Language and Literature School of Science: Michael Maliakas, Professor at the Department of Mathematics, Niki Evelpidou, Professor at the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment School of Economics and Political Sciences: Dimitri Sotiropoulos, Professor at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Dimitrios Chrysochoou, Professor at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration School of Education: Iro Mylonakou-Keke, Professor at the Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, Panagiotis Tzamargias, Special Teaching Staff at the Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education School of Physical Education and Sport Science: Fotini Venetsanou, Professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science   Excellence in Research School of Theology: Efstathios Lianos-Liantis, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Theology and Religious Studies School of Health Sciences: Ilias Siempos, Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine, Petros Galanis, Associate Professor at the Department of Nursing School of Law: Nikolaos Simantiras, Assistant Professor at the School of Law School of Philosophy: Nikolaos Dimakis, Associate Professor at the Department of History and Archaeology, Eleni Vousoura, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology School of Science: Maria Petropoulou, Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics, Anthoula-Chrysa Papageorgiou, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry School of Economics and Political Sciences: Constantinos Repapis, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, Evangelia Siachou, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics School of Education: Anna Tsiboukli, Assistant Professor at the Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, Vasiliki Lekka, Assistant Professor at the Department of Early Childhood Education School of Physical Education and Sport Science: Maria Maraki, Assistant Professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science.

Πρόσκληση Τελετής Απονομής Βραβείων

The School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Belgrade signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, in a ceremony attended by Serbia’s Prime Minister, Djuro Macut, and the Rector of the University of Athens, Gerasimos Siasos. Professor Macut, who holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Athens, joined Professor Siasos at the signing, highlighting the growing collaboration between the two institutions and the strengthening of academic ties between Greece and Serbia. Professors Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Chair of the University of Athens’ School of Medicine, and Nataša Milić, Acting Dean of the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Medicine, signed the MoU during the ceremony. The day held special significance for the University of Athens, as it coincided with the official inauguration of the institution’s new branch in Cyprus.

The signing ceremony also brought together a distinguished delegation, including Ivica Dačić, Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister; Zoran Gajić, Serbia’s Minister of Sports; and Nikola Nedeljković, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Hellenic Republic. Senior representatives from the University of Athens included Vice-Rectors, Professors Efstathios Efstathopoulos, Sophia Papaioannou, Aristeidis Samitas, and Christos Karagiannis, as well as Professor Georgios Mastorakos, who serves as the academic coordinator of the bilateral collaboration.

The MoU sets out a framework for enhanced collaboration through targeted initiatives, including exchanging knowledge and experience in medical education and research, launching joint initiatives on public health, carrying out mutually beneficial research projects, and sharing expertise and best practices. It places particular emphasis on:

–The exchange of students, faculty members, and research staff,

–The co-organisation of seminars, workshops, and scholarly conferences,

–The development of innovative research and educational programmes, and

–The expansion of the international presence and academic outreach of both institutions.

This initiative forms part of the University of Athens’ broader internationalisation strategy and its ongoing efforts to strengthen academic and research partnerships with leading European universities. It also reaffirms the University’s institutional role as a pillar of scientific excellence and a bridge for cooperation between Greece and Serbia in the fields of health, education, and innovation.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens, said: ‘The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding between the School of Medicine at the University of Athens and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Belgrade represents a strategic step forward. We are strengthening our ties with a historic European university, investing in knowledge, research, and the next generation of scientists, and actively contributing to the creation of a robust framework for scientific collaboration across South-Eastern Europe. The University of Athens continues to drive the internationalisation of Greek higher education, while promoting public health through academic excellence and innovation’.

The official ceremony marking the launch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ Cyprus Branch was held today, 17 February 2026, in the Great Hall of the University’s main building, opening a significant new chapter in the Institution’s long and distinguished history. Among those in attendance were the President of the Hellenic Republic, Constantine An. Tasoulas; the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides; His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece; and His Beatitude Georgios, Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus. Their presence underscored the symbolic significance of the occasion, reflecting a shared commitment to education, culture, and the enduring ties between the two countries, with higher education and the University of Athens at its heart.

University Rector Professor Gerasimos Siasos welcomed the distinguished guests, followed by addresses from the President of the Hellenic Republic, Constantine An. Tasoulas; the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides; His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece; His Beatitude Georgios, Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus; and the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, representing the Prime Minister of Greece.

Obesity is one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for cardiometabolic and cardiovascular disease. The ‘Prolamvano’ programme is a structured public health initiative overseen by the Greek Ministry of Health, clearly showing that prevention works when there is coordinated planning and support from the State and healthcare professionals.

Through a unified referral and record-keeping system, citizens can undergo preventive screening and, where clinically indicated, gain access to comprehensive care for obesity, including medical monitoring, dietary advice, and—where appropriate—free pharmacological treatment.

Supporting the Ministry of Health from the outset, the University of Athens School of Medicine actively participates through special centres within its Clinical Departments, where citizens can access information and services.

   1. General University Hospital of Athens ‘Laiko’, 1^st Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine (Director: Professor 

N. Tentolouris)

Academic coordinator: N. Tentolouris

17 Agiou Thoma St, 115 27 Athens, tel. 213 20 61 458, 214 20 61 459, and 1566

   2. ‘Attikon’ General University Hospital of Athens, 2^nd Department of Propedeutic Internal Medicine (Director: Professor 

A. Psyrri)

Academic coordinator: V. Lambadiari

1 Rimini St, 124 61 Haidari, tel. 210 5832013 and 1566

   3. Athens General Hospital of Thoracic Diseases ‘Sotiria’, 3^rd Department of Cardiology (Director Professor G. Siasos).

Academic coordinator: V. Lambadiari

154 Mesogeion Ave., 115 27 Athens, tel. 213 20 34 260 and 1566

Target group:

All citizens aged 30-70 (beneficiaries of the cardiovascular risk prevention programme)

Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher

BMI of 37-39.9 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity

Comorbidities referred to in the programme include (among others): type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, steatotic liver disease (MASLD), chronic kidney disease, etc.

Eligible for free pharmacological treatment for obesity are only those who:

Have completed the preventive laboratory and cardiac screening under the ‘Prolamvano’ programme, and

Have received a notification via text messaging or email, referring them to a public healthcare facility for medical assessment and free provision of treatment

Step 1: Referral Notification

Following the ‘Prolamvano’ medical examinations, eligible citizens receive a notification via text messaging or email referring them to a public healthcare facility for obesity management.

Step 2: Appointment at a public healthcare facility

Patients contact the Obesity Clinic reception to schedule their appointment, having the referral details and the related notification (text message/email) ready.

During the visit, the clinic team:

Takes a detailed medical history and performs a clinical examination

Verifies eligibility (BMI and comorbidities, if applicable)

Evaluates indications and contraindications and determines the treatment goal

Records all information in the system according to the programme’s procedures

Patients follow the prescribed treatment plan and are regularly monitored for

Effectiveness of treatment (weight loss/improvement of clinical indicators)

Safety and side effects

Adjustment of the treatment plan as needed

The Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos cordially invites you to attend the official event for the establishment and operation of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch on Tuesday, 17th February 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Great Hall of the Athens University (central building, 30 Panepistimiou Street).

The event will be honoured by the presence of:

His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Constantinos An. Tasoulas

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Nikos Christodoulides

His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos II and

His Beatitude the Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Georgios.

Arrival: No later than 12:40 p.m.

Entrance: Strictly by invitation only

RSVP by: 11.02.2026, e-mail: publicrelations@uoa.gr

PROGRAMME

Arrival and reception of official guests by the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

Addresses by:

– His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Constantinos An. Tasoulas

– His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides

– His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II

– His Beatitude the Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus, Georgios.

Speech by the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, entitled:

“Cyprus and the University of Athens – Two centuries of ties.

The establishment of the Branch”.

Video screening entitled: “The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Since its founding in 1837 to 2025 and the establishment of its branch in Cyprus”.

A reception will follow at the “Kostis Palamas” Cultural Center of the University of

Athens (48 Akademias Street and Sina).

Invitation – NKUA Cyprus Branch Establishment

On Monday, 9 February 2026, the School of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), in collaboration with the Hellenic Society of International Law and International Relations (HESILIR), held an academic gathering in the University’s Great Hall (main building, 30 Panepistimiou Street). Entitled ‘Democracy, the Rule of Law, and Human Rights’, the occasion featured Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset as the keynote speaker. On what was his first official visit to Greece, Secretary General Berset also received the Lord Byron International Prize for Philhellenism 2025.

The event brought together the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic, Ambassador a.h., Aliki Chatzi; the Greek Minister of Justice, Giorgos Floridis; the Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Haris Theoharis; the former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Theodoros Rousopoulos; the representative of His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos II; representatives of the Anglican Church; representatives of the Chiefs of the Hellenic Armed Forces; the Ambassadors to Greece of Switzerland, Sweden, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Belgium; the Chargés d’Affaires of the Embassies of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Poland, and Azerbaijan; as well as numerous faculty members and students from NKUA and other universities.

On 9 February 2026, the University of Athens School of Medicine reached a historic milestone with the launch of its Clinical Simulation Programme, held at the Physiology Laboratory’s Simulation Centre.

Part of the Internal Medicine clinical practice curriculum, the programme brings together all eight Departments of Internal Medicine at the School—including the Department of Therapeutics, the 1st through 4th Departments of Internal Medicine, the 1st and 2nd Departments of Propedeutic Internal Medicine, and the Department of Pathophysiology. It seeks to familiarise students with the common and critical challenges encountered in everyday clinical practice, within a safe, controlled, and pedagogically structured environment.

Welcoming the first group of students, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Chair of the School of Medicine, stressed that this initiative marks a significant first for the School.

Initially aimed at students in their 10th semester, the programme will expand to include those in the 11th and 12th semesters during the next academic year.

Simulation scenarios developed within the laboratory cover basic and urgent clinical conditions, including shortness of breath and acute chest pain, acute abdominal pain, severe headache and disorders of consciousness, as well as cardiac arrhythmias and shock.

Through realistic cases, students are encouraged to develop their clinical reasoning skills, make judgements, and collaborate effectively as a team.

Scientific oversight of the programme lies with Professor Kleio Mavragani, Director of the Physiology Laboratory, with essential administrative and technical support from Polyxeni Gaitanari and Valia Xarchakou.

The School gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Associate Professor Aggelogianni, as well as that of the programme’s instructors—Loukas Chatzis, Aimilios Kaklamanos, Spiros Karageorgos, Panagiota Palla, Vasiliki Dimitropoulou, Petros Kanellakis, Victoria Polydorou—and of all instructors from the participating Departments of Internal Medicine, whose collaboration is essential to the programme’s successful implementation.

Stella Tsani, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has been elected by the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) as a Member of the Multidisciplinary Experts Panel (MEP), representing the Western European and Others Group (WEOG).

IPBES is an intergovernmental body established under the auspices of the United Nations to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, with the aim of supporting informed decision-making at all levels. The Multidisciplinary Experts Panel is a core scientific body of IPBES, responsible for overseeing the scientific and technical functions of the Platform, including the development, review, and quality assurance of IPBES assessments and other deliverables.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens the School of Law and the Hellenic Society of International Law and International Relations (HSILIR) are organizing an event entitled:

«Democracy, the Rule of Law, Human Rights. The Council of Europe in the Face of Contemporary Challenges»

and the awarding ceremony conferring the “Lord Byron” Prize upon the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Mr. Alain Berset
that will take place on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 18:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (main Building, 30 Panepistimiou St).

Programme

Address by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Sophia Papaioannou.

Welcome address by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Welcome address by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Konstantinos Christodoulou.

Presentation of the work and personality of the keynote speaker by the former President of the European Court of Human Rights and
Professor at the Faculty of Law, Linos-Alexandros Sicilianos.

Keynote speech by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alain Berset.

Awarding of the “Lord Byron” Prize

Address by the President of the Academy of Athens, Nikiforos Diamandouros, Professor Emeritus of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Presentation of the award recipient and honorary reference to the Swiss Philhellenes, by the President of the Society for Hellenism and
Phihellenism, Mr. Konstantinos Velentzas.

Awarding of the “Lord Byron” Prize to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alain Berset.

The event will be conducted in English

Invitation

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to public health and society, Greece’s Alternate Minister of Health, Eirini Agapidaki—a graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens—was presented with an honorary award by the School of Health Sciences. The award highlights her achievements in healthcare and prevention, as well as the lasting social impact of her initiatives.

It also acknowledges Ms Agapidaki’s work in implementing evidence-based public health policies and initiatives, conducted in close collaboration with the scientific community, while making a tangible social impact by promoting prevention, equitable access, and an improved quality of life for all citizens.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has, for the first time internationally, developed a scale for measuring individuals’ susceptibility to misinformation from fake news.

Called the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale, it is the fruit of research by Associate Professor Petros Galanis, PhD candidate Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Assistant Professor Polyxeni Mangoulia, Laboratory Teaching Staff Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Assistant Professor Ioannis Moisoglou, and Assistant Professor Parisis Gallos. The paper has been published in the Healthcare journal (impact factor: 2.7) and can be accessed at doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172252.

Both the Greek and English versions of the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale are freely available for use at http://scholar.uoa.gr/pegalan/online-misinformation-susceptibility-scale, complete with instructions and a scoring guide.

More specifically, the Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Athens’ Department of Nursing developed and validated the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale, the first international tool to evaluate how users interact with content across social media and the wider web—a crucial step towards promoting accurate information in the digital space. The Scale consists of just nine simple questions and takes only two minutes to complete.

It should be noted that the development and validation of the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale strictly followed all scientific steps as defined by research methodology for creating a reliable and valid tool. Specifically, the Scale demonstrates (a) high validity, meaning that it indeed measures levels of susceptibility to misinformation from fake news, and (b) high reliability, meaning that it produces consistent results across repeated measurements.

Fake news influences individuals and shapes how they perceive reality and make decisions. Psychological mechanisms such as cognitive biases, emotional reactions, and social identities make people more susceptible to misleading information. People often believe or share fake news because it triggers strong emotions, such as anger or fear. To make things worse, digital platform algorithms amplify these emotions by promoting sensational content that maximizes engagement. That can confuse people, distort their understanding of facts, reduce their trust in institutions and experts, and harm their mental well-being, as continuous exposure to misinformation increases anxiety and distrust towards others and the social environment in general.

In this context, the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale is of crucial importance, as it enables researchers and mental health professionals to assess an individual’s susceptibility to fake news. That helps identify those who are most vulnerable. Once we know who is more susceptible to misinformation, we can design educational programmes, awareness campaigns, and strategies to enhance critical thinking specifically for these individuals. For instance, we can use the Scale before and after an educational intervention to evaluate whether susceptibility to misinformation has decreased. Additionally, individuals who understand their own level of susceptibility can become more cautious, develop information verification skills, and reduce the risk of making erroneous decisions in areas such as health, politics, or personal safety.

Click the link below to check, in just two minutes, your level of exposure to misinformation from fake news on social media and the wider web by using the Online Misinformation Susceptibility Scale:

https://chesme.limesurvey.net/739755?lang=el&newtest=Y

Alternatively, you can scan the QR Code below:

A paper by postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, Tryfon Sivenas, working under Professor Emeritus Constantine Skordoulis, was included in the AI Hub for Education Research Study Repository of Stanford’s SCALE Initiative (January 2026 update). It was one of three studies explicitly highlighted (the other two being from UCL and Carnegie Mellon) with direct reference to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

On Thursday, 29 January 2026, Athens Law School welcomed a delegation of 15 students and two faculty members from the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences in Brühl (Hochschule des Bundes für öffentliche Verwaltung in Brühl). The visit was organised by Associate Professor of Public Law Ekaterini Iliadou, Head of the Department of Public Law, as part of the School’s international cooperation initiatives.

On this occasion, Associate Professor Iliadou gave a lecture in the Law School’s library on the current Greek constitutional and administrative framework.

An open discussion with questions from the room followed the presentation.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens participates in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network’s INTEGRATE project, funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. The project offers 16 doctoral candidate positions, including one to be supervised by Professor of Pharmacology Christina Dalla at the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

INTEGRATE tackles the urgent need for better mental health treatments by advancing psychedelic therapy (PT) as a promising new therapy.

INTEGRATE will train a new generation of interdisciplinary experts in PT, addressing four major challenges that currently hamper the implementation of PT in healthcare: unknown mechanisms of action; lack of clinical gold standards; legal/regulatory obstacles; and ethical/societal challenges. The consortium includes 11 academic beneficiaries in nine European countries, and 23 associated partners across Europe and beyond. Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration, the project aims to develop evidence-based protocols, regulatory pathways, and ethical guidelines for safe and effective implementation of PT into healthcare.

More information about the network can be found on the project website: https://integrate-dn.eu/

Vacancy closing: 11 February 2026

Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, attended the 110^th Hellenic Universities Rectors’ Conference held in late January in Volos, Thessaly.

The School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is bringing together an international consortium of medical schools from Europe and Africa to develop model educational programmes that advance women’s health and human rights in Sudan.

At the centre of this initiative is the School’s postgraduate programme Global Health – Disaster Medicine, led by Professor of Surgery Emmanouil Pikoulis. It is he who coordinates the new EU-funded Erasmus+ project ‘Empowering Higher Education to Address Female Genital Mutilation in Sudan’ (HEAL-FGM. Capacity Building for Higher Education. Proposal Number: 101237677), which forms part of the University’s international cooperation and academic outreach efforts.

This three-year project aims to tackle harmful traditional practices by leveraging higher education, developing innovative curricula, empowering academic staff and students, and engaging local communities.

HEAL-FGM is being implemented by an international consortium of universities and organizations, including:

Ahfad University for Women (Sudan)

Elsheikh Abdallah Elbadri University (Sudan)

University of Gadarif (Sudan)

University of Gezira (Sudan)

National Council for Child Welfare (Sudan)

Research Innovation and Development Lab P.C. – ReadLab (Greece)

Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (Italy)

CESIE – ETS (Italy)

In the words of Professor Emmanouil Pikoulis: ‘Through HEAL-FGM, the School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and its MSc in Global Health – Disaster Medicine are enhancing their international profile in education and research, while drawing attention to pressing global health challenges, including the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, one of the most severe in the world’.

The project also aims to make a tangible contribution to promoting gender equality, improving access to healthcare, and eliminating practices that have severe and long-lasting effects on women’s physical, reproductive, and mental health across the African continent.

On Sunday, 1 February, the University of Athens released the sixth issue of its newspaper in collaboration with To Vima tis Kyriakis, titled ‘The University of Athens: A Newspaper of Science, Education, and Culture’.

The front page features an exclusive interview with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, under the headline:

International Developments as an Opportunity for the EU to Emerge Strong and Strategically Autonomous:

Cyprus as a key hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, the broader Middle Eastern security context, Turkey’s Actions, and the Milestone of the EU Council Presidency.

In an in-depth discussion with the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, President Christodoulides stressed:

‘The greatest risk is the lack of mutual understanding and genuine willingness to cooperate in addressing the many common challenges we face’.

He added:

‘We remain cautiously optimistic about the resolution of the Cyprus Problem’.

President Christodoulides is set to visit Greece in February for a historic event, attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Constantine Tasoulas, to mark the launch of the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch.

Also in the February issue:

VACCINES FILE: Fifty Years of Progress and a New Era of Risks – A personal reflection by Sotiris Tsiodras on the power of vaccines and the growing threat of the infodemic. Three University of Athens academics offer expert analysis to shed light on the topic.

INTERVIEW: Greek Orthodoxy Never Ceases to Love – Archbishop Symeon of Sinai in his first interview since his enthronement. He discusses relations with the Greek State, contacts with Egypt, and the past and future of the Monastery of Saint Catherine’s.

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: The Mediterranean and the Greece–Cyprus–Israel–USA Framework – The strategic goal of the energy transition, the complex equation of climate neutrality, the new European policy mix, and the issues of energy security.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Extreme Weather Events, Storms, Floods, and Water Scarcity on the Horizon – Why excessive rainfall does not necessarily cover water shortages. The impacts of the climate crisis, necessary measures, interventions, and the case of Thessaly.

CRIMINOLOGY MUSEUM: A Journey through the History of Crime in Greece – The country’s only university museum dedicated to Forensic Sciences and Criminology, featuring landmark exhibits dating back to the early 20^th century.

Through its university newspaper—published as a supplement to To Vima tis Kyriakis—Greece’s oldest and largest higher education institution brings science, education, research, and the perspectives of young scholars into the public conversation. The publication provides accessible reporting on social and political issues. It highlights research produced at the University of Athens and tracks international developments that shape academic and scientific debate. As such, the newspaper serves as a lively platform where ideas from science, culture, and education can be shared and explored by a broad audience.

Download The University of Athens Newspaper, 1 February 2026 

Articles from ‘The University of Athens’ newspaper are also available online at:

https://www.tovima.gr/category/afieromata/panepistimio-athinon/

The Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the University of Athens has reached a significant national milestone, with three of its faculty members ranked among the Best Earth Science Scientists in Greece, securing fifth, eighth, and eleventh places, respectively.

Professor Filippos Vallianatos (5^th place) distinguished himself for his research in Geophysics, Physics of the Earth’s Interior, Earthquake Source Physics, and Applied and Environmental Geophysics.

Professor Maria Triantaphyllou (8^th place) distinguished herself for her work in Paleoceanography, Paleoclimatology and Environmental Micropaleontology, Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction, and Stratigraphy.

Professor Paraskevi Nomikou (11^th place) distinguished herself in Oceanography, Submarine Volcanism, Morphology, and Geo-Cultural Heritage.

These rankings underscore the Department’s international prominence and enduring commitment to research excellence.

https://research.com/scientists-rankings/earth-science/gr

From January 19 to 22, 2026, the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch brought a taste of university life to high schools across Cyprus. Targeting final-year students in the Economics stream, the sessions showcased the School of Economics and Political Sciences’ three Departments — Economics, Business Administration, and Port Management & Shipping — giving students a firsthand look at the pathways available at the Cyprus Branch.

Taking the stage were: Professor Nikolaos Eriotis, Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences; Professor George Dotsis, Chair of the Department of Economics; Professor Stelios Kotsios, former Chair of the Department of Economics; and Assistant Professor Lykourgos Kourkouvelas of the Department of Port Management and Shipping.

With notable success, on Tuesday 20 January 2026, at the Faculty of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the one-day symposium entitled “Representations of Women in Literature and Street Art: Goliarda Sapienza as a Model of Women’s Emancipation” was brought to a close, organised on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The event forms part of a modular programme of culture and education dedicated to women and to social awareness of every form of gender-based violence, bringing together literature, street art, and hip hop music with educational and scholarly initiatives, from November 2025 to February 2026.

The symposium was co-organised by the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Programme “Monument Management: Archaeology, City and Architecture” in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Art, Graffiti in the City (AGC), with the participation of the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Philosophy (NKUA), the “Myrsini Zorba” Laboratory of Modern Greek Studies (Sapienza Università di Roma), the Department of Italian Language and Literature (NKUA), and the Italian Cultural Institute of Athens.

The day opened with the inauguration of a street art intervention dedicated to Goliarda Sapienza, a work by the street artist NIQUE (Nicole Tsokou), on the 7th floor of the Faculty of Philosophy, symbolically foregrounding the university space as a site of public discourse and critical visibility. It was followed, by welcome addresses delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Professor Dimitris Drosos, the Director of the IPGP, Professor Dimitris Plantzos, and Dr Evi Athanasekou on behalf of AGC.

The scholarly programme developed a productive dialogue between representations of women in contemporary Italian literature and the performing arts; women in Greek intellectual life and education from the Metapolitefsi to the 21st century; and visual representations in public space examined through the lens of cultural management. Particular emphasis was placed on how image and narrative do not merely “reflect” reality, but participate in its formation—and therefore in the capacity either to normalise or to challenge gender hierarchies. The symposium featured papers by Professor Ioannis Tsolkas, Chair of the Department of Italian Language and Literature; Dr Anna Griva; Professor Christos Bintoudis; Professor Francesca Zaccone; Dr Dionysis Mourelatos; Ms Kalliopi Kountouri; and Mr Anastasios Kountouris.

Finally, students of the IPGP “Monument Management” delivered five-minute talks on the theme “Women in Literature”.

The symposium highlighted the value of interdisciplinarity and of linking theory, art, and institutional responsibility: cultural management was approached as a critical practice of choices (what is made visible, what is silenced, what is institutionalised), particularly when the subject concerns women’s experience, gender-based violence, and the right to safety and dignity.

The programme will continue with further educational and artistic interventions within the Faculty of Philosophy in the following months, steadily reinforcing the message that violence against women is not a “topical issue”, but a matter of fundamental rights and public education.

The Department of Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme in Psychology. The programme has a standard duration of eight (8) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest / applications should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Psychology, NKUA – Cyprus Branch is identical to the already accredited Programme of Study of the Department of Psychology at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 2013.

The Undergraduate Programme is expected to begin in October 2026.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy.uoa.gr/

https://www.uoa.gr

https://www.psych.uoa.gr

You can submit your application via email to cypruspsych@psych.uoa.gr from 1 February 2026 until 30 April 2026. You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

Department of Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST / APPLICATION for Studies at the Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Psychology, NKUA – Cyprus Branch

Date of Submission:

Submission Period: 1 February 2026 – 30 April 2026

*Expressions of interest / applications do not constitute an application for admission / registration. Applications for admission may be submitted only after the completion of all accreditation procedures—noting that the Programme has already successfully undergone the evaluation process—and following a new announcement.

    1. Personal Details

   2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education:

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

–Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic / Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work as stated in the CV)

   5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / 2026

Call for Expressions of Interest

Times Higher Education has just released the 2025-2026 edition of its World University Rankings (THE WUR). Alongside QS and ARWU (also known as the Shanghai Ranking), experts recognize THE WUR as one of the three most respected and influential global university rankings. This year’s list features over 2,191 institutions from 115 countries, including twenty from Greece and four from Cyprus (see Table 1).

Based on the latest results, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens climbed 100 places compared to last year, now ranking within the 401-500 bracket worldwide and securing the top spot among the 24 Greek and Cypriot universities listed.

This achievement marks a major milestone for the University, which has demonstrated steady progress in the rankings over recent years. In particular, between 2018 and 2026, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has:

Improved its position in the Research Quality pillar by 44%;

Improved its standing in the International Outlook pillar by 20%;

Ranked in the top 10% worldwide for Partnerships with Industry.

Table 1: Ranking and performance of the twenty Greek universities included among the 2,194 top universities worldwide, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2025-2026)

The “Resilience Economics and Sustainable Transitions” Centre at the Department of Economics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has been officially designated as a new International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme cosponsored by the International Science Council and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and supported by the China Association for Science and Technology. International Programme Office of IRDR (IRDR IPO) is hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and its Aerospace Information Research Institute.

The designation follows a highly competitive international evaluation process, with the proposal ranked in the highest excellence tier, confirming its strong scientific quality, international relevance, and policy impact. The new Centre joins IRDR’s global network of International Centres of Excellence, which serve as leading hubs for research, capacity building, and science-policy engagement in disaster risk reduction.

Associate Professor Stella Tsani, led the proposal submission and will serve as the scientific lead of the Centre. The Centre aims to be a regional hub for risk-informed economic analysis and resilience strategies, complementing existing ICoEs by focusing explicitly on the economic and governance dimensions of disaster risk. The vision is to:

• Lead innovative research on how economic systems respond to, and recover from, disasters and systemic shocks.
• Provide an integrated platform for cross-sectoral collaboration across economics, engineering, environmental sciences, and social policy.
• Act as a Mediterranean focal point within the IRDR network, sharing lessons globally while addressing regional vulnerabilities.
• Enhance IRDR’s visibility in Europe by embedding disaster risk reduction in economic policy, sustainability transitions, and governance frameworks.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has taken a major step in advancing its academic programmes at its Cyprus Branch with the official opening of new, state-of-the-art laboratories in Nicosia. These facilities, located in the heart of the city, significantly expand the University’s physical and educational presence on the island.

The new laboratories include Anatomy, Physiology, Histology-Embryology, Biology, Medical Physics, and Medical Statistics.

In the Anatomy Laboratory, students can explore modern anatomical models alongside the advanced 3D visualization platform, 3D Organon, gaining a fully interactive and comprehensive learning experience. The Biology, Physiology, and Histology-Embryology Laboratories are equipped with ample microscopes to support hands-on training, ensuring an engaging and practical laboratory environment.

The Laboratories of Medical Physics and Medical Statistics are now fully operational. The latest computers and all necessary peripherals have been installed, each workstation featuring specialized software, following guidance from academic staff and replicating the setup at the main campus in Athens. This includes widely used statistical packages such as SPSS, Stata, R Studio, and RevMan. The same facilities will also host practical sessions for the Medical Physics Laboratory.

Adjacent to the computer cluster, a dedicated space houses specialized measuring instruments and devices, creating a fully equipped, high-standard laboratory environment.

The launch of these laboratories underscores the University’s strategic commitment to delivering high-quality, contemporary education, supported by facilities that reflect its long-standing academic excellence.

Professor Vassilis Gorgoulis of the Laboratory of Histology-Embryology at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, together with his collaborators, has published a recent paper in the prestigious, high-impact journal Molecular Cancer. The study decodes for the first time the role of cellular senescence in the dysfunction of the immune cells within the tumour microenvironment and in the responsiveness to immunotherapy in melanoma patients.

Immunotherapy is increasingly being used across a growing spectrum of cancers and is considered the first-line treatment for this type of malignancy.

More specifically, the authors implemented a pioneering senescence molecular signature (SeneVick), in combination with innovative senescence detection reagents they generated (GLF16), to demonstrate that melanoma patients who did not respond to immunotherapy exhibit increased immunosenescence compared to responders.

Notably, for the first time, they revealed that cellular senescence constitutes the dominant mechanism of immune system suppression in the tumour microenvironment (surpassing other mechanisms such as anergy and exhaustion), as confirmed by tests, since it renders immune cells dysfunctional and unable to eliminate cancer cells.

The study opens new avenues in cancer treatment by demonstrating that immune cell senescence drives responsiveness to immunotherapy and should therefore be assessed to predict treatment outcomes and stratify patients accordingly.

Read the full study here

A research team from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has recently published a study entitled ‘Exploring the Dynamics of Digital and Social Media Marketing by Political Parties: Organic Posts vs. Paid Advertising on Meta Platforms’ in the Journal of Political Marketing.

https://doi.org/10.1080/15377857.2025.2599274

The team comprised:

–Dr Vagia Mochla, Visiting Professor, Department of Business Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

–Professor George Tsourvakas, Department of Business Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Director of the MA in Sports, Cultural, Political Marketing

–Iakovos Stoubos, Data Analyst, MRB Hellas

Focusing on the 2023 parliamentary elections in Greece, the research empirically examines how political parties employed digital strategies, analyzing the interplay between organic content and paid ads on Facebook and Instagram and drawing on data from the Meta Ad Library.

Among the few empirical investigations in political science, it takes a systematic approach to contemporary digital communication and political party strategy using social media data. Posts with a clear thematic focus are more likely to be promoted through paid advertising, whereas topics such as health, infrastructure, and transportation appear more frequently in paid ads than in organic content.

The publication falls within the research domain of the MA in Sports, Cultural, Political Marketing at the Department of Business Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Uniquely in Greece, this postgraduate programme treats political marketing as a distinct and specialized field of study, closely linked to the digital transformation of political communication.

Publication

It has become an established feature of the MSc in Journalism and New Media (Department of Communication and Media Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) for postgraduate students to take on the role of political correspondent in a briefing simulation with Government Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, now for the fifth year in a row. We warmly thank Mr Marinakis for his participation.

The simulation took place at the General Secretariat of Communication and Information on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Professor Emmanouil Pikoulis of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ School of Medicine and the MSc in Global Health – Disaster Medicine coordinated an academic working meeting earlier this month in Athens. The event brought together seven Universities from Europe and Asia as part of the EU-funded LEAN project (Erasmus+, Agreement number 101179632)

The LEAN project aims to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals, both medical and nursing staff, in Thailand and Vietnam, by integrating Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies, smart devices, and AI applications, while promoting innovative practices that respond to the contemporary needs of the ageing population (see https://ambient-lean.eu/).

Participating Universities included

Prince of Songkla University – Thailand

Chiang Mai University – Thailand

Hanoi Medical University – Vietnam

Nam Dinh University of Nursing – Vietnam

Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy – Vietnam

University of Lisbon – Portugal

Among the delegates were Deans Thanee Kaewthummanukul of Chiang Mai University and Luppana Kitrungrote of Prince of Songkla University from Thailand, as well as Phuong Mai Nong of Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Truong Tuan Anh of Nam Dinh University of Nursing from Vietnam. Accompanied by members of their academic communities, they had the opportunity to cooperate with prominent faculty from the University of Athens’ Schools of Medicine and Nursing. They also took a guided tour of the Asclepius Laboratory of Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Anatomy, headed by Professor of Anatomy Theodoros Mariolis-Sapsakos.

During the meeting, Professor Emmanouil Pikoulis underlined the critical role of international collaborations in modernizing curricula and training medical and nursing staff to respond effectively to the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. As the representative of the LEAN consortium, he expressed his sincere thanks to Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs, Chair of the School of Nursing at the University of Athens, for his continuous support and invaluable contribution to the successful implementation of the initiative.

According to Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs, ‘the Department of Nursing at the University of Athens engages in all processes, meetings, and collaborative activities developed as part of the LEAN project, with a particular emphasis on the care of geriatric patients. Our presence and contribution to this international initiative reflect our firm commitment to advancing nursing science through interdisciplinary collaboration and to continuously developing academic and clinical education. We recognize that today’s world requires new skills, familiarity with digital tools, the adoption of innovative pedagogical approaches, and the best use of technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health. For this reason, we actively support every initiative aimed at improving the quality of teaching, hands-on training, and the overall educational experience of our students. At the same time, we give special attention to strengthening the international reach of our Department. The exchange of students and faculty, the development of joint programmes, the networking of research groups, and the creation of an open channel of communication with Universities across Europe and Asia form the foundations of a state-of-the-art Department of Nursing. Our involvement in the LEAN project represents an important step in this direction. Through the exchange of experiences, the adoption of best practices, and collective effort, we help prepare future healthcare professionals for the challenges of an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. As Chair of the Department of Nursing, I will continue to consistently support every initiative that promotes quality, innovation, and international collaboration, ensuring that our School remains at the forefront of nursing education’.

Film director Fotos Lambrinos was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema of the School of Economics and Political Sciences at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The award ceremony was held on Friday, 19 December 2025, in the University’s Great Hall.

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, a feature article was published on the BBC website about the project ‘Biodiversity and Archaeological Sites’ (BIAS). The extensive text highlights the unique role of archaeological sites as ‘harbours’ of biodiversity. These sites have remained unchanged for many decades, and their natural environment has been preserved, making them hospitable to many species of flora and fauna and underscoring their importance in biodiversity conservation. The conclusion, drawn from the results of BIAS as well as similar studies from Peru and Italy, is also presented in the article.

The BIAS project was launched by the Greek Minister of Culture, Ms Lina Mendoni, and was supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr Stavros N Papastavrou), while it was funded by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency. The project’s contractor was the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which, for the implementation of the project, collaborated with researchers from eight other Universities and Research Foundations (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Agricultural University of Athens, University of Patras, University of Ioannina, Democritus University of Thrace, Natural History Museum of Crete – University of Crete, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research). As part of BIAS, 49 researchers across all specialties in zoology and botany conducted fieldwork in 20 iconic archaeological sites selected by the Ministry of Culture. Some of these sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while others fall within Natura 2000 network areas, and in three cases (Delphi, Meteora, and Olympia), both designations apply. A total of 526 fieldwork days and 90 laboratory analysis days were conducted.

In the 20 archaeological sites, a total of 4,403 species of animals and plants were recorded. Thus, the particular value of archaeological sites in terms of their biodiversity is clearly revealed. The BBC article particularly emphasizes that although these 20 sites occupy only 0.08% of Greece’s land area, they host about 11% of the country’s flora and fauna. According to the author of the article, Elizabeth Hewitt, in times when biodiversity is declining rapidly worldwide, modern research shows how deeply nature is integrated into cultural sites, and that preserving these historical places can also help protect rare species.

In October 2025, the Minister of Culture, Ms Lina Mendoni, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr Stavros N. Papastavrou, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, the Director of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Professor Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, Professor Konstantinos Triantis, signed a programme contract for the extension of the project to 35 additional archaeological sites. The implementation of the new project was entrusted to the Department of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with Scientific Responsible Professor Panayiotis Pafilis. BIAS II continues the globally innovative approach, combining the recording of biodiversity with the study of historical, archaeological, and philological sources. The first phase of the project has already been completed, and fieldwork will begin in February 2026.

Link to the original article: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260107-the-ancient-greek-ruins-harbouring-rare-animals

The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, launching a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening lifelong learning and opening up new opportunities for adults. The initiative promotes the application of scientific knowledge in both social and professional contexts, integrating innovative paedagogical approaches, digital tools, and cutting-edge technologies to enhance skills development, participation, and social cohesion.

Representing the Ministry was Konstantinos Vlasis, Deputy Minister for Vocational Education and Lifelong Learning, who highlighted the importance of aligning education policy with scientific evidence and the real needs of society.

On behalf of the University of Athens, Rector Gerasimos Siasos attended the signing, reaffirming the Institution’s role as a pillar of knowledge production and an active partner in shaping public education policy.

Professor Thomas Babalis, Chair of the University’s Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, joined the ceremony and will oversee the Department’s role in leading the collaboration.

Aims and objectives:

Enhance the quality of adult education and strengthen learners’ skills.

Promote equal access to learning for vulnerable social groups and adults seeking a second chance.

Disseminate university research into educational practice and develop modern paedagogical methods and digital tools, while making best use of artificial intelligence.

Create collaborative learning communities that connect the University with public education structures.

Promote social cohesion, cultural education, and lifelong learning.

Commenting on the occasion, Deputy Minister Konstantinos Vlasis stated: ‘Lifelong learning is not just an education policy; it is a social investment. Our collaboration with higher education institutions, particularly with Greece’s oldest and largest University, strengthens our ability to bring scientific knowledge directly to every learner, with a focus on equality and participation—and a genuine commitment to addressing the real needs of society’.

On his part, Rector Gerasimos Siasos said: ‘This productive collaboration with the Ministry creates a crucial framework for translating university research into educational work with a social impact and long-term perspective’.

Professor Thomas Babalis, Chair of the University’s Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, emphasized the importance of cultivating both cognitive and metacognitive skills among learners, ensuring inclusive participation in the educational process, with particular focus on vulnerable and special groups of the population, while also considering European and national policies for Vocational Education and Training (VET) & Lifelong Learning (LLL).

The collaboration between the Ministry and the University of Athens establishes a stable foundation for cooperation, where education policy, scientific research, and paedagogical practice converge to foster lifelong learning and strengthen the country’s human capital. Through LLL and VET actions, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Athens, as well as the recently signed agreement with the Hellenic Open University, strategic priorities emerge that promote professional development, social inclusion, innovation, and competitiveness. These forms of education are becoming invaluable choices for advancing both society and the economy.

Nearly two centuries have passed since the founding of theNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece’soldest and largest higher education institution. From its inception, the University has evolved in tandem with the early modern Greek State, shaping and witnessing every defining moment of the nation’s history. Since 1837, guidedby a steadfast focus on the future, the University of Athens has remained the cornerstone of Greece’s academic, scientific, and cultural development, tirelessly fulfilling its mission in service of knowledge and society.

As we enter 2026, the University stands at the forefront internationally, reflecting the unwavering commitment of itscommunity to progress, development, and excellence. Newopportunities continue to emerge through an expanding network of international partnerships and joint programmes of study, linking our Institution with some of the world’s most prestigious Universities.

Our sustained investment in excellent teaching, pioneeringresearch, and continuous outward engagement has furtherstrengthened the University’s global presence and influence, driving its steady rise and securing its place among the top 200 Universities worldwide.

The past year marked yet another historic milestone with the launch of the University’s Cyprus Branch. This important step extended our reach beyond Greece’s borders, deepened ties with the Cypriot academic community, and opened new pathways for education, research, and international collaboration.

At the dawn of 2026, the University of Athens continues to hold its place as the oldest and largest higher education institution in South-eastern Europe, distinguished by a reputation for excellence on a global scale.

That is the result of the collective effort, integrity, and dedication of every member of our University community.

May 2026 be a year of creativity, health, progress, and solidarity.

With determination and shared purpose, we will continue to advance our goals while honouring the history, mission, and future of our University.

Gerasimos Siasos

Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Professor of Cardiology

In 2025, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens once again stood at the forefront, both nationally and internationally.

Over the course of the year, the University of Athens gained widespread international recognition as the most improved University in Europe (QS World University Rankings), climbing further in global rankings to become Greece’s top University.

Building on this momentum, the University of Athens was the first Greek higher education institution to establish and operate a branch abroad, in Cyprus, while at the same time forging new research collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious Universities, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, the Sorbonne, and Boston, among others.

Meanwhile, it strengthened its public presence through initiatives with tangible social impact, reaffirming its enduring leadership in knowledge, scientific advancement, and public discourse as Greece’s oldest and largest University.

The School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry in 2026 to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme in Medicine. The programme has a standard duration of twelve (12) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme of the School of Medicine, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) is identical to the already accredited Undergraduate Programme of the School of Medicine at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 1837.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy.uoa.gr/

https://www.uoa.gr/

https://school.med.uoa.gr/

The School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the oldest and largest Greek-speaking medical school globally, has contributed uninterruptedly to education, research, and clinical practice for nearly two centuries. With thousands of graduates, a prominent presence in scientific publications, and an active role in international networks, the School is consistently ranked among the top 100–150 medical schools worldwide.

The launch of the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) in November 2025 marked a historic step in further strengthening the ties between Greece and Cyprus in the fields of Higher Education and Health Sciences. It offers students the opportunity to study Medicine in a high-standard academic environment, backed by the guarantee of NKUA. It is a centre of academic excellence and international collaboration, fostering knowledge, research, and innovation, and shaping a new generation of medical doctors with vision and social responsibility.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusmed@med.uoa.gr from 2 January 2026 until 30 March 2026.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia)

As part of this call for expressions of interest regarding the commencement of studies at the Department of Nursing, NKUA – Cyprus Branch, and in response to inquiries concerning accommodation, meals, and general day-to-day life for prospective students at our Nicosia branch, we provide the following information:

1) The fees amount to €20,000 and cover tuition only. Scholarships are expected to be introduced in future academic years.

2) The textbooks are the same as those provided through the University Textbook Management Service ‘EUDOXUS’. The cost of obtaining them is the responsibility of the students. Detailed information regarding the textbooks will be provided by the academic staff at the start of the semester.

3) The curriculum, which is identical to that of the parent University, as well as the study guide, will be published on the School’s website prior to the commencement of classes.

4) In collaboration with the Nicosia Municipality and the Archdiocese, NKUA – Cyprus Branch has secured 63 self-contained rooms in newly built student halls of residence at a preferential rate.

The Nicosia Municipality’s hall of residence is located on Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, Arsinois, and Alexiou Komninou Streets, while the Archdiocese’s hall of residence is on Korai and Irakleous Streets.

Further Information: Nicosia Municipality – ‘Student Hall of Residence on Arsinois, Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, and Alexiou Komninou Streets’

5) Meals. The cost of meals is the responsibility of the students. In collaboration with a local catering chain, the University’s Cyprus Branch has arranged for meals to be provided at preferential prices (€3–€6 per portion) in the dining hall of the Archdiocese of Cyprus (entrance via Isokratous Street, opposite the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas).

6) Parking: Parking is also available at a preferential rate of €25 per month (instead of €45) in facilities managed by the Nicosia Municipality.

Further Information: Nicosia Municipality – Employee Parking Card (enter ‘STUDENT’ in the COMPANY NAME field).

7) The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a required document for both Cypriot and Greek students of the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch. The card provides access to public healthcare services in all European Union member states, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, offering medical treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost (or free of charge) as local residents.

Cypriot students: They can obtain the EHIC free of charge at any Citizens Service Centre (KEP) or at any Citizens Centre (KEPO) of Cyprus Post.

Greek students residing in Cyprus: If insured with the National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY), they can apply for the EHIC electronically via gov.gr (service: ‘European Health Insurance Card’) using their personal Taxisnet credentials. The card is mailed to Greece; however, students can request a temporary replacement certificate, which may be used in Cyprus until the official card arrives. The card is valid for two years. It is strongly recommended that all students, regardless of their country of origin, obtain the EHIC prior to any travel or participation in European programmes, as it ensures immediate and secure access to medical care throughout the European Union.

8) Student Card: The Student Card is issued by the Youth Board of Cyprus and offers significant benefits for students studying in Cyprus or abroad. It is available to all students of recognized post-secondary and higher education institutions, regardless of nationality, and provides discounts on transport, cultural activities, shops, dining, and services in Cyprus and Europe. The card is issued free of charge electronically via the Youth Board of Cyprus platform. It is valid for one year and can be renewed upon presentation of proof of student status.

9) Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount: In Cyprus, students are entitled to discounted fares on public transport through the Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount programme. This service is also available to students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia).

10) Culture Youth Card: A prepaid card offered by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Youth Board of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, for youths aged 18–21. The card grants free or reduced admission to cultural venues and events, including theatres, museums, concerts, festivals, and cinemas. It aims to enhance youth participation in cultural life and facilitate access to high-quality forms of entertainment and the arts. The Culture Youth Card is issued free via the Youth Board of Cyprus website: www.onek.org.cy

School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia)

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/APPLICATION for Studies at the Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme of the School of Medicine, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia)

Date of submission:

Submission Period: 2/1/2026 – 30/03/2026

   1. Personal Details

   2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance. Pending – to be submitted upon issuance.

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad. Pending – to be submitted upon issuance.

(iii) Candidates from schools awarding the International Baccalaureate (IB), must have achieved (or are expected to achieve) a total of 36 points, including three Higher Level subjects, of which two must be selected from the following: Physics, Chemistry, Biology. In addition, three Standard Level subjects must also be completed. Pending – to be submitted upon issuance.

*Candidates who are currently enrolled in the final year of Upper Secondary School may submit their first-term grades for the current year, along with the performance report of the second year of Upper Secondary School or an equivalent qualification. The final selection will be made upon submission of the required supporting documents.

Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries. Pending – to be submitted upon issuance.

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

   5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate. I also state that I wish to participate in the selection process for admission to the Undergraduate Programme of the School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia), starting in the academic year 2026-2027.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

The Department of Business Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry in 2026 to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme in Business Administration. The programme has a standard duration of eight (8) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

The Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Business Administration, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) is identical to the already accredited Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Business Administration at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 2019 (Law 4589/2019).

For more information, please visit the following websites: https://cy.uoa.gr/ and https://ba.uoa.gr.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusba@ba.uoa.gr from 22 December 2025 until 31 March 2026. You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

Department of Business Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch

Useful Information

As part of this call for expressions of interest regarding the commencement of studies at the Department of Business Administration, NKUA – Cyprus Branch, and in response to inquiries concerning accommodation, meals, and general day-to-day life for prospective students at our Nicosia branch, we provide the following information:

1) The first-semester classes are scheduled to commence in October 2026 in Nicosia.

2) The fees amount to €6,000 and cover tuition only. Scholarships are expected to be introduced in future academic years.

3) The textbooks are the same as those provided through the University Textbook Management Service ‘EUDOXUS’. The cost of obtaining them is the responsibility of the students. Detailed information regarding the textbooks will be provided by the academic staff at the start of the semester.

4) The curriculum, which is identical to that of the parent University, as well as the study guide, will be published on the Department’s website prior to the commencement of classes.

5) In collaboration with the Nicosia Municipality and the Archdiocese, NKUA – Cyprus Branch has secured 63 self-contained rooms in newly built student halls of residence at a preferential rate.

The Nicosia Municipality’s hall of residence is located on Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, Arsinois, and Alexiou Komninou Streets, while the Archdiocese’s hall of residence is on Korai and Irakleous Streets.

Further Information: Nicosia Municipality – ‘Student Hall of Residence on Arsinois, Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, and Alexiou Komninou Streets’

6) Meals. The cost of meals is the responsibility of the students. In collaboration with a local catering chain (A. Zorbas & Sons Ltd), the University’s Cyprus Branch has arranged for meals to be provided at preferential prices (€3–€6 per portion) in the dining hall of the Archdiocese of Cyprus (entrance via Isokratous Street, opposite the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas).

7) Parking: Parking is also available at a preferential rate of €25 per month (instead of €45) in facilities managed by the Nicosia Municipality.

Further Information: Nicosia Municipality – Employee Parking Card (enter ‘STUDENT’ in the COMPANY NAME field).

8) The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a required document for both Cypriot and Greek students of the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch. The card provides access to public healthcare services in all European Union member states, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, offering medical treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost (or free of charge) as local residents.

Cypriot Students: They can obtain the EHIC free of charge at any Citizens Service Centre (KEP) or at any Citizens Centre (KEPO) of Cyprus Post.

Greek students residing in Cyprus: If insured with the National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY), they can apply for the EHIC electronically via gov.gr (service: ‘European Health Insurance Card’) using their personal Taxisnet credentials. The card is mailed to Greece; however, students can request a temporary replacement certificate, which may be used in Cyprus until the official card arrives. The card is valid for two years. It is strongly recommended that all students, regardless of their country of origin, obtain the EHIC prior to any travel or participation in European programmes, as it ensures immediate and secure access to medical care throughout the European Union.

9) Student Card: The Student Card is issued by the Youth Board of Cyprus and offers significant benefits for students studying in Cyprus or abroad. It is available to all students of recognized post-secondary and higher education institutions, regardless of nationality, and provides discounts on transport, cultural activities, shops, dining, and services in Cyprus and Europe. The card is issued free of charge electronically via the Youth Board of Cyprus platform. It is valid for one year and can be renewed upon presentation of proof of student status.

10) Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount: In Cyprus, students are entitled to discounted fares on public transport through the Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount programme. This service is also available to students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia).

11) Culture Youth Card: A prepaid card offered by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Youth Board of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, for youths aged 18–21. The card grants free or reduced admission to cultural venues and events, including theatres, museums, concerts, festivals, and cinemas. It aims to enhance youth participation in cultural life and facilitate access to high-quality forms of entertainment and the arts. The Culture Youth Card is issued free via the Youth Board of Cyprus website: www.onek.org.cy

Department of Business Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/APPLICATION for Studies at the Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Business Administration, NKUA – Cyprus Branch

Date of submission:

Submission Period: 22/12/2025 – 31/03/2026

   1.Personal Details

   2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

–Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries

–Detailed term grade transcripts for the second and third years of Upper Secondary School

–Each candidate is assessed on the basis of: (a) the final grade of the School Leaving Certificate or International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, (b) the detailed term grade transcripts, and (c) a mandatory interview.

(Candidates who are currently enrolled in the final year of Upper Secondary School may submit their first-term grades for the current year, along with the performance report of the second year of Upper Secondary School or an equivalent qualification)

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

   5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate. I also state that I wish to participate in the selection process for admission to the Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Business Administration at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia), starting in October 2026.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

Program start: October 2026

The Department of Classics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) invites prospective students to apply / submit an expression of interest for admission to the English-taught undergraduate program BA in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (BAAG), an eight-semester (four-year) degree.

The BAAG Cyprus Branch extends to Cyprus NKUA’s flagship English-language degree in Classical Studies, building on the University’s long academic tradition and the program’s established model of experiential, research-led learning.

Why BAAG Cyprus Branch

A program of breadth, depth, and strong academic identity: BAAG Cyprus Branch integrates archaeology, ancient history, and ancient Greek and Latin literature, offering an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in a liberal-arts approach and informed by current scholarship.

Experiential learning as a core principle: Students learn beyond the classroom through field trips, site visits, and museum-based seminars, with opportunities (where available) for participation in excavation-related activities, in keeping with the Athens program’s on-site and immersive ethos.

A Curriculum that Builds Expertise, Semester by Semester: BAAG Cyprus Branch offers a carefully scaffolded eight-semester curriculum that takes you from the foundations of Greek and Latin to confident, text-based and material-based analysis of the ancient world. Alongside core training in archaeology, history, and literature, you progress to advanced language mastery and specialist options—from the Archaeology of Cyprus and Plato and Aristotle to Xenophon, Hellenistic literature, and Vergil’s Aeneid.

See the detailed Curriculum here: https://baag.uoa.gr/cyprus_branch/the_programme/curriculum

Strategic location; Nicosia as an academic bridge: The Cyprus Branch is conceived as a bridge between Greece and Cyprus, supporting academic exchange and collaboration across the Eastern Mediterranean.

Location and Start of Teaching

Teaching for the first semester is planned to begin in October 2026 at the building of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus, Isokratous 1–7, 1016 Nicosia.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions criteria at the Cyprus Branch align with those of the Athens BAAG program.

Applicants should normally hold:

• International Baccalaureate or a Senior High School Graduation Certificate (indicative average grade 70% or equivalent).
• English language proficiency (not required for native speakers), for exampl

TOEFL iBT overall 88 (min sub scores: L17/W17/R18/S20)

IELTS overall 6.5 (min 5.5 in each component)

Cambridge First Certificate (FCE): B2

For applicants from Greece or Cyprus (where applicable): results from Panhellenic / Pancyprian entrance examinations (or equivalent nationally recognized entrance/qualification routes) may be requested; for Greek candidates, the program will consider applications subject to meeting the relevant minimum admission threshold in the Panhellenic examinations.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are expected to be €6,000 per academic year for the Cyprus Branch.

Please note: fees cover tuition only; the cost of textbooks is borne by students. Scholarships are anticipated to be established in future academic years.

How to Apply

Applications / expressions of interest are submitted electronically via the Cyprus Branch application portal: https://baag.uoa.gr/cyprus_branch/application

Application window and deadlines (2026–2027 intake)

• The Cyprus Branch call indicates submissions open from 1 December 2025
• Intake deadlines: 15 June 2026 for applicants who require a student visa, and 15 July 2026 for applicants who do not.

Documentation

Applicants should be prepared to provide (as applicable):

• Passport / National ID.
• Graduation diploma and final-year transcript, in the original language and in English.
• English language test results (where required).
• Short CV.
• Brief personal statement explaining motivation and suitability for the program.
• Where relevant: national entrance-exam results (e.g., Panhellenic/Pancyprian or equivalent), letters of recommendation, evidence of achievement, volunteering, etc.

Certification and translation of documents

For final enrolment processing, official certification/validation of documents and their English translations may be required (e.g., via Apostille for eligible countries, or attestation through the appropriate national authorities), consistent with the program’s documented application procedure.

Student Life and Practical Information (Nicosia)

To support students’ transition to Nicosia, the Cyprus Branch has outlined the following provisions and guidance:

• Accommodation: in collaboration with the Municipality of Nicosia and the Archbishopric, 63 newly built rooms have been secured at preferential rates.
• Meals: students cover meal costs individually; preferential meal pricing has been arranged through a local food provider, served at the Archbishopric dining facilities.
• Parking: preferential monthly parking rate available through municipal parking arrangements.
• Health coverage: students are advised to hold appropriate health insurance documentation; EU students should arrange the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before arrival.

Enquiries

For program and application enquiries, please contact: baag_cyprus@baag.uoa.gr

Further information:

• Cyprus Branch: https://baag.uoa.gr/cyprus_branch

Admissions: https://baag.uoa.gr/cyprus_branch/admissions_tuit

The Department of Port Management and Shipping of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Larnaca) invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry in 2026 to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme. The programme has a standard duration of eight (8) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

The Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Port Management and Shipping, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Larnaca) is identical to the already accredited Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Port Management and Shipping at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 2019.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy.uoa.gr/

https://cy.pms.uoa.gr/

https://pms.uoa.gr/

https://www.uoa.gr/

https://deaneconpol.uoa.gr/

You can submit your application via email to cypruspms@pms.uoa.gr from 12 December 2025 until 28 February 2026.

You can also use the above email address or contact us by phone at +30 22280 21921 for any further questions or clarifications.

Department of Port Management and Shipping, NKUA

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/APPLICATION for Studies at the Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Port Management and Shipping, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Larnaca)

Date of submission:

Submission Period: 12/12/2025 – 28/02/2026

*Expressions of interest/applications do not constitute an application for admission/registration. Applications for admission may be submitted only after the completion of all accreditation procedures — noting that the Programme has already successfully undergone the evaluation process — and following the issuance of a new announcement.

   1. Personal Details

   2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

–Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries.

Candidates from schools awarding the International Baccalaureate (IB), must have achieved (or are expected to achieve) a total of 26 points, including three Higher Level subjects, of which two must be selected from the following: Economics, Business Management, Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation, Computer Science, Greek A: Language & Literature. In addition, three Standard Level subjects must also be completed.

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

   5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

The Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry in 2026 to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme in Paedagogy and Primary Education. The programme has a standard duration of eight (8) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

The Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) is identical to the already accredited Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 1984.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy.uoa.gr/

https://www.uoa.gr/

https://cy.primedu.uoa.gr/

You can submit your application via email to cyprusprimedu@primedu.uoa.gr from 17 December 2025 until 28 February 2026.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

From the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education – Cyprus Branch, Nicosia

As part of this call for expressions of interest regarding the commencement of studies at the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, NKUA – Cyprus Branch, and in response to inquiries concerning accommodation, meals, and general day-to-day life for prospective students at our Nicosia branch, we provide the following information:

1) The first-semester classes are scheduled to commence on 1 October 2026 at the building of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus. The Department is housed within the certified facilities of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus, located at 1-7 Isokratous St, 1016 Nicosia, Cyprus.

2) The fees amount to €6,500 and cover tuition only. Scholarships are expected to be introduced in future academic years.

3) The textbooks are the same as those provided through the University’s Textbook Management Service ‘EUDOXUS’. The cost of obtaining them is the responsibility of the students. Detailed information regarding the textbooks will be provided by the academic staff at the start of the semester.

4) The curriculum, which is identical to that of the parent University, as well as the study guide, will be published on the Department’s website prior to the commencement of classes.

5) In collaboration with the Nicosia Municipality and the Archdiocese, NKUA – Cyprus Branch has secured 63 self-contained rooms in newly built student halls of residence at a preferential rate.

The Nicosia Municipality’s hall of residence is located on Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, Arsinois, and Alexiou Komninou Streets, while the Archdiocese’s hall of residence is on Korai and Irakleous Streets.

Information: Nicosia Municipality – ‘Student Hall of Residence on Arsinois, Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, and Alexiou Komninou Streets’

6) Meals. The cost of meals is the responsibility of the students. In collaboration with a local catering chain, the University’s Cyprus Branch has arranged for meals to be provided at preferential prices (€3–€6 per portion) in the dining hall of the Archdiocese of Cyprus (entrance via Isokratous Street, opposite the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas).

7) Parking: Parking is also available at a preferential rate of €25 per month (instead of €45) in facilities managed by the Nicosia Municipality.

Information: Nicosia Municipality – Employee Parking Card (enter ‘STUDENT’ in the COMPANY NAME field).

8) The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a required document for both Cypriot and Greek students of the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch. The card provides access to public healthcare services in all European Union member states, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, offering medical treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost (or free of charge) as local residents.

Cypriot Students: They can obtain the EHIC free of charge at any Citizens Service Centre (KEP) or at any Citizens Centre (KEPO) of Cyprus Post.

Greek students residing in Cyprus: If insured with the National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY), they can apply for the EHIC electronically via gov.gr (service: ‘European Health Insurance Card’) using their personal Taxisnet credentials. The card is mailed to Greece; however, students can request a temporary replacement certificate, which may be used in Cyprus until the official card arrives. The card is valid for two years. It is strongly recommended that all students, regardless of their country of origin, obtain the EHIC prior to any travel or participation in European programmes, as it ensures immediate and secure access to medical care throughout the European Union. 2. Student Card: The Student Card is issued by the Youth Board of Cyprus and offers significant benefits for students studying in Cyprus or abroad. It is available to all students of recognized post-secondary and higher education institutions, regardless of nationality, and provides discounts on transport, cultural activities, shops, dining, and services in Cyprus and Europe. The card is issued free of charge electronically via the Youth Board of Cyprus platform. It is valid for one year and can be renewed upon presentation of proof of student status.

9) Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount: In Cyprus, students are entitled to discounted fares on public transport through the Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount programme. This service is also available to students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia).

10) Culture Youth Card: A prepaid card offered by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Youth Board of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, for youths aged 18–21. The card grants free or reduced admission to cultural venues and events, including theatres, museums, concerts, festivals, and cinemas. It aims to enhance youth participation in cultural life and facilitate access to high-quality forms of entertainment and the arts. The Culture Youth Card is issued free via the Youth Board of Cyprus website: www.onek.org.cy

From the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education – Cyprus Branch, Nicosia

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/APPLICATION for Studies at the Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, NKUA – Cyprus Branch

Date of submission:

Submission Period: 17/12/2025 – 28/02/2026

   1. Personal Details

   2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

–Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries

With regard to candidates from schools awarding the International Baccalaureate (IB), applicants must have obtained (or be expected to obtain) a total of at least thirty (30) points from six (6) examined subjects, in accordance with the regulations of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

    5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate. I also state that I wish to participate in the selection process for admission to the Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia), starting in October 2026.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

The Department of Nursing of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry in 2026 to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme in Nursing. The programme has a standard duration of eight (8) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

The Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Nursing, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) is identical to the already accredited Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Nursing at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 1980.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy.uoa.gr/

https://www.uoa.gr/

You can submit your application via email to cyprusnurs@nurs.uoa.gr from 1 December 2025 until 28 February 2026. You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

From the Department of Nursing, NKUA – Cyprus Branch

As part of this call for expressions of interest regarding the commencement of studies at the Department of Nursing, NKUA – Cyprus Branch, and in response to inquiries concerning accommodation, meals, and general day-to-day life for prospective students at our Nicosia branch, we provide the following information:

-The first-semester classes are scheduled to commence on 1 October 2026 at the building located at Apostolos Barnabas Square in Nicosia, at the corner of Isokratous and Patriarchou Grigoriou Streets, opposite the Archdiocese of Cyprus.

-The fees amount to €10,000 and cover tuition only. Scholarships are expected to be introduced in future academic years.

-The textbooks are the same as those provided through the University’s Textbook Management Service ‘EUDOXUS’. The cost of obtaining them is the responsibility of the students. Detailed information regarding the textbooks will be provided by the academic staff at the start of the semester.

-The curriculum, which is identical to that of the parent University, as well as the study guide, will be published on the Department’s website prior to the commencement of classes.

-In collaboration with the Nicosia Municipality and the Archdiocese, NKUA – Cyprus Branch has secured 63 self-contained rooms in newly built student halls of residence at a preferential rate.

The Nicosia Municipality’s hall of residence is located on Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, Arsinois, and Alexiou Komninou Streets, while the Archdiocese’s hall of residence is on Korai and Irakleous Streets.

Information: Nicosia Municipality – ‘Student Hall of Residence on Arsinois, Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, and Alexiou Komninou Streets’

–Meals. The cost of meals is the responsibility of the students. In collaboration with a local catering chain, the University’s Cyprus Branch has arranged for meals to be provided at preferential prices (€3–€6 per portion) in the dining hall of the Archdiocese of Cyprus (entrance via Isokratous Street, opposite the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas).

-Parking: Parking is also available at a preferential rate of €25 per month (instead of €45) in facilities managed by the Nicosia Municipality.

Information: Nicosia Municipality – Employee Parking Card (enter ‘STUDENT’ in the COMPANY NAME field).

-The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a required document for both Cypriot and Greek students of the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch. The card provides access to public healthcare services in all European Union member states, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, offering medical treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost (or free of charge) as local residents.

Cypriot Students: They can obtain the EHIC free of charge at any Citizens Service Centre (KEP) or at any Citizens Centre (KEPO) of Cyprus Post.

Greek students residing in Cyprus: If insured with the National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY), they can apply for the EHIC electronically via gov.gr (service: ‘European Health Insurance Card’) using their personal Taxisnet credentials. The card is mailed to Greece; however, students can request a temporary replacement certificate, which may be used in Cyprus until the official card arrives. The card is valid for two years. It is strongly recommended that all students, regardless of their country of origin, obtain the EHIC prior to any travel or participation in European programmes, as it ensures immediate and secure access to medical care throughout the European Union.

–Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount: In Cyprus, students are entitled to discounted fares on public transport through the Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount programme. This service is also available to students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia).

–Culture Youth Card: A prepaid card offered by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Youth Board of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, for youths aged 18–21. The card grants free or reduced admission to cultural venues and events, including theatres, museums, concerts, festivals, and cinemas. It aims to enhance youth participation in cultural life and facilitate access to high-quality forms of entertainment and the arts. The Culture Youth Card is issued free via the Youth Board of Cyprus website: www.onek.org.cy

From the Department of Nursing – Cyprus Branch, Nicosia

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/APPLICATION for Studies at the Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Nursing, NKUA – Cyprus Branch

Date of submission:

Submission Period: 1/12/2025 – 28/02/2026

   1. Personal Details

  2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

–Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries. Candidates from schools awarding the International Baccalaureate (IB), must have achieved (or are expected to achieve) a total of 27 points, including three Higher Level subjects, of which two must be selected from the following: Physics, Chemistry, Biology. In addition, three Standard Level subjects must also be completed.

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

   5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate. I also state that I wish to participate in the selection process for admission to the Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Nursing at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia), starting in October 2026.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

The Department of Economics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) invites prospective students to submit an expression of interest for entry in 2026 to its Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme in Economics. The programme has a standard duration of eight (8) semesters and leads to the award of a Bachelor’s degree, in accordance with the applicable legislation. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the attached form.

The Undergraduate Programme is scheduled to commence in October 2026.

The Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Economics, NKUA – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) is identical to the already accredited Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Economics at NKUA in Athens, which has been in operation since 1971.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy.uoa.gr/

https://www.uoa.gr/

https://www.econ.uoa.gr/

You can submit your application via email to cyprusecon@econ.uoa.gr from 23 December 2025 until 28 February 2026.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

As part of this call for expressions of interest regarding the commencement of studies at the Department of Economics, NKUA – Cyprus Branch, and in response to inquiries concerning accommodation, meals, and general day-to-day life for prospective students at our Nicosia branch, we provide the following information:

1) The first-semester classes are scheduled to commence on 1 October 2026 at the building located at the corner of Charilaou Trikoupi and Dionysou Streets, Nicosia.

2) The fees amount to €6,000 and cover tuition only. Scholarships are expected to be introduced in future academic years.

3) The textbooks are the same as those provided through the University’s Textbook Management Service ‘EUDOXUS’. The cost of obtaining them is the responsibility of the students. Detailed information regarding the textbooks will be provided by the academic staff at the start of the semester.

4) The curriculum, which is identical to that of the parent University, as well as the study guide, will be published on the Department’s website prior to the commencement of classes.

5) In collaboration with the Nicosia Municipality and the Archdiocese, NKUA – Cyprus Branch has secured 63 self-contained rooms in newly built student halls of residence at a preferential rate.

The Nicosia Municipality’s hall of residence is located on Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, Arsinois, and Alexiou Komninou Streets, while the Archdiocese’s hall of residence is on Korai and Irakleous Streets.

Information: Nicosia Municipality – ‘Student Hall of Residence on Arsinois, Vasileiou Voulgaroktonou, and Alexiou Komninou Streets’

6) Meals. The cost of meals is the responsibility of the students. In collaboration with a local catering chain (Zorpas Bakeries & Sons), the University’s Cyprus Branch has arranged for meals to be provided at preferential prices (€3–€6 per portion) in the dining hall of the Archdiocese of Cyprus (entrance via Isokratous Street, opposite the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas).

7) Parking: Parking is also available at a preferential rate of €25 per month (instead of €45) in facilities managed by the Nicosia Municipality.

Information: Nicosia Municipality – Employee Parking Card (enter ‘STUDENT’ in the COMPANY NAME field).

8) The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a required document for both Cypriot and Greek students of the University of Athens – Cyprus Branch. The card provides access to public healthcare services in all European Union member states, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, offering medical treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost (or free of charge) as local residents.

Cypriot Students: They can obtain the EHIC free of charge at any Citizens Service Centre (KEP) or at any Citizens Centre (KEPO) of Cyprus Post

Greek students residing in Cyprus: If insured with the National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY), they can apply for the EHIC electronically via gov.gr (service: ‘European Health Insurance Card’) using their personal Taxisnet credentials. The card is mailed to Greece; however, students can request a temporary replacement certificate, which may be used in Cyprus until the official card arrives. The card is valid for two years. It is strongly recommended that all students, regardless of their country of origin, obtain the EHIC prior to any travel or participation in European programmes, as it ensures immediate and secure access to medical care throughout the European Union. 2. Student Card: The Student Card is issued by the Youth Board of Cyprus and offers significant benefits for students studying in Cyprus or abroad. It is available to all students of recognized post-secondary and higher education institutions, regardless of nationality, and provides discounts on transport, cultural activities, shops, dining, and services in Cyprus and Europe. The card is issued free of charge electronically via the Youth Board of Cyprus platform. It is valid for one year and can be renewed upon presentation of proof of student status.

9) Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount: In Cyprus, students are entitled to discounted fares on public transport through the Cyprus Public Transport – Student Discount programme. This service is also available to students of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia).

10) Culture Youth Card: A prepaid card offered by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Youth Board of Cyprus, in collaboration with the Bank of Cyprus, for youths aged 18–21. The card grants free or reduced admission to cultural venues and events, including theatres, museums, concerts, festivals, and cinemas. It aims to enhance youth participation in cultural life and facilitate access to high-quality forms of entertainment and the arts. The Culture Youth Card is issued free via the Youth Board of Cyprus website: www.onek.org.cy

Department of Economics – Cyprus Branch, Nicosia

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/APPLICATION for Studies at the Greek-taught Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Economics, NKUA – Cyprus Branch

Date of submission:

Submission Period: 23/12/2025 – 28/02/2026

   1. Personal Details

   2. Contact Details

   3. Education

   4. Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

Please tick ✔ the documents you are including with your application:

–Copy of ID Card or Passport

–Education

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

–Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries

Candidates from schools awarding the International Baccalaureate (IB), must have achieved (or are expected to achieve) a total of 26 points, including three Higher Level subjects, of which two must be selected from the following: Economics, Business Management, Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation, Computer Science, Greek A: Language & Literature. In addition, three Standard Level subjects must also be completed.

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

–CV

–Proof of Language Ability

–Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

–Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

–Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

   5. Candidate’s Declaration

I hereby declare that all information on this form is true and accurate. I also state that I wish to participate in the selection process for admission to the Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Economics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia), starting in October 2026.

Candidate’s Full Name: ____________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (USA), Voula Tsouna, has been awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Department of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

On Monday, 15 December 2025, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens held a working meeting and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Harbin Institute of Technology. The University of Athens delegation included Professor Sophia Papaioannou, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion; Professor Aristeidis Samitas, Vice-Rector for Finance and Development; Dr Georgios Vougioukalakis, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the School of Science; as well as senior staff from the Directorate of International Relations. On the part of the Harbin Institute of Technology, the delegation included Sun Xue, Executive Vice-President; Bai Yang, Secretary General of the Education Development Foundation; Su Jianfei, Executive Dean of the Institute of Modern Agriculture; Zhao Yixiao, Dean of the International Education College; and other senior officials from the institution.

Professor Sophia Papaioannou warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and underlined the importance of strengthening the University of Athens’ global presence and strategic relationships with leading institutions worldwide.

Professor Dimitris P. Panagiotopoulos, Professor at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, participated as an invited keynote speaker in the 27th International Conference of the International Association of Sports Law (IASL) and joined the conference’s opening session.

His speech:

Dear friends and colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sport, as a truly international institution, has evolved into a multifaceted sphere of activity, characterized by complex and often challenging relationships. As this field has grown in scope and significance, so too have the problems and divergences that arise within it.

For thirty-three years, the International Association of Sports Law (IASL) has played a decisive role through sustained research, active engagement, and a meaningful contribution to the international scientific community and to global sport more broadly. During this period, a large number of scholars have demonstrated commitment and dedication to this field, a collective effort reflected in the organization of twenty-seven successful international conferences worldwide.

Through the work of IASL, many young legal scholars, as well as academic staff from universities across the globe, have been drawn to the theoretical study of sports law, while legal practitioners have increasingly engaged with it in practice. At the same time, experts from related disciplines—including sports scientists and professionals involved in the organization and administration of sport—have, for many years, shown a sustained and growing interest in Sports Law and lex sportiva.

Today, as at many critical moments in history, the values embodied in sport are being tested in multiple ways. This is particularly evident within the framework of the Olympic Games, the pinnacle of global sporting events, which must continue to promote the ideals and values of Olympia. For this reason, it is of fundamental importance to re-establish the Olympic Truce through an internationally recognized public institution. Such an endeavour, however, can only be realized through the creation of an international centre responsible for the economic governance and organization of the Olympic Games, supported by appropriate financial contributions and democratic participation, whereby each interested nation assumes responsibility for hosting the Games.

The challenges facing the legal regulation of international sporting entities and practices today are both significant and pressing. Safeguarding the human rights of athletes, coaches and all participants in sporting events, while ensuring legal certainty and integrity in sport, is of paramount importance. These objectives can only be achieved through the establishment of a robust and effective regulatory framework, including an International Constitutional Charter of Sport and a Code of Sports Ethics capable of responding to the demands of our time.

Allow me to draw your attention to the fact that, in the multipolar world now taking shape before us, a truly global sports system—including the Olympic Games—can only find meaning within the framework of an international amphictyony of nations. Such a system must be founded upon new structures and rules appropriate to this emerging world order, and underpinned by a constitutive legal framework: a strong and coherent body of International Sports Law.

This is a future worth striving for and committing ourselves to with determination.

The thirty-three-year journey of IASL stands as clear evidence of our willingness and ability to adapt our scholarly course in times of turbulence and to shape international sports law in ways that anticipate and address the challenges ahead.

It is in this spirit that I can offer nothing but optimism for the future that lies before us.

Thank you.

Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Professor Qiu Yong, President of the Academic Council at Tsinghua, one of China’s and the world’s leading higher education institutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the launch of a new, dynamic partnership in academia and research between the two Universities. The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, at the historic main building of the University of Athens—in the Old Senate Hall—with delegations from both sides in attendance.

Nikos Thomaidis, Alternate Chair of the Administration Council, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, and President of the Company for the Development and the Management of the Property of the University of Athens, represented our Institution at the 27^th Infocom World Conference, one of the leading events linking the current developments in Artificial Intelligence with entrepreneurship, research, and education. He participated in the first round-table discussion and, in his interview, outlined the University’s initiatives, aiming to integrate recent advances in Artificial Intelligence into the everyday activities of students, academic staff, researchers, and administrative officers.

Nikos Thomaidis, Alternate Chair of the University of Athens’ Administration Council, Professor of Analytical Chemistry, and President of the Company for the Development and the Management of the Property of the University of Athens, has completed a week-long visit to Yale University, USA. The primary aim of the visit was to develop the Joint Master’s Degree Programme between Yale University and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on Global Environmental Sciences and Public Health.

As part of the visit, Professor Thomaidis held a series of meetings with Megan Ranney, Dean of the Yale School of Public Health, Teresa Hartnett, Director of Financial Strategy and Administration, Maira Myrogianni, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad, as well as with faculty members from various Yale Schools involved in the programme. Additionally, he collaborated closely with Professor Vasiliou to expand existing partnerships and establish new academic and research ties between the two institutions.

During his stay in the US, Professor Thomaidis also participated in the 7^th International Yale Symposium on Olive Oil and Health, which was organized by the Yale School of Public Health.

In Session III – Technological Advances and Applications, he presented the research of the University of Athens’ TrAMS Group titled:

‘Fast, Reliable, Authentic: The Next Generation of Olive Oil Testing – A Novel Approach for Rapid Adulteration Detection and Quality Assessment Using DART-HRMS’.

The proposed method, based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS), enables direct analysis without sample preparation or the use of solvents, ensuring reliable assessment of the quality and authenticity of extra virgin olive oil, as well as the detection of adulteration (1% in seed oils and 5% in lower-quality oils).

To mark the 150^th anniversary of the Athens Club, founded in 1875, a celebratory event took place on 10 December 2025 in the Great Hall of the Archaeological Society at Athens.

The President of the Club, Colonel (ret.) Kyriakos Koukoulommatis, delivered a welcome address to over 700 attendees, including Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, former Prime Ministers of Greece Konstantinos Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras, members of the former royal family of Greece, Members of the Greek Government, Members of the Hellenic Parliament, Members of the Academy of Athens, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, and former Rector and President of the Society for the Promotion of Education and Learning, Georgios Babiniotis.

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Gerasimos G. Zoras of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, who reflected on the historical legacy of the Athens Club and the prevailing cultural environment of the last quarter of the 19^th century, at the time of its creation. The speaker paid special tribute to Pavlos Kalligas (1814-1896), the first President of the Club and one of its founding members.

Prior to this role, Kalligas had been elected Professor at the School of Law, serving several times as Dean, and also as Rector of the University during the 1869-1870 academic year. Over the following decade, in the 1880s, he distinguished himself as an effective Member of Parliament; a far-sighted Minister (of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Education, and Finance); a capable Speaker of Parliament; a shrewd Governor of the National Bank of Greece; and a talented man of letters, author of the realistic social novel ‘Thanos Vlekas’, which depicts rural life and banditry in the early post-revolutionary period.

Congratulations to Chrysostomos Mantzavinos, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, who has been elected to the International Academy of Philosophy of Science. He will serve as Full Member.

https://www.aips.be/en/chrysostomos-mantzavinos

The Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences (AIPS) was founded in 1947 and is located in Brussels. Membership of the Academy is by election only and the number of Full Members may not exceed seventy. The purpose of the Academy is to bring together philosophers of science and scientists through conferences and through the publication of reports and to reach a synthesis on the fundamental questions of philosophy of science in an interdisciplinary manner. Professor Mantzavinos is also an Ordinary Member of the Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Sciences.

PHAROS AI Factory announces the 3rd Course of its Training Series, LLMs Track: “Introduction to Large Language Models at Scale“, held online via Zoom.

Presentation language: Greek

Audience: The primary target audience consists of AI/Machine Learning Engineers, Data Scientists, and HPC Engineers working in industries that leverage supercomputing for large-scale modeling and simulation. This includes professionals in technology, finance, and research sectors seeking to optimize performance and access advanced European infrastructure. It also targets software developers aiming to build and scale next-generation LLMs like those for specialized language domains.

Location: Online via Zoom (you will get the zoom link upon registration)

Description: 

Introduction to High Performance Computing: We will analyze the fundamental components of an HPC System, including the roles of CPUs, GPUs, and Nodes in parallel computing environments. Furthermore, the talk will explore how HPC accelerates Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically through Parallel Stochastic Gradient Descent (PSGD), and conclude with an overview of the Top 500 list and the European supercomputing ecosystem.

How to prepare an access proposal for Greek and European HPC Clusters: This talk provides an overview of the Greek and EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU) Access Calls and the key elements required for a successful application. We will cover the specific resource needs and evaluation criteria.

Introduction to LLMs: We present the basics of LLM fundamentals, focusing on key components that constitute an LLM architecture, including data tokenization, attention mechanisms and other general architectural choices. We then proceed with training details and objectives, including techniques to combat overfitting.

Building Greek Large Language Models: Meltemi & Krikri: A dynamic overview of the Greek Large Language Models Meltemi and Krikri, focusing on dataset choices, training and adaptation methods (finetuning), as well as evaluation approaches. This section aims to offer a comprehensive first look at the technological foundations behind Greek LLMs, paving the way for their future advancement and setting the stage for the topics that will be presented in Pharos AI’s upcoming training programs.

Fine Tune LLMs on a Single GPU(hands-on): This talk explores the practical aspects of Fine-Tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) utilizing the high-level Hugging Face Trainer API. We detail the process of adapting a Llama 3.2-1B-Instruct model for a specialized task using FuggingFace datasets. The core focus is demonstrating efficient training loop management and analyzing the performance gains between the base and fine-tuned models.

Scalability of LLMs: Following the introduction to LLMs lecture, we proceed with LLM inference details, including the several sampling strategies that are used in practice and how LLM learning is ultimately actionable. We conclude by introducing the emergent abilities of LLMs, i.e. human-like abilities that LLMs implicitly acquire at scale, justifying the need for HPC resources for efficient inference.

Fine Tune LLMs on a node with multiple GPUs (code presentation): This talk dissects a distributed fine-tuning workflow for LLMs using the Hugging Face Trainer and torch.distributed.run. The demonstration focuses on adapting a Llama 3.2-1B-Instruct model by tokenizing a custom markdown corpus for causal language modeling. Key sections include setting up the multi-GPU environment using a Slurm job script and showcasing the performance difference between the base and fine-tuned models on domain-specific questions.

Learning Objectives

Introduce the fundamental concepts of High-Performance Computing (HPC), including its hardware components and role in accelerating AI through Parallel Stochastic Gradient Descent (PSGD).

Provide a comprehensive understanding of the application process for accessing Greek and European HPC resources.

Explore the technological foundations and development of Greek Large Language Models (LLMs), specifically Meltemi and Krikri.

Offer a practical, hands-on experience in fine-tuning LLMs efficiently on single and multiple GPU environments using tools like the Hugging Face Trainer API and torch.distributed.run.

Learning Outcomes:

Identify the core components (CPUs, GPUs, Nodes) of an HPC system and explain how they enable parallel computing, specifically in AI workloads (e.g., PSGD).

Understand the structure and key elements required for successful access proposals to Greek and EuroHPC clusters.

Describe the development pipeline, including dataset choices, training, adaptation (finetuning), and evaluation methods, for Greek LLMs (Meltemi & Krikri).

Apply the Hugging Face Trainer API to fine-tune a Llama 3.2-1B-Instruct model on a specialized dataset using a single GPU.

Implement a distributed fine-tuning workflow for LLMs in a multi-GPU node environment, utilizing Slurm and torch.distributed.run, and evaluate the performance gains.

The course’s agenda can be found here.

Register to attend by filling out the form here.

In a ceremony reflecting academic continuity and excellence, the University of Athens conferred the title of Honorary Professor on Academician and Professor Emeritus of the School of Law, Paul Sourlas, on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, in the Great Hall.

The 4th Athens Cardiovascular Symposium 2025 (4th ACVS) concluded on Saturday, 29 November 2025, with outstanding success. Held entirely in English, the event proved to be a genuinely global forum, bringing together eminent clinicians and scholars from Greece alongside a wide network of internationally renowned specialists, including J. Elefteriades, K. Plestis, K. Tsagakis, P. Punjabi, S. Abisi, S. Haulon, C. Shu, K. Tsilimbaris, A. Karelis, H. Elsayed-Awad, N. Sakalihasan, G. Pratesi, A. Kebriakov, R. Dammrau, M. Sabetai, T. Saratzis, C. Zeebregts, A. Svetlikov, G. Melissano, and J.P. Becquemin. Their engagement—either in person or virtually—was pivotal in establishing the symposium as one of the foremost scientific gatherings in the field of aortic surgery across Europe.

Through the mutual exchange of experiences and constructive scientific debate, the 4th ACVS provided a comprehensive approach to managing cardiovascular diseases, spanning the continuum from the aortic valve to the aortic bifurcation. The symposium highlighted the latest clinically relevant advances, emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and opened new horizons in light of the rapidly evolving scientific landscape.

The 4th ACVS also featured a competition for resident doctors, with 37 free paper presentations. The top three participants were awarded contemporary English-language textbooks on endovascular surgery. In total, 61 lectures were delivered, covering all aspects of aortic and aortic valve diseases.

The event was held under the auspices of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Hellenic Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. We extend our sincere thanks to these institutions for their support. We are also grateful to the members of the organizing committee, Professors D. Angouras and A. Lazaris (Attikon University Hospital of Athens), Drs P. Dedeilias and T. Kratimenos (Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens), Professor K. Toutouzas (Hippokration General Hospital of Athens), Assistant Professor D. Avgerinos (Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center), Professor C. Karkos (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), the Hellenic Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, and the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Professor G. Geroulakos, for their outstanding contributions. Our thanks also go to everyone else involved in creating a scientific experience that exceeded all expectations.

4th ACVS Program

The «Medical Degree English Program» of the School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), is delighted to announce the awarding of the program’s first scholarships, an important milestone that highlights its commitment to academic excellence.

The scholarships, based exclusively on academic performance, were established to recognize the outstanding effort and progress of students. This year, thanks to the generous contribution of Mr. G. Sofianos (Softmedica Group), two scholarships were awarded: one to a student in the 2nd year and one to a student in the 4th year, thereby acknowledging achievements in both the preclinical and clinical stages of study.

The University of Athens Career and Entrepreneurship Office (Student Support Unit, Directorate of Student Welfare, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) is delighted to welcome you to its information webinar titled ‘Startup from Scratch: How to Innovate, Persevere & Succeed!’

In an era where innovation, resilience and adaptability shape the future of entrepreneurship, this webinar aims to offer practical insights and inspiration to those wishing to create their own start-up or build on an idea that is still in its early stages.

Main speaker:

Elli Armyra: Entrepreneurship Consultant (MSc), University of Athens Career Office.

Guest speakers:

Alexandra Chalvatzakou, Co-founder, GIA CODE Hub | Innovator & Strategic Creator

Argyris Giannakos, CEO, GIA CODE Hub | Founder, Atlas Tech | Pilot & Systems Architect

They will share their team’s journey, the challenges they faced, and the steps they took to create a product that is now fully functional and ready for the market.

What you will gain from the webinar:

Throughout the webinar, participants will explore the essential steps for launching a start-up from the outset, including strategies for resilience, dealing with obstacles, and making effective decisions. The session will cover practical tips for turning an idea into an impactful product. You will also have the opportunity to engage actively through Slido interactive questions, which will invite discussions and connections with your own experiences.

The webinar will take place on Friday, 12 December 2025, from 19:00 to 20:30.

Webex link:

https://uoa.webex.com/uoa/j.php?MTID=m22b5d983344d0f022b58ea8c8824d628

Meeting number: 2784 666 7074

Password: MaMPDasc538

Information about the webinar:

The webinar is open to all and completely free of charge.

On the day, please join the session via the link provided.

The webinar will be conducted in English.

A chat box will be available throughout the session for your questions and comments.

To ensure a smooth experience for all participants, cameras and microphones will remain off during the presentation.

To register and receive a certificate of attendance, please complete the form below. Certificates will be emailed directly to you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qea3sE01iXcAkE4GOgvdfsoOQs1cmJQxIIXTv9oBT_U/edit

Administrative Support

Career Office

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

A vibrant and in-depth discussion examining the issues surrounding the relationship between Church and State took place on Thursday, 4 December 2025, in the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The Symposium, titled ‘Can the Church’s Life “in Christ” Converse with Life in the Public Sphere?’, brought together religious leaders, academics, and prominent political figures, reaffirming the University of Athens’ role as a fertile forum for public discourse and the advancement of contemporary theological thought.

Opening remarks were delivered by Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has climbed to 191st place worldwide in the 2025 Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities (NTU Rankings), one of the most prestigious indicators of research quality, quantity, and impact.  With this distinction, the University of Athens becomes the first Greek University to break into the top 200 (2025) joining the world’s leading institutions in one of seven internationally recognized and widely respected global benchmarking systems that apply a comprehensive, multi-criteria framework.

At the same time, the University of Athens ranks highest among the nine (9) Greek and two (2) Cypriot universities included in the tables (See Table 1). Specifically Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is 2nd in Greece and 374th globally, followed by the University of Crete in positions 601-650; Harokopio University of Athens, the National Technical University of Athens, and the University of Ioannina in positions 751-800; the University of Thessaly in positions 801-850; the University of Patras in positions 851-900; and the Technical University of Crete in positions 1,151-1,200. Among Cypriot institutions, the University of Cyprus ranks 751-800 and Cyprus University of Technology occupies positions 901-950.

Table 1: University of Athens’ and other Greek and Cypriot universities’ positions in the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities over the past three years

The Technology Transfer and Innovation Unit “ARCHIMEDES” of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens announces the establishment of a new spin-off company under the name “Finite Absorption Time (F.A.T.) Laboratories”, an innovative enterprise offering specialized pharmacokinetic services based on the pioneering F.A.T. methodology. The founding team of F.A.T. Laboratories includes Emeritus Professor Panos Macheras from the Department of Pharmacy, as well as members of NKUA from the Departments of Pharmacy, Medicine, and Chemistry.

F.A.T. Laboratories aims to play a significant role in accelerating and reducing the cost of drug and generic development. Through advanced software tools and scientifically validated methods, the company will provide pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis solutions designed to support drugs companies, generic manufacturers, CROs, and biotechnology start-ups.

The core services of F.A.T. Laboratories (https://fat-laboratories.com/) include:

Development of drugs, generics and supergenerics based on F.A.T. principles

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies

Bioequivalence studies, using both classical and F.A.T. methodology

Analysis of classical and population Phase II and III studies using F.A.T. software

Consulting services for drug and generic development

This new spin-off is founded on software technology that enables prediction and optimization of drug absorption, offering a reliable and scientifically accepted tool recognized by regulatory authorities and suitable for supporting Level A IVIVC.

The F.A.T. Laboratories team is composed of experienced scientists specializing in drug development, quality assurance, and informatics, providing a comprehensive and innovative approach to research and development in the pharmaceutical sector.

We wish every success in this new venture!

The university community celebrated a leading figure of modern Greek culture, whose artistic vision and influence have significantly shaped the global recognition of Greek poetry and music.

Maria Farantouri, the world-renowned performer of poetry set to music, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa by the Departments of Philology and Music Studies of the School of Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Addressing the event was the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

How does language change over time? And how can digital text corpora shed light on its evolution? These questions were at the heart of the international workshop ‘Corpora and Diachrony: Influential Texts, Text Types, and Genres’, held at the European Cultural Delphi Centre, from 26 to 29 November 2025.

As part of a project funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, the Athens Digital Glossa Chronos team of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Division of Language and Linguistics, Department of English Language and Literature, School of Philosophy) brought together researchers from Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oslo, the University of Mannheim, Qatar University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and other higher education institutions for an intensive four-day programme of scholarly collaboration.

His Eminence Elpidophoros, Archbishop of America, visited the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

During a meeting with the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, the Vice-Rector, Professor Christos Karagiannis, and the Dean of the School of Theology, Professor Emmanouil Karageorgoudis, participants discussed matters concerning the University’s further development and internationalization, as well as issues related to the multifaceted work of the Archdiocese of America and the active role of the Greek-American community.

Andreas Papapetropoulos, Professor of Pharmacology and Chair of the Department of Pharmacy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has been awarded the title of doctor honoris causa from Semmelweis University. Based in Budapest and founded in 1769, Semmelweis University is Hungary’s oldest and largest institute of higher education, with a distinguished record of research and teaching spanning over 250 years.

The opening lecture of the LSE Athens Lecture Series, organized by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in collaboration with the University of Athens, the Department of Business Administration, and the MSc Financial Technology (FinTech), took place to great acclaim.

The event was held on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, in the Great Hall of the University of Athens under the title ‘How to Stop Hating People We Disagree With’. Attendees included Dimitris Kenourgios, Professor of Finance and Member of the Administration Council, Nikolaos Eriotis, Professor of Accounting and Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences, as well as numerous distinguished Emeritus and Honorary Professors.

Keynote speaker Paul Dolan, Professor of Behavioural Science at LSE, discussed the notion of beliefism, exploring how our views can trigger rejection or hostility towards those with opposing perspectives. Using examples and practical tools, he highlighted ways to promote tolerance and positive interactions at both individual and societal levels.

The inaugural Panhellenic Conference on Traditional Dance took place in Limassol, Cyprus, from November 21 to 23. Under the theme ‘Traditional Dance in the Scholarly Landscape of the 21st Century’, the event was co-organized by the ‘Alexandra’ Traditional Dance Workshop, the Cyprus University of Technology, the Open University of Cyprus, and the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

This first-of-its-kind meeting, supported by the Cypriot Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth, brought together leading scholars from Greece and Cyprus, alongside a large number of researchers. Participants engaged in lively and thought-provoking discussions on key issues in dance scholarship, contributing to the advancement of the field’s academic profile and fostering its continued development on the island.

Vatera, a coastal stretch on the island of Lesbos renowned for its remarkable fossils, continues to attract scientific interest. Recent research conducted by the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the University of Athens has shed new light on what the landscape looked like millions of years ago, offering a clearer picture of the rich biodiversity that once thrived there.

Building on these findings, the University of Athens has opened a dedicated exhibition on Vatera Beach to showcase the natural heritage of Lesbos, featuring a remarkable collection of fossils—including gazelles, wild horses, mammoths, and mastodons—now available for visitors to explore.

*By Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens. ‘The University of Athens’ newspaper, issue 5, distributed with the Greek Sunday newspaper ‘To Vima tis Kyriakis’ on 23 November 2025

Since its foundation in 1837, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has served, in the words of its first Rector, Konstantinos Schinas, as ‘the amphictyonic bond that unites Greek scholars—and all Greeks who revere knowledge—throughout the world’.

The ties between the University of Athens and Cyprus run deep, forged above all through the education of hundreds of thousands of Cypriot students in its lecture halls over two centuries. Many of these graduates—men and women alike—returned to the island to play a pivotal role in shaping its intellectual and economic landscape. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that some of modern Cyprus’ most influential figures have walked the halls of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Throughout the struggles of Cypriot Hellenism, the University of Athens has consistently stood as a steadfast and multifaceted ally. A striking example of this commitment was the 1974 resolution by the Senate, addressed to Universities worldwide, boldly affirming the Institution’s unwavering support for Cyprus and its people.
In response, Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus, himself a graduate of the University of Athens, sent a heartfelt letter to the Institution, expressing profound gratitude for a partner that ‘significantly strengthens the struggle of the Cypriots and enriches their just cause with invaluable moral capital’. In a further gesture of appreciation, Glafcos Clerides, the then acting President of the Republic of Cyprus, sent a letter to the Rector of the University of Athens, Athanasios Chastoupis, warmly acknowledging the Senate’s decision. He wrote: ‘We are confident that the courageous voice of Greece’s higher education institution will move and rally the liberal world in support of Cypriot Hellenism’.

Today, the University of Athens is taking the most significant step in its internationalization by establishing a Branch in Cyprus, encompassing four Schools and eight Departments across the cities of Nicosia and Larnaca. This bold initiative adds a new chapter to the University’s long history, making it the first—and still the only—Greek higher education institution to operate a branch beyond Greece, with Cyprus chosen as the site for this landmark venture.

Classes at the Medical School of the Cyprus Branch began on Monday, 3 November 2025, with seven additional Departments set to welcome their first students in 2026: in Nicosia, the Departments of Nursing, Economics, Business Administration, Paedagogy & Primary Education, and the English-taught Programme in Classics; and in Larnaca, the Departments of Psychology and Ports Management & Shipping.

The University’s next strategic goals include attracting students from other continents, expanding undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, fostering cutting-edge innovation, and strengthening educational and research ties with Cyprus’ leading higher education institutions. This type of collaboration between Greece and Cyprus is poised to serve as a lasting engine of growth and development for both countries.

Universities drive knowledge. They are pillars of progress and agents of change, shaping the future of our society. It is within Universities that tomorrow is born. The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens leads the way in the internationalization of higher education, standing as a beacon for the future of academia.

The article is available at the newspaper "ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ" : https://www.tovima.gr/print/afieromata/panepistimio-athinon/kypros-kai-panepistimio-athinon-desmoi-dyo-aionon/

The Inter-institutional Sports Meeting between the University of Cyprus and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) took place on Monday, 10 November 2025, with Football, Futsal, and Tennis fixtures capturing the excitement of both participants and spectators. Teams competed at the Near East Municipal Football Ground and the Ilioupoli Tennis Club Courts, demonstrating not only athletic skill but also the spirit of collaboration and the strong ties binding the two Universities.

The international conference marking 1700 years of the First Council of Nicaea opened in the presence of His Beatitude Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. The event, titled ‘The Historical Significance and Contemporary Relevance of the First Ecumenical Council’, was organized by the School of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The opening ceremony took place on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, at 18:00, at the Great Hall of the University’s main building (30 Panepistimiou St, Athens).

On Sunday, 23 November, NKUA released the latest edition of ‘The University of Athens, a Newspaper of Science, Education and Culture’, distributed with the Greek Sunday newspaper ‘To Vima tis Kyriakis’. The front page of this fifth issue features, as its main story, an interview with Greece’s central banker and Professor Emeritus at the University of Athens, Yannis Stournaras, under the headline ‘“We Matured Through the Crisis”. Nation, Society, Institutions’.

In the interview, Yannis Stournaras speaks with Professor of Finance and Member of the University’s Administration Council, Dimitris Kenourgios. On the topic of the EU crisis, he notes: ‘Potential risks arising from the situation in France include the possibility that developments may affect the European financial environment, and that political uncertainty could slow down critical European reforms’.

Also in the November issue:

A Historic Moment: Greece in Cyprus! The University of Athens Branch in Cyprus Now Comprises 4 Schools and 8 Departments

International Relations: Moves on the Chessboard of the New Global Order

Immunotherapy: The Medical Revolution and the Stimulation of Our Immune System

Looking Back: National Optimism Among Greek Students of 1963

The Decline of Agricultural Land

Through its university newspaper—published as a supplement to ‘To Vima tis Kyriakis’—Greece’s oldest and largest higher education institution brings science, education, research, and the perspectives of young scholars into the public conversation. The publication provides accessible reporting on social and political issues. It highlights research produced at the University of Athens and tracks international developments that shape academic and scientific debate. In this way, the newspaper serves as a lively platform where ideas from science, culture, and education can be shared and explored by a broad audience.

Timothy M. Pawlik, Professor of Surgical Oncology and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Ohio State University, Columbus, USA, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, at 18:00, at the Propylaea building of the University.

Addressing the honouree was the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos:

‘Professor Pawlik’s academic career at Johns Hopkins was remarkable. From 2005 onwards, he steadily advanced through all academic ranks until he was appointed as the John L. Cameron Professor of Alimentary Tract Diseases.

In 2016, he assumed the position of Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Ohio State University. Under his leadership, the Department has grown by more than 75 new faculty members and emerged as a national leader in research excellence in the United States.

The honouree has a research portfolio distinguished by both its extent and quality. With more than 2,000 articles and over 100,000 citations, he has contributed to the global advancement of surgical oncology. Professor Pawlik is the lead author of the international guidelines for liver malignancies, a framework that drives clinical practice worldwide. He has given more than 630 invited lectures and served as a visiting professor in 40 countries, clear proof of the international recognition he enjoys.

Of special importance to our University is the honouree’s enduring connection with Greece. Professor Pawlik has mentored and trained more than fifteen Greek medical doctors, including distinguished colleagues from our School of Medicine, making a substantial contribution to their international development. A significant part of his scientific work also includes publications co-authored with Greek researchers, highlighting his ongoing and meaningful collaboration with our country’s medical community’.

Immediately afterwards, Assistant Professor of General Surgery at the Medical School of the University of Athens, Dr Ioannis Hatzaras, presented the honouree’s contributions and personal qualities.

The awarding ceremony followed:

Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Chair of the School of Medicine, read aloud the official texts connected to the conferment.

Subsequently, the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Professor Pagona Lagiou, invested the honouree with the academic gown of the School.

The ceremony closed with a speech by the honouree, Professor Timothy M. Pawlik, entitled ‘My Path to Ithaca, an Academic Journey’.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, the French School of Athens, and the National Hellenic Research Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aiming to establish the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences, under the name HESTIA. The four partners seek to develop a strategic hub for high-level research activities.

HESTIA’s central objective is to promote interdisciplinary and international research, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and surrounding regions, recognizing the broader area as a unique field of study for the Humanities and Social Sciences. The initiative will align with the standards of excellence set by the Network of European Institutes for Advanced Study (NETIAS).

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding were: Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the University of Athens; Professor Christina Koulouri, Rector of Panteion University; Professor Véronique Chankowski, Director of the French School of Athens; and Professor Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, Director and Chairman of the Board of the National Hellenic Research Foundation.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with Google, offers all its students 12 months of free access to Google AI Pro.

The subscription includes:

–Gemini 2.5 Pro – Unlimited access to the most advanced AI model.

–Deep Research & NotebookLM – Tools for in-depth research and knowledge organization.

–2 TB of cloud storage.

–AI creation tools – Veo 3 for video creation and Jules for coding assistance.

Please note: This offer is valid only until 9 December 2025.

To activate Google AI Pro, students should visit:

https://gemini.google/gr/students/?hl=el

This initiative enables University students to make full use of advanced AI tools in their studies.

If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us.

The International online Master’s Program “Identity, Education, and Competences for Democratic Culture” of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the European Wergeland Centre (EWC) continues to offer free webinars open to the public during the current academic year (2025-2026).

The first webinar in this year’s series will take place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 18.00-19.30 (EET), on the topic:

“Systematic Literature Reviews: The What’s and the How’s for Transparent Research”

presented by the internationally renowned clinical experimental psycholinguist Dr. Gerasimos Chatzidamianos, a specialist in research, clinical practice, and social inclusion, with an emphasis on supporting minority groups and accessibility to mental health services.

During the webinar, Dr. Chatzidamianos will focus on:

the nature and methodology of systematic literature reviews (SLRs),

the basic stages of design and implementation,

the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and other international standards.

The webinar will be conducted in English and is ideal for students, researchers, scientists, and professionals interested in scientific research methodology and transparency in systematic reviews.

Please note that there is the participation is free of charge, and a certificate of attendance will be provided upon completion. To participate in the webinar it is required to register here

For any clarification, please contact the Secretariat by email at: secr_MAdemocracy@theol.uoa.gr

or by phone at +30 210-7275705 (Mon-Wedn-Friday 11 am-2pm)

For more information you can visit the MA Program’s website:

https://mademocracyedu.theol.uoa.gr/en/

Over 100 women, mostly of Greek Australian background, attended a public talk by Professor Liza Tsaliki from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on Thursday, 6 November, at RMIT University.

Professor Tsaliki’s lecture, Still Seen, Still Desired: Women Over 45 in Western Society and the Role of Media and Culture, examined how women over 45 are portrayed—and often marginalised—across media and celebrity culture. Drawing on examples from Greek popular culture, including music icons Kaiti Garbi, Despina Vandi, and Anna Vissi, and television personality Eleni Menegaki, Professor Tsaliki explored “the contradictions ageing women face: being seen as sexual, expected to care for both children and ageing parents, while remaining professionally active and socially relevant.”

In the framework of the World Space Week celebration, the Section of Astrophysics of the Department of Physics organized on Saturday, October 18^th, 2025, an event for both children and adults, featuring activities and lectures according to this years’ theme “Life in Space”. The event took place at the premises of the Department of Physics under the guidance and supervision of Professor of Space Physics, Ioannis Daglis, with the valuable contribution of undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers.

The coordinating team consisted of: Adamantia Dimitrakoula, Agapitos Dovles, Daniil Papakonstantinou, and Eleftheria Sotiriou, students and members of the Space Physics Group.

The event was particularly successful, attracting more than 400 visitors of all ages.

The program included the following activities.

Interactive astronaut training under the guidance of the NAO robot.

Experiment demonstration “Discovering Microgravity”, supported by the Hellenic Space Center (https://hsc.gov.gr/).

Experiment demonstration “Chasing Cosmic Rays in a Cloud Chamber”.

Experiment demonstration “Cooking a Comet”, an activity proposed by the European Space Agency (ESA) (https://www.esa.int/).

Virtual tour of the International Space Station (ISS) using virtual reality headsets, within the framework of the ESA SCOTSS initiative (https://business.esa.int/projects/scotss).

Virtual spacecraft launch and analog mission presentation to planet Mars, supported by the European EXPLORE project (https://explore-project.eu/).

Interactive presentation “How Does a Telescope Work?”.

Interactive quiz game on the theme “Life in Space”.

Presentation on “Life in the Universe”.

Interactive game “Kerbal Space Program”.

Interactive presentation “A Cosmic Nursery”.

Designing ultraviolet radiation detectors.

Arts, crafts, and space-themed creations for our young visitors.

Screening of the episode “Blues for a Red Planet” from the documentary series COSMOS.

Keynote talk titled “Space as a Vital Domain for Humanity” by Professor Ioannis Daglis, Professor of Space Physics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The evening culminated in night-sky observation via telescopes on the rooftop of the Department of Physics, in collaboration with amateur astronomers.

The successful implementation of the event was ensured through the enthusiastic work and decisive contribution of students, university members, and external collaborators who organized and led the various activities: Thanasis Avramopoulos, Giorgos Athanasopoulos, Olga Belli, Zoe Boutsi, Anastasis Boutsikos,  Margarita Gega, Ioannis Dellis, Stavros Dimitrakoudis, Angelos Lazoudis, Nestor Lazoudis, Stefanos Ligoudistianos, Angelika Mara, Konstantinos Nousis, Giorgos Pantolmos, Nikitas-Georgios Solaris, Kostas Soutos, Sofoklis Sotiriou, Andreas Tziolas, Konstantinos Tziolas, Tryfon Farmakakis.

The event would not have been possible without the voluntary support of the following students, who contributed to every single task: Nikolaos Andrikos, Marina Arvaniti, Iliana Chasiali, Nikolaos Diamantopoulos, Despina Karavola, Georgios Konstantis, Theodora Manoudea, Eirini Nakopoulou, Maria Panagiotopoulou, Maria-Savvina Papadopoulou, Alexandros Petrou, Konstantina Thanasoula, Ioannis Virvidakis, Markella Zannou.

The overwhelming public response and enthusiasm of the participants highlighted the importance of disseminating scientific knowledge and fostering the spirit of space exploration among the younger generation.

The success of the event serves as an inspiration to continue and further develop this initiative in the coming years, with even more innovative activities and the goal of attracting an even larger audience.

The following photos capture some memorable moments from the event.

The Municipality of Nicosia officially opened its new, state-of-the-art student halls of residence on Monday, 3 November 2025. The halls, now home to students from the Cyprus Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, were inaugurated in the presence of the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

Among those addressing the event were the Minister of Finance of Cyprus, Makis Keravnos, who performed the opening ceremony, and the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos.

His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Mesaoria, officiated the traditional blessing to begin the ceremony.

Also present were Chrysanthos Fakas, Deputy Mayor for Nicosia; members of the Municipal Council; politicians and state officials; representatives from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; and students.

The halls of residence are not a new development for the area, but rather the outcome of the restoration of an existing housing complex. The structure has been completely reimagined to blend seamlessly with the historical surroundings and cultural identity of the walled city of old Nicosia.

The official opening of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Cyprus Branch (Nicosia) took place with great ceremony, marking a historic milestone for Higher Education in both Greece and Cyprus.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI), aimed at advancing research, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the defence and security sectors.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2025, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, welcomed a delegation from the University of Balamand, Lebanon, to the Rector’s Office. The delegation was headed by Dr Elias Warrak, President of the Institution.

Also in attendance, on behalf of the University of Athens, was Professor Christos Karagiannis, Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs, Student Welfare, and Lifelong Learning. Representing the University of Balamand were the Vice-President, Dr Salim Kanaan, and the Dean of St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Right Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil.

During the meeting, the Lebanese delegation gave an overview of the University of Balamand, which is celebrating its 35^th anniversary this year, has eight Faculties, and serves a student body of over 6,000. They placed particular emphasis on the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, which follows the American standards, offers an English-taught programme of study, and is affiliated with ten university hospitals, where students undergo their clinical training.

The Hellenic Association for the Study of Liver is thrilled to announce that Professor Georgios Papatheodoridis from the University of Athens, a prominent member and former President of the Association, has achieved yet another significant honour: he has been elected as a full member of the Academia Europaea (The Academy of Europe).

The Academy of Europe boasts among its ranks some of the most esteemed scientists from across all disciplines, representing a wide range of countries worldwide. It is worth noting that 17 scholars from Greece have been elected as members in the field of Life Sciences over the years, including 10 medical doctors.

Professor Papatheodoridis’s induction ceremony took place on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, at the 36^th Annual Conference of Academia Europaea and 14^th Conference of the Young Academy of Europe entitled ‘Building Bridges 2025’.

Georgios Papatheodoridis is a great scientist with a rich and diverse research portfolio in the fields of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and a widespread recognition within the global medical community. This latest accomplishment is no surprise to those familiar with his impactful publications—which have revolutionized the approach to complex diseases, such as chronic hepatitis B—his relentless passion for research, his tireless work ethic, his high moral standards, and the ongoing, meaningful support he provides to young doctors, helping them achieve their goals and become worthy successors of his work.

Heartfelt congratulations to Professor Papatheodoridis, whose continued contributions make the Greek Hepatology community proud. It is a shared belief that even greater recognitions will follow, as he truly deserves them.

On Tuesday, 21 October 2025, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, along with the Department of Economics at the School of Economics and Political Sciences, honoured Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece and Professor Emeritus of the University of Athens. The event included the presentation of an honorary volume entitled ‘Studies in Honour of Professor Yannis Stournaras’.

The 2nd We Are UoA Festival took place on 15 October 2025 in a festive spirit, full of energy and strong symbolism, at the University’s historic Main Building, the Propylaea (30 Panepistimiou St, Athens).

As part of the Festival, the University warmly welcomed its first-year students across all Schools and Departments. The celebrations also included an awards ceremony honouring the highest-achieving first-year entrants in each Department, alongside the much-anticipated Career Days. The final curtain came down on the Festival with a lively party held in the courtyard, featuring a performance by the talented Music Odyssey band from the Department of Music Studies.

New Student Welcome

The Festival kicked off with a warm welcome for the incoming first-year students from all Schools and Departments, alongside their families and the wider community. During the event, they had the opportunity to engage with faculty members from across the University of Athens, learning more about both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Top Entrant Awards

In addition, a highly symbolic awards ceremony was held in the Great Hall of the University’s Main Building, recognizing the highest-scoring new entrants in each Department.

The new ‘Athina I. Martinou’ University Oncology Centre was officially opened at Attikon General University Hospital. The facility is part of the 2nd Clinical Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. It was created thanks to the generous donation of Athanasios Martinos and Marina Martinou, who fully funded the construction of the state-of-the-art unit, through the Non-profit Civil Company for Culture and Welfare AEGEAS.

The School of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is pleased to announce the election of its Vice-Dean, Associate Professor Georgios Kyriakopoulos, as a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) for a three-year term.

The International Institute of Space Law (IISL) is an independent non-governmental organization of global reach dedicated to fostering the development of space law, while also acting as an official observer of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Scientific & Technical and Legal Subcommittees. Its membership is composed of individuals and institutions from over forty countries elected on the basis of their contributions to the field of space law or other social sciences related to space activities.

The objective of the IISL is to promote the further development of space law and the expansion of the rule of law in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. To this end, it holds meetings, colloquia, and competitions on juridical and social science aspects of space activities, prepares studies and reports, publishes books, proceedings, reports, and position papers, and cooperates with appropriate international organizations and national institutions in the field of space law.

he Cabinet of the Republic of Cyprus has approved the listing of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), as a Cyprus branch located in Nicosia, in the Register of Universities of Cyprus.

‘Consequently, all substantive and formal procedures have been completed so that we now have the branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens included in our Register of Universities. This marks the successful end of all efforts that began with the new legislation passed by Parliament’, said Minister of Education Athena Michaelidou at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting.

The Minister added that the buildings which will house the University’s Schools and Departments have already been inspected and deemed fit for use. These premises were granted by the Archbishopric and the Municipality of Nicosia.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is actively involved in the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI), with Professor Chronis Kynigos serving as Greece’s national representative.

ICMI was established in 1908 at the Fourth International Congress of Mathematicians in Rome (see ICMI History) with the initial mandate of analyzing the similarities and differences in the secondary school teaching of mathematics among various countries. Following interruptions in activity as a result of the First and Second World Wars, ICMI was reconstituted in 1952 and became an official commission of the International Mathematical Union (IMU). It has since been dedicated to promoting research and development in mathematics education worldwide.

The first link provides a summary of mathematical instruction in Greece, prepared by Professor Chronis Kynigos, in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Mathematics.

It should be noted that since 2019 the national representative has been nominated by the Greek Association of Researchers of Mathematics Education with the approval of both the Academy of Athens and the Hellenic Mathematical Society.

https://www.mathunion.org/icmi/around-icmi/country-contexts/context-mathematics-education-greece
https://www.mathunion.org/icmi/organisation/our-members/icmi-representatives

Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Chair of the School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, spoke with emotion and pride about meeting Greek doctors who are making a name for themselves in the United States, emphasizing the importance of creating favourable conditions for their return to Greece.

Drawing on his own experience, he said that the country can give them the space to create and contribute—and itself become a place of excellence and hope for the next generation of scientists.

Below is the full post:

‘What moves me most during my trips to the United States is meeting Greek doctors who have distinguished themselves there. I come across old classmates and friends who have been away for decades, as well as younger colleagues, including my former student Leon Naar, an honours graduate of our School, who is now completing his surgical residency at Stanford. It is our duty to create the conditions that will bring Greek minds back to the country!

I am very proud that, over the past two years, the School of Medicine at the University of Athens has successfully recruited over 20 brilliant scientists from abroad—a number unprecedented for a Greek public entity. Thanks to its reputation—and despite the modest salaries offered in the public sector—our School managed to attract doctors holding faculty and leadership positions across Europe and the United States. I am deeply grateful to them for joining our shared effort to improve medical education and advance healthcare in our country.’

Read the full story at www.ygeiamou.gr

https://www.facebook.com/narkado/posts/24501881646147244?ref=embed_post

General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the Department of Business Administration, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Melissa Gilliam, President of Boston University, visited the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where she was warmly received by the Rector, Professor Gerasimos Siasos. Accompanying President Gilliam were Gloria Waters, Provost and Chief Academic Officer; Tuoyang Mu, Director of International Advancement; and Katerina Lykiardopoulos, member of Boston University’s International Advisory Board. From the University of Athens, the meeting was also attended by, the Alternate President of the Administration Council, Professor Nikos Thomaidis, along with Council members, Professors Dimitris Kenourgios and Athanasia Smirniotou; the Vice-Rector for Finance and Development, Professor Aristeidis Samitas; the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Professor Pagona Lagiou; the Dean of the School of Law, Professor Konstantinos Christodoulou; the Dean of the School of Science, Professor Aristeidis Parmakelis; the Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences, Professor Nikolaos Eriotis; and the Director of the English-taught Undergraduate Programme at the School of Philosophy (BAAG), Professor Dimitrios Plantzos.

The much-anticipated autumn event is here!

On 15 October 2025, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens invites you to the 2^nd annual ‘WE ARE UoA’ festival, with the Propylaea becoming the vibrant gathering place for all!

Event schedule: 16:00-20:00

Live concert: 20:00 (up until 22:30)

The programme includes:

–Welcome event for the first-year students of the University of Athens, 16:00-22:30

–Awards ceremony for the candidates who were the first in terms of score to enter each of the University’s Departments, 19:00-20:00

–Career Days, 16:00-19:00

–Live concert featuring ‘Music Odyssey’, the band from the Department of Music Studies, 20:00-22:30

WE ARE UoA: A festival by students for students.

We are looking forward to celebrating with you all.

The Organizing Committee

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has once again made a strong impression on the global academic stage, ranking highly in the prestigious ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists List’ by Stanford University, USA.

Specifically, 191 faculty members at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have earned a spot in the top 2% of the world’s most influential scientists.

The ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists List’ is compiled annually by Stanford University, USA, and published in the Elsevier Data Repository. It identifies the researchers with the greatest global impact based on a variety of bibliometric indicators. The ranking relies on data derived from Scopus, the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, and is considered one of the most reliable and authoritative lists worldwide.

The World’s Top 2% Scientists List includes separate data for:

Career-long Impact: Metrics cover the entire career of a scientist up to the end of current year-1.

Single Recent Year Impact: Metrics focus on citations received during current year-1.

The ranking uses the ‘Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators’ (Stanford/Elsevier) and relies on a composite indicator, the c-score, which in turn focuses on total citations, h-index, author positions (single, first, last author), and information on co-authorship.

The selection is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score, or those ranked in the top 2% or above within their sub-field, providing an accurate reflection of global research excellence in a reliable and internationally recognized manner. The official Elsevier dataset is available. You can access it at:

https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8

In light of this remarkable achievement, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, shared his thoughts on this year’s ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists List’: ‘This new international distinction, with 191 faculty members from the University of Athens listed among the top 2% of the most influential scientists globally, is yet another tangible recognition of the high quality and enduring excellence of research produced at our Institution. The significant contribution and overall effort of all Departments affirm the University of Athens’ leadership in scientific output, not only in Greece but throughout South-Eastern Europe. Warm congratulations to all our colleagues who honour the University of Athens daily and enhance its international standing’.

On Friday, 26 September 2025, the Laboratories of Inorganic Chemistry (Professor Patrina Paraskevopoulou) and Food Chemistry (Associate Professor Vasilis Valdramidis and Assistant Professor Marilena Dasenaki), Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, presented AiryBerry—an innovative ready-to-eat product they developed—at the ‘Kostis Palamas’ Cultural Centre.

The event brought together selected key opinion leaders from the fields of gastronomy, the food industry, and nutrition, all of whom had the opportunity to experience firsthand a product poised to make a significant impact on the market.

2 October 2025 marked a milestone for the Department of Pharmacy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: the MPharm has officially launched!

It was the first day of classes for the Integrated Master’s in Pharmacy, and the new intake of students stepped into the University’s lecture halls!

People from five countries abroad started their academic journey with us.

The MPharm is aimed at international students who wish to study in Greece and, through this five-year programme, graduate with an Integrated Master’s degree. The first four years consist of theoretical and laboratory courses, while the fifth year culminates in student placements and dissertation writing.

https://mpharmnkua.uoa.gr/

Dr Maria Gazouli, Professor of Biology, Genetics, and Nanomedicine at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, took on the role of Conference Chair at the International Conference on Nanotechnology and Nanoscience.

This remarkable achievement honours her scientific work and at the same time boosts our University’s international presence and visibility in the fields of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience.

Anastasia Konstantinidou is Professor of Pathology, Head of Perinatal Pathology at the 1st Laboratory of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the Laboratory of Pathology, Aretaieio Hospital, and Director of the University’s Pathology Museum.

Founded in 1955, the Paediatric Pathology Society (PPS) represents paediatric and perinatal pathologists, primarily from Europe, though its membership spans all continents. Paediatric pathology—encompassing both autopsy and surgical practice—is recognized in many countries as either a distinct medical specialty or a subspecialty of pathology. It involves the study and diagnosis of a wide range of conditions, both fatal and non-fatal, affecting all organ systems from foetal life through to the end of childhood.

Professor Konstantinidou was elected President of PPS in 2024 and assumed office on 12 September 2025 in Belgrade, during the 2025 PPS Annual Meeting. This marks the first time a Greek has taken on the presidency of this historic society. In 2025, Professor Konstantinidou was also elected to the Council of the International Paediatric Pathology Association (IPPA).

Since its foundation in 1837, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has maintained deep and enduring ties with Cyprus, thanks, first and foremost, to the presence of hundreds of thousands of Cypriot students in its lecture halls for over two centuries. As a matter of fact, the University of Athens was the first academic Institution in South-Eastern Europe and, for one hundred years, served as the sole pillar of Higher Education for Greeks worldwide.

Having received a high-quality education, thousands of Cypriot graduates—women and men—returned to the island and made a decisive contribution to its intellectual and economic growth. It is common knowledge, after all, that many key figures of modern and contemporary Cyprus went to the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The opening of a Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Cyprus will mark a milestone in Higher Education and academic cooperation between Greece and Cyprus. The operation of this Branch will further strengthen the existing strong national ties, offer fresh opportunities for our students and academics, and serve as a beacon of education, scientific research, and innovation in Cyprus and in the wider region of South-Eastern Europe. Moreover, it will create opportunities for academic and research collaborations with the existing high-level Institutions of Higher Education in Cyprus.

According to a public opinion survey conducted by ALCO, Cypriot society holds a very positive view regarding the establishment and operation of a Branch of the University of Athens in Cyprus, with 87% of respondents expressing support. It is important to note that the University is appreciated not only for its history and renown (85%) but also for the high prestige of its degrees (76%), and the quality of its academic programmes (72%)—key attributes sought after by Cypriot citizens.

In its initial phase, the Βranch will comprise four Schools and eight Departments, located in two cities: Nicosia and Larnaca. The academic programmes have achieved full compliance with the standards set by the competent accreditation authority in Greece, and have now also been fully evaluated and accredited by the corresponding body in Cyprus (CYQAA). All Departments have been operating successfully for decades at the parent University in Athens and consistently hold top positions in global University rankings. A prime example is the School of Medicine, which has been operating in Athens since 1837 and ranks among the top 100 Medical Schools worldwide. The Departments of Economics, Psychology, Pedagogy & Primary Education, and Nursing also boast similar achievements, as do newer, yet dynamically growing Departments such as the Department of Ports Management and Shipping and the English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (BAAG).

More specifically, the Schools and Departments are as follows

i) School of Health Sciences (Nicosia):

– Department of Medicine

– Department of Nursing

ii) School of Economics:

– Department of Economics (Nicosia)

– Department of Business Administration (Nicosia)

– Department of Ports Management and Shipping (Larnaca)

iii) School of Philosophy:

– Department of Psychology (Larnaca)

– English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (BAAG) (Nicosia)

iv) School of Education (Nicosia):

– Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education

The Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, fully aware of the Institution’s special mission and history, looks forward to further strengthening and developing the ties between the two countries in the field of Higher Education and hereby announces its intention to launch the following Undergraduate Programmes in October 2025.

For further information and expressions of interest contact details are attached:

– Department of Medicine (Nicosia): cyprusmed@med.uoa.gr

– Department of Nursing (Nicosia): cyprusnurs@nurs.uoa.gr

– Department of Economics (Nicosia): cyprusecon@econ.uoa.gr

– Department of Business Administration (Nicosia): cyprusba@ba.uoa.gr

– Department of Ports Management and Shipping (Larnaca): cypruspms@pms.uoa.gr

– Department of Psychology (Larnaca): cypruspsych@psych.uoa.gr

– English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (BAAG) (Nicosia): baag_cyprus@uoa.gr

– Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education (Nicosia): cyprusprimedu@primedu.uoa.gr

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), the oldest and largest University in South-Eastern Europe, is proud to announce the establishment of a new Branch in Cyprus. This exciting expansion strengthens academic ties between Greece and Cyprus, while broadening the University’s international reach.

Our new campus represents a major step forward in fostering collaboration and excellence in Higher Education across the region. It will serve as a vibrant centre for teaching, research, and innovation, offering fresh opportunities to students and scholars alike. By partnering with Cyprus’s leading Universities, the NKUA Branch aims to create a dynamic academic environment that nurtures talent and drives progress in South-Eastern Europe and beyond.

The operation and future prospects of the new Branch were presented at a press conference held on September 11, 2025, in Nicosia, Cyprus, by the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion, Professor Sophia Papaioannou, the Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences, Professor Nikolaos Eriotis, the Chair of the School of Medicine, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, the Chair of the Department of Nursing, Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs, the Chair of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, Professor Thomas Babalis, the Chair of the Department of Economics, Professor Georgios Dotsis, the Chair of the Department of Business Administration, Professor Dimitrios Thomakos, and the Executive Director of the University, Dr Eleni Vasilopoulou.

Among those in attendance were the Revd Dr Kyprianos Kountouris, Director of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus, who conveyed the warm wishes of Archbishop Georgios; the Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Charalambos Prountzos; and the Chairman of the Nicosia Greek Schools Board of Governors, Mr Nicolaos Megalemos.

4 Schools and 8 Departments—Call for expression of interest in 5 Undergraduate Programmes

Strong positive response to the University of Athens in Cyprus

According to a public opinion survey conducted by ALCO, 87% of Cypriot citizens view the establishment of the NKUA Branch positively, while over 70% recognize the University’s history and renown, the high prestige of its degrees, and the quality of its academic programmes.

Located in two cities, the Branch will operate from fully renovated historic buildings in the capital, alongside modern facilities in Larnaca.

In its initial phase, the Βranch will comprise 4 Schools and 8 Departments. The academic programmes have achieved full compliance with the standards set by the competent accreditation authority in Greece, and have now also been fully evaluated and accredited by the corresponding body in Cyprus (CYQAA).

All Departments have been operating successfully for decades at the parent University in Athens and consistently hold top positions in global University rankings. A prime example is the School of Medicine, which has been operating in Athens since 1837 and ranks among the top 100 Medical Schools worldwide. The Departments of Economics, Psychology, Paedagogy & Primary Education, and Nursing also boast similar achievements, as do newer, yet dynamically growing Departments such as the Department of Business Administration, that of Ports Management and Shipping, and the English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece (BAAG).

Detailed overview of Schools and Departments

1. i) School of Health Sciences (Nicosia):

–Department of Medicine

–Department of Nursing

1. ii) School of Economics and Political Sciences:

–Department of Economics (Nicosia)

–Department of Business Administration (Nicosia)

–Department of Ports Management and Shipping (Larnaca)

iii) School of Philosophy:

–Department of Psychology (Larnaca)

–English-taught BA Programme in the Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece, BAAG, (Nicosia)

1. iv) School of Education (Nicosia):

–Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education

Expressions of interest are now open for the following 5 Undergraduate Programmes starting October 2025.

For more information about the programmes, please visit:

https://cy.uoa.gr/, https://hub.uoa.gr/en/, https://en.uoa.gr/

For enquiries, please contact us via email at:

cyprusmed@med.uoa.gr (School of Medicine)

cyprusnurs@nurs.uoa.gr (Department of Nursing)

cyprusprimedu@primedu.uoa.gr (Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education)

cyprusecon@econ.uoa.gr (Department of Economics)

cyprusba@ba.uoa.gr (Department of Business Administration)

Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos: The new Departments launching this year will offer world-class academic programmes, continuing the University’s proud tradition of excellence in scholarship.

Full statement by the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos:

‘The establishment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Branch in Cyprus represents a landmark moment, embodying our vision to deepen the academic ties between Greece and Cyprus. The new Departments launching in October, as well as those starting next year, will offer students world-class academic programmes, continuing the University’s proud tradition of excellence in scholarship.

At the same time, we recognize that this initiative serves as a vital bridge, connecting our two countries on both an academic and intellectual level, and contributing to the educational and cultural growth of future generations. Academic excellence and the quality of our programmes remain non-negotiable priorities. For this reason, we have worked diligently to ensure that all Departments within the Branch operate to the highest possible standards.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Republic of Cyprus, and especially to President Mr Nikos Christodoulides, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus, the Municipal Authorities who supported this initiative, as well as to the dedicated teams who worked tirelessly to bring this vision to fruition. Their unwavering support has been instrumental in the progress we have made in reaching this historic milestone in Higher Education’.

Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Charalambos Prountzos: Today marks the realization of a vision we worked tirelessly towards. Through patience and perseverance we succeeded—in just 12 months.

Full statement by the Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Charalambos Prountzos:

‘Today marks the realization of a vision we worked tirelessly towards. Through patience and perseverance we succeeded—in just 12 months.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will bring a younger demographic to the core of the city and serve as a catalyst for enhancing the local economy, urban life, and intellectual activity. Owing to its recognized quality and prestige, it will firmly establish Nicosia as a regional centre for education, playing a decisive role in the ongoing revitalization of the downtown area.

As the City Council, we worked closely with the University’s leadership, government officials, Archbishop Georgios, and all relevant stakeholders, united by a single goal: to breathe new life into the heart of Nicosia.

We officially welcome the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens into Nicosia’s academic ecosystem at a landmark moment for Higher Education in our country.

The top University of South-Eastern Europe is now setting down roots in the heart of the capital—an important step forward in delivering the Nicosia City Centre Area Plan. Among the plan’s priorities is bringing academic Departments into the city centre’.

Chair of the School of Medicine, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos: The School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Cyprus is set to become a benchmark for contemporary medical education.

Full statement by the Chair of the School of Medicine, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos:

‘For nearly two centuries, the School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens—the oldest and largest Medical School in the Greek-speaking world—has played a leading role in medical education, research, and clinical care.

With thousands of graduates, a distinguished presence in the international scientific community, and an active role in global networks, the School consistently ranks among the top 100 to 150 Medical Schools worldwide. It therefore holds a clear leading position among all Medical Schools in Greece, Cyprus, and throughout South-Eastern Europe.

The launch of the Medical Programme of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch marks a historic step that further strengthens the ties between Greece and Cyprus in the fields of Higher Education and healthcare. It will offer students the opportunity to study Medicine in a high-standard academic environment, under the esteemed name and academic guarantee of NKUA. The curriculum will be identical to that of the parent School in Athens—a programme that, for decades, has produced graduates who are highly sought after across the globe.

We are confident that the School of Medicine of the University of Athens in Cyprus is set to become a benchmark for contemporary medical education, attracting Greek-speaking students from Cyprus, Greece, and beyond. It will be a hub of academic excellence and international collaboration, fostering knowledge, research, and innovation, and shaping a new generation of doctors with vision and social responsibility’.

Chair of the Department of Nursing, Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs: The Department of Nursing is coming to Nicosia to raise the standards of Nursing education.

Full statement by the Chair of the Department of Nursing, Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs:

‘The Department of Nursing at the School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), is one of the oldest University Nursing Departments in the world, with a distinguished history spanning 45 years. Internationally recognized and highly esteemed, it enjoys a strong reputation both globally and locally. Consistently ranked among the top 40 in Europe and the top 150 worldwide, the Department has proudly graduated numerous Cypriot students. As part of the establishment of NKUA’s new Branch in Nicosia, the Department of Nursing is setting up operations in Cyprus with the aim of elevating Nursing education to a higher standard. It will offer robust Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes, driven by innovative research and cutting-edge curricula. Additionally, it will provide continuing education courses, thereby contributing significantly to Cypriot society, the State, and the economy, while honouring the deep national and historical ties that unite Greece and Cyprus’.

Chair of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, Professor Thomas Babalis: Collaboration between the new Department and Cyprus’s educational and cultural organizations will strengthen the bond between education and society, thereby making a substantial contribution to progress and development.

Full statement by the Chair of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, Professor Thomas Babalis:

‘The Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) – Cyprus Branch is proud to announce the commencement of its operations in Nicosia. This initiative benefits from the academic oversight and prestige of NKUA’s historic and internationally top-ranked Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education in Athens. Over its 40 years of operation, the Department has produced hundreds of Cypriot graduates who now play key roles in Primary Education and hold significant positions of responsibility across both the public and private sectors. The four-year curriculum of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education – Cyprus Branch, which is identical to the fully-compliant programme offered in Athens, will provide high-quality, in-person teaching to all Greek-speaking students. It ensures comprehensive academic training and equips students with the essential skills required for a successful career. Collaboration between the new Department and Cyprus’s educational and cultural organizations will strengthen the bond between education and society, thereby making a substantial contribution to progress and development. The Department is housed in the modern, fully licensed facilities of the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus, generously provided by the Archbishopric, creating an academic environment founded on inclusion and respect. The Department aims to nurture critical and creative researchers, teachers, and scholars who can successfully meet the challenges and demands of a rapidly changing contemporary world, both at the local and international levels’.

Chair of the Department of Economics, Professor Georgios Dotsis: The Undergraduate Programme in Economics at the Cyprus Branch of the University of Athens is a dynamic and forward-looking course that responds to international developments and labour market needs.

Full statement by the Chair of the Department of Economics, Professor Georgios Dotsis:

‘The Department of Economics is proud to announce the launch of a state-of-the-art, four-year Undergraduate Programme in Economics (BSc in Economics) at the NKUA – Cyprus Branch. This programme is identical to the one offered at the parent Institution in Athens, ensuring the same high standards of quality and academic excellence that define the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Building on our extensive experience in Greece and having achieved full compliance with the standards set by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA), we offer a programme distinguished by its pluralistic approach.

Students will have the opportunity to explore all schools of economic thought, become familiar with diverse real-world applications of economic theory, and graduate with the tools they need to succeed in their careers or further academic pursuits.

Our goal is to train top-level economists ready to pursue careers in both the public and private sectors or to continue their studies at the postgraduate level.

The programme also focuses on developing contemporary skills and fostering strong connections with the labour market. Students will benefit from a rich variety of modules covering economic theory and its applications, finance and accounting, as well as cutting-edge quantitative methods, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics.

The Undergraduate Programme in Economics at the Cyprus Branch of the University of Athens is a dynamic and forward-looking course that responds to international developments and labour market needs, equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills to build successful careers in Cyprus, Greece, and beyond’.

Chair of the Department of Business Administration, Professor Dimitrios Thomakos: The University of Athens and the Department of Business Administration, foster academic excellence and hands-on learning to shape the next generation of leaders in business and the economy.

Full statement by the Chair of the Department of Business Administration, Professor Dimitrios Thomakos:

‘The Department of Business Administration is committed to delivering a forward-thinking, high-impact academic experience that combines rigorous theory with real-world relevance. Rooted in the strong academic tradition of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), our programmes are designed to merge cutting-edge management thinking with hands-on learning. Located at the crossroads of education and enterprise, the Department maintains close ties with the Cypriot economy and the island’s dynamic business landscape. Students will benefit from meaningful internship opportunities, partnerships with leading companies and organizations, and practical engagement with real business challenges from day one. Our graduates will be ready to take on leadership roles in today’s economy, as professionals who combine deep academic knowledge with practical experience and an innovative mindset’.

On July 30, 2025, the first excavation season at the Chalcolithic Settlement of Erimi Pamboula in Cyprus came to a close. Part of a research programme conducted by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the excavation revealed parts of two buildings, pottery, stone tools, and jewelry made of picrolite, offering fresh insights into life on the island during the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE.

The research programme is directed by Dr Giorgos Vavouranakis, Professor of Prehistoric Aegean at the Department of History and Archaeology, in collaboration with Dr Ioannis Voskos, Adjunct Professor at the School of Philosophy. The programme involves an international team of postdoctoral researchers, postgraduate, and undergraduate students from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Freie Universität Berlin, and the University of Strasbourg. It also includes archaeologists from Greece and Cyprus and collaborates with the local Department of Antiquities. Within the ongoing collaboration between the University of Athens and the Cyprus Institute, particularly with Associate Professor Evi Margaritis, a short-term Erasmus mobility programme was organized and integrated into the excavation.

The Erimi Pamboula research programme is funded by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation. It also has the support of the Embassy of Greece in Nicosia, the Community of Erimi, the Municipality of Kourion, the Holy Metropolis of Limassol, the Cyprus National Guard General Staff, and Eurotankdry SA.

The excavation at Erimi Pamboula marks the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ return to archaeological work in the region after more than three decades. In addition to its research objectives, the programme supports the University of Athens’ ongoing efforts to strengthen and build on its traditionally close ties with Cyprus.

Professor Gerassimos D. Pagratis from the Department of Italian Language and Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will be giving a lecture at Princeton University on Friday, 3 October 2025, at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Time, US), titled

‘The Septinsular Republic (1800–1807): International Relations, Consular Network, and Diplomacy’.

https://hellenic.princeton.edu/events/2025/workshop-gerassimos-d-pagratis-septinsular-republic-1800-1807-international-relations

Invitation

The Seminars on Greek and Roman Antiquity aim at presenting the most recent findings of research on the ancient Greek and Roman World, as well as on the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean. They aspire to engage all disciplines relating to the study of the ancient world, focusing both on the written sources and on the material evidence, through the participation of experienced as well as younger scholars.

The seminars are co-organized by the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, the Department of History and Archaeology of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the École Française d’Athènes and intend to encourage discussion between scholars of different disciplinary backgrounds. The Seminars are held monthly and are hosted every year by one of the three organizing Institutions.

Πρόγραμμα

His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece officiated the traditional Blessing Ceremony to mark the beginning of the new academic year at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The ceremony was held in the presence of the Rector, the Vice-Rectors, the members of the Administration Council, and the University Senate.

The Postgraduate Programme in Journalism and New Media, with active involvement from its Director, Professor Stelios Papathanassopoulos, hosted the Euromedia Research Group meeting.

Within the context of the 16^th International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan (ICHAJ), hosted by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Christos Karagiannis, Vice-Rector of the University of Athens, held a working meeting with Dr Hashem Khries from the Department of History at Zarqa University.

During the meeting, a productive exchange of views took place regarding ways to deepen the bilateral cooperation between the two Universities. Professors Karagiannis and Khries laid particular emphasis on exploring opportunities for collaborative research, exchange programmes, and the co-organizing of scholarly events.

On Friday, 26 September 2025, the LL.M. in International and European Law of the School of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens warmly welcomed the new cohort of postgraduate students of the academic year 2025/2026. The ceremony took place at the historic University of Athens’ Club, in the “Kostis Palamas” building.

All members of the faculty attended the event, introducing themselves and presenting their courses to the incoming students. The participants also had the chance to briefly introduce themselves to the group, reflecting the rich diversity and truly international character of this year’s class.

In total, 55 students have enrolled in the two specializations of the LL.M. programme this year, including 24 international students from countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Uganda, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Turkey, the United States, Hungary, Romania, and Iran.

Following the presentations, all attendees enjoyed an informal discussion and a buffet reception in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

We extend our heartfelt wishes to our new students for a successful, creative, and inspiring academic journey!

https://llminteurl.law.uoa.gr/news_and_events/view_announcement/welcome_ceremony_class_of_2025_2026_llm_in_international_and_european_law_school_of_law_nkua

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7378354486374731776

The Department of Digital Arts and Cinema at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens actively participated in the Pre-Hackathon Workshop: Artistic Practices, which took place on September 17-18, 2025, in Malta and Gozo within the context of the IMPULSE (HORIZON) Project. Assistant Professor Caterina Antonopoulou and Dr George Anastasakis attended on behalf of the Department.

The IMPULSE project—IMmersive digitisation: uPcycling cULtural heritage towards new reviving StratEgies—receives funding from the European Union’s HORIZON programme. The Department of Digital Arts and Cinema at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens collaborates within the IMPULSE project alongside a diverse consortium of partners, including the following: Jagiellonian University (Poland), Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), University of Bologna (Italy), University of Malta (Malta), Heritage Malta, Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf (Germany), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece), Magna Żmien Foundation (Malta), Association Clust-ER Create (Italy), Explodedview (Poland), K8 Institute for Strategic Aesthetics GGMBH (Germany).

The School of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the Hellenic Diplomatic Academy (HDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, aiming to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation. The Dean of the School of Law, Professor Konstantinos Christodoulou, and the Director of HDA, Ambassador Michael Diamessis, formalized the agreement in the presence of the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, and the MFA Secretary General, Ambassador Teresa Angelatou.

Greece is gaining international visibility in the global fight against sepsis with the election of Dr Evangelos Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, to the Board of the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) for the 2025-2028 term.

The GSA announced that elections held in August brought to the Board 20 experts and advocates from 17 countries across every continent—from Africa and Asia to Europe, the Americas, and Oceania—a reflection of the Alliance’s truly global nature and inclusive character.

Professor Niranjan “Tex” Kissoon from Canada was re-elected President of the newly-appointed Board and will continue guiding global efforts to raise awareness of sepsis, improve prevention, and drive better patient outcomes worldwide.

Professor Giamarellos’s election underscores Greece’s active role in shaping global health policy on sepsis. He currently serves as President of the Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis and Chair of the European Sepsis Alliance.

Announcement by the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament

Today, Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis met with Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), at the Parliament building.

During their discussion, Professor Siasos updated Mr Kaklamanis on recent developments at NKUA, including the latest international partnerships with leading Universities abroad and the launch of a new Branch in Cyprus.

The new Branch represents a milestone in Higher Education and academic collaboration between Greece and Cyprus. It will reinforce the close national ties between the two countries, create new opportunities for students and faculty, and serve as a centre for education, research, and innovation both on the island and throughout South-Eastern Europe.

Additionally, it will facilitate joint academic and research initiatives with top Cypriot Universities.

Statement by the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos

‘I had the honour to meet with Speaker of the Parliament, Mr Nikitas Kaklamanis, and brief him on NKUA’s latest international collaborations, as well as the establishment of the new Branch in Cyprus, a significant step in expanding our global presence and strengthening the academic ties between the two countries. The Speaker expressed his keen interest in our strategic goals and the concerns of the University community, which reaffirms his and the State’s unwavering support for Education and higher learning’.

www.hellenicparliament.gr/Enimerosi/Grafeio-Typou/Deltia-Typou/

Monday, 22 September 2025, marked the beginning of the 16th International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan (ICHAJ) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

Held every three years under the auspices of HRH Prince El-Hassan bin Talal, the Conference brings together leading scholars and researchers from across the world, focusing on the study of Jordan’s cultural and historical heritage and its connections with the broader Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions.

Themed around ‘Archaeology and Sustainability: Learning From the Past for a Safe Resilient Future’, this year’s Conference aims to highlight the importance of scientific knowledge in addressing contemporary challenges.

Prince El-Hassan bin Talal was warmly welcomed by the Rector of NKUA, Professor Gerasimos Siasos. Vice-Rector, Professor Sophia Papaioannou, extended the University’s greeting during the official opening ceremony.

ICHAJ continues through Friday. It features a rich scientific programme with keynote speeches, presentations, and panel discussions. All sessions explore the latest archaeological discoveries, innovative methodological approaches, and the vital role of archaeology in the preservation and sustainable management of cultural heritage.

The University of Athens takes great pride and honour in hosting this distinguished international scientific conference in Athens, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the advancement of knowledge. At the same time, it promotes dialogue on the history and culture of the wider region.

For further information and the full programme of the Conference, please visit: www.ichaj.org

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, described the opening of the Cyprus Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens as ‘a significant institutional, political, and progressive evolution that strengthens Cyprus’s enduring ties with Greece and contributes to the enhancement of the educational system on the island’.

He also extended his warm thanks to the Rector and the University’s leadership for their commitment to advancing academic cooperation between the two countries.

Full statement by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides:

‘It is with great satisfaction that I welcome the accreditation of the programmes of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) for the creation of a Branch in Cyprus.

This milestone reinforces our Government’s strategy for the internationalization of education and firmly positions Cyprus as a regional academic hub, delivering tangible benefits for society, the economy, and the country’s global profile.

Collaboration with Universities and Research Centres abroad strengthens Cyprus’s standing while expanding the prospects for academic and scientific advancement.

The accreditation of NKUA’s programmes lays the foundation for the introduction of a new institutional framework that will facilitate the presence of other academic and research Institutions into Cyprus.

The Government continues to strengthen Cyprus’s scientific and research landscape, creating the necessary conditions for the development of a vibrant academic community. Through collaboration with Universities and Research Centres abroad, our country is increasingly establishing itself as a hub of excellence and innovation within the global academic sphere.

In a broader context, the operation of the Cyprus Branch of the University of Athens—an Institution with a History and academic tradition dating back to 1837—marks a significant institutional, political, and progressive evolution that strengthens our enduring ties with Greece and contributes to the enhancement of the educational system in Cyprus.

I heartily thank the Rector and the Administrative Authorities of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens recently hosted an international conference focused on the dialogue between Greek and Chinese civilizations, as part of a broader initiative to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries. The opening ceremony featured remarks by Mr Li Xi, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and high-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party; Greece’s Minister of Culture, Ms Lina Mendoni; and the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

Announcement by the Presidency of the Republic

The President of the Republic, Konstantinos An. Tasoulas, welcomed the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, who informed him on matters within his area of responsibility.

In particular, Mr Siasos presented the University’s strategic plan for the coming years, its international orientation, and the agreements made so far with leading Universities abroad, including Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Sorbonne, and others.

Finally, the Rector outlined the Institution’s ongoing effort to establish a Branch in Cyprus, a project that has already received a strong response from society on the island.

The President of the Republic thanked the Rector, Mr Siasos, for the briefing and wished him every success in achieving his goals, which, given the history and the significance of the University of Athens, are also of national importance.

Expressions of interest remain open until Tuesday, 30 September 2025, for 5 Undergraduate Programmes offered by the Cyprus Branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

The Programmes—delivered by the Departments of Medicine, Paedagogy and Primary Education, Business Administration, Economics, and Nursing—are set to start in October 2025.

For further information, please visit the following websites:

https://cy-en.uoa.gr/

https://en.uoa.gr/

Expressions of interest do not constitute an application for admission/registration. Such applications may be submitted only after the completion of all accreditation procedures and following a new announcement.

Supporting Documents Submitted with the Application

    1. Copy of ID Card or Passport

    2. Education:

(i) School Leaving Certificate from a recognized High School of at least six years of attendance

(ii) A qualification equivalent to, or corresponding with, the above-mentioned School Leaving Certificate, regardless of whether it was obtained in the Republic of Cyprus or abroad

(iii) Results of the subjects examined in the Panhellenic/Pancyprian Access Examinations (for candidates from Greece or Cyprus) and results of equivalent Higher Education Entrance Examinations for candidates from other countries

(Candidates holding a Greek High School Leaving Certificate must also meet the Minimum Admission Base for the relevant scientific field)

    3. CV

    4. Proof of Language Ability:

(i) Proof of English Language Ability at a minimum of B2 Level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

(ii) Proof of Greek Language Ability (if required)

     5. Other (e.g., Letters of Recommendation, Certifications, Volunteer Work, etc.)

School of Medicine: Call for expressions of interest

The Department of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) - Cyprus Branch, following the completion of the official evaluation process, invites prospective students to express their interest in studying Medicine by applying to the Greek-taught Undergraduate Medical Programme. This twelve-semester programme leads to the award of a Degree in Medicine, fully compliant with current legal regulations. To apply, please complete and submit the attached application form.

The Undergraduate Medical Programme is identical to the accredited curriculum offered by the School of Medicine at NKUA, which has been operating in Athens since 1837.

The Programme will start in October 2025.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusmed@med.uoa.gr from 8 September 2025 until 30 September 2025.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

The Chair of the School of Medicine Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos

APPLICATION FORM

Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education: Call for expressions of interest

The Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) - Cyprus Branch, following the completion of the official evaluation process, invites prospective students to express their interest in studying Education by applying to the Undergraduate Programme. This eight-semester programme leads to the award of a Degree in Education, fully compliant with current legal regulations. To apply, please complete and submit the attached application form.

The Undergraduate Programme is identical to the accredited curriculum offered by the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education, School of Education, NKUA, which has been operating in Athens since 1984.

The Programme will start in October 2025.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusprimedu@primedu.uoa.gr from 8 September 2025 until 30 September 2025.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

The Chair of the Department of Paedagogy and Primary Education Professor Thomas Babalis

APPLICATION FORM

Department of Business Administration: Call for expressions of interest

The Department of Business Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) - Cyprus Branch, following the completion of the official evaluation process, invites prospective students to express their interest in studying Business Administration by applying to the Undergraduate Programme. This eight-semester programme leads to the award of a Degree in Business Administration, fully compliant with current legal regulations. To apply, please complete and submit the attached application form.
The Undergraduate Programme in Business Administration is identical to the accredited curriculum offered by the Department of Business Administration, one of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ Departments, established in 2019.

The Programme will start in October 2025.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusba@ba.uoa.gr from 8 September 2025 until 30 September 2025.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

The Chair of the Department of Business Administration Professor Dimitrios Thomakos

APPLICATION FORM

Department of Economics: Call for expressions of interest

The Department of Economics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) - Cyprus Branch, following the completion of the official evaluation process, invites prospective students to express their interest in studying Economics by applying to the Undergraduate Programme. This eight-semester programme leads to the award of a Degree in Economics, fully compliant with current legal regulations. To apply, please complete and submit the attached application form.

The Undergraduate Programme in Economics is identical to the accredited curriculum offered by the Department of Economics at NKUA, one of the University’s oldest Departments. Established in 1837, it has operated in its current form since 1972.

The Programme will start in October 2025.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusecon@econ.uoa.gr from 8 September 2025 until 30 September 2025.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

The Chair of the Department of Economics Professor George Dotsis

APPLICATION FORM

Department of Nursing: Call for expressions of interest

The Department of Nursing of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) - Cyprus Branch, following the completion of the official evaluation process, invites prospective students to express their interest in studying Nursing by applying to the Undergraduate Nursing Programme. This eight-semester programme leads to the award of a Degree in Nursing, fully compliant with current legal regulations. To apply, please complete and submit the attached application form.

The Undergraduate Nursing Programme is identical to the accredited curriculum offered by the Department of Nursing at NKUA, which has been operating in Athens since 1980.

The Programme will start in October 2025.

You can submit your application via email to cyprusnurs@nurs.uoa.gr from 8 September 2025 until 30 September 2025.

You can also use the above email address for any further questions or clarifications.

The Chair of the Department of Nursing Professor Pavlos Myrianthefs

APPLICATION FORM

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens warmly invites all members of its academic community to participate in the 2025 Universities Night Run, a 5km race held as part of Athens Marathon, the Authentic.

Whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD candidate, Erasmus student, faculty member, special teaching staff, laboratory teaching staff, special technical laboratory staff, or part of the University’s administrative or technical team, this is your chance to join the run!

Date: Saturday 8 November 2025

Time: 19:15

Starting Point: Vasilissis Amalias Ave., between Souri and Xenofontos Streets, near the Bodossaki Foundation building (towards Syntagma Square, [map])

Contact: gymsports@uoa.gr

The University will cover participation fees for the first 80 students and 20 staff members who register, on a first come, first served basis.

Sign up between 1 September 2025 at 10 a.m. and 5 September 2025 at 12:00 noon, or until the registration limit of 80 students and 20 staff members is reached, by visiting https://gymsports.uoa.gr/diorganoseis/marathonios_athinas.

REGISTER NOW and become part of our University’s vibrant running community

Call for Participants

DeltaV Dynamics, the student team from the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, secured first place in the 2025 Sloshing Rocket Workshop Final, held in Forlì, Italy, in late August.

The competition was organized by EUROAVIA and Airbus.

Professor Irene Kamberidou represented the Department of Sociology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) at the ICAEB & ICSTM 2025: the 9th International Conference on Applied Economics and Business (ICAEB 2025) and the 9th International Conference on Sustainable Tourism Management (ICSTM 2025), August 24-26, 2025 in Paris, France. This concurrent event—namely both annual conferences held simultaneously, in the same venue, with an opening ceremony which includes presentations and discussions, followed by parallel sessions—provides a platform and forum for researchers and professionals to share their work and latest findings in sustainable tourism management and in applied economics and business. Prof. Irene Kamberidou, who is a member of the NKUA Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Committee, chaired Session V, which focused on “Entrepreneurship, Education, and Gender Dynamics”, and she subsequently presented her research on “Women’s Agency and Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age.”

Christoforos Polydorou, a member of the teaching staff at the University of Athens’ Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, gave another outstanding performance at the 2025 World Transplant Games, where the Greek national team also made a strong impression. The Games were held from August 17 to 24, 2025, in Dresden, Germany. More than 2,200 athletes from 51 countries took to the field in 17 sports, showcasing the strength and resilience of those who have overcome serious health challenges. The level of competition across all events was exceptionally high, driven by a record-breaking number of participants.

The Greek national team, with 26 athletes, truly distinguished itself through its dedication and remarkable results. Notably, Christoforos Polydorou earned a bronze medal in the 200m event, climbing to third place on the podium. He also finished 5th in the 100m and 8th in the 400m. Additionally, the 4x100m relay team, which included Polydorou, secured 6th place in the world rankings.

Christoforos Polydorou’s achievements, along with the success of Team Greece as a whole, highlight a significant milestone and underscore the importance of sport in promoting both physical and mental well-being.

Associate Professor Stella Tsani, Department of Economics, has been elected to the Policy Advice Committee of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) for a three-year term commencing in December 2025.

The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) is a global network comprising over 150 academies of science, engineering, and medicine that collaborate to provide independent and authoritative advice on issues of international significance. The Policy Advice Committee is the central body responsible for guiding IAP’s strategic direction in the area of policy engagement, ensuring that science-based evidence informs international policy processes.

Associate Professor Stella Tsani’s research focuses on sustainable development, energy and natural resource economics, climate change, and policy analysis. She has extensive experience in international scientific assessment processes, including her role as lead author for the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) and her contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report scoping. Her election reflects the value of her academic work and sustained commitment to advancing science-informed policy at the global level. This appointment highlights the contribution of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens to international scientific and policy dialogue and reinforces the University’s role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Link: https://www.interacademies.org/news/interacademy-partnership-iap-announces-its-new-leadership-3-year-term-starts-december-2025

Dear students, faculty, and colleagues,

On behalf of the Rectory Authorities, the Administration Council, and the University Senate, I warmly wish you good health, renewed energy, and every success as you embark on this new academic year!

As the oldest and largest Higher Educational Institution in Greece, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is proud of its ongoing growth and pursuit of excellence, made possible by the dedication and effort of its academic and administrative staff.

Our enduring commitment to advancing knowledge and serving society remains at the heart of everything we do.

Over the past academic year, the University established joint educational programmes with leading Institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Exeter, and Sorbonne. This year, we move forward with a vision that looks beyond Greece’s borders. We are especially proud of the Senate’s unanimous decision to open a branch of our University in Cyprus—a historic step that further strengthens our presence in the international academic landscape.

With our students at the centre of everything we do, we will continue to work together this year, aiming even higher.

With heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your trust and commitment, I wish you all a successful and inspiring academic year ahead!

The Rector
Gerasimos Siasos
Professor of Cardiology

The 5^th European Data and Computational Journalism Conference is set to take place in Athens from 8 to 10 September 2025, at the main building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

The Conference will bring together media professionals, researchers, data journalists, and academics to share experiences and explore how data, artificial intelligence, and computational methods are reshaping news production—all in service of the public good. The programme features academic talks and keynotes from industry leaders.

Keynote speakers:

Cheryl Phillips, Professor, Stanford University

Nick Diakopoulos, Professor, Northwestern University

Laura Ellis, Head of Research & Development, BBC

Marc Lavallee, Director of Technology Product and Strategy for the Journalism Program at Knight Foundation, former Director and Head of Research & Development at the New York Times

Dhrumil Mehta, Professor of Data Journalism at Columbia Journalism School and Harvard Kennedy School

Schedule: https://www.datajconf.com/

Tickets & Registration: https://www.more.com/gr-el/conference/european-data-computational-journalism-2025/

On Monday, August 25, 2025, Haris Pamboukis, Professor of Private International Law and Law of International Transactions at the University of Athens, was elected to the Institute of International Law in the first round of voting.

The Institute of International Law is the world’s leading body for the advancement of the field, bringing together the most prominent legal scholars from around the globe. Professor Pamboukis’s election represents both a significant personal achievement and a notable honour for Greece.

About Haris Pamboukis

In addition to his academic position at the University of Athens’ School of Law, Professor Pamboukis served as Minister of State and, for a brief period, as Alternate Minister of Development in the government of George Papandreou (2009-2011).

He is the author of many articles in Greek, English, and French, and has published numerous legal monographs and political essays.

The Institute of International Law

In 1904, the Institute of International Law was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its work in promoting arbitration among States—a peaceful means of settling international disputes. The Institute comprises honorary members, members, and associates.

Source: www.tovima.gr/2025/08/26/society/xaris-pampoukis-ekselegi-sto-institouto-diethnous-dikaiou-diakrisi-gia-ti-xora/

For the fourth year in a row, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens co-organized and took part in the ArcHLABS International Summer School of Archaeology, alongside other Universities across Europe. This year’s programme took place at the renowned Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina, Sicily—an iconic site celebrated for its exceptional mosaics.

Eight postgraduate students from the MA programme ‘Byzantine World: History and Archaeology’ immersed themselves in advanced archaeological approaches, accompanied by Professor Platon Petridis.

Below is a selection of photos from the programme:

The Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies at Princeton University has chosen Dr Gerassimos D. Pagratis, Professor in the Department of Italian Language and Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as a Visiting Research Fellow for the Fall Semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.

During his fellowship, Professor Pagratis will carry out research on the topic ‘The Septinsular Republic (1800-1807): Continuities and Discontinuities in the Island Societies of the Ionian at the Beginning of the Century of Revolutions.’

This project builds on work he has been engaged in since 2024 as a Princeton University Library Research Fellow.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) earned yet another important distinction: Released in July 2025, the results of Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities showed that NKUA placed 237th overall out of 32,000 Universities and 1st out of all 105 Greek and Cypriot Universities and other Higher Education providers included in the ranking.

As was previously mentioned, Webometrics’ Ranking Web of Universities gave the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens the top national ranking. Following that are Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (249th place worldwide) and the National Technical University of Athens (378th place worldwide). The University of Patras (524th place worldwide) and the University of Crete (573rd place worldwide) round out the national top 5. The first Cypriot University to appear in the ranking is the University of Cyprus, a public Higher Educational Institution, which holds the 619th place worldwide (see Table 1).

CIVIS—Europe’s Civic University Alliance—has successfully concluded its blended intensive programme (BIP) titled ‘Interplay of Landscape, Tectonics, and Climate Change in the Mediterranean Context’. The course was hosted by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with the University of Bucharest, Stockholm University, Aix-Marseille Université, the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, and the Kefalonia and Ithaca Geopark.

In a landmark move, the Senate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has unanimously approved the creation of a Named Chair, dedicated to the memory of Athina Ioanni Martinou. The initiative was proposed by the University’s Great Benefactor and Honorary Doctor, Mr Athanasios Martinos. This is the first Named Chair ever established by our country’s oldest and largest University.

Born in Glyfada, Athens, in 1927, with roots in the island of Kefalonia, Athina I. Martinou entered the shipping industry in 1964 with the purchase of her first vessel. By 1967, she had commissioned the construction of a second ship—marking the beginning of a remarkable journey that would see her build a significant fleet. Known for her determination, hard work, and humility, she became a pioneering figure in Greek and international shipping. In 2021, her granddaughter, Ioanna K. Martinou, founded the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, a charitable organization supporting initiatives in social welfare, healthcare, education, culture, the environment, and the maritime sector. Athina I. Martinou passed away in 2024, leaving behind a lasting legacy in both business and service to society.

Mr Athanasios Martinos, a long-standing supporter of public institutions, has played a vital role in strengthening healthcare services and infrastructure at the University of Athens. Through his generous philanthropy, he has funded the construction of new university facilities and supported the modernization of several clinical departments at Attikon, Sotiria, Hippocrateio, Laiko, Aretaieio, and Aiginiteio hospitals. His benefaction has also extended to our University’s Schools of Law and Philosophy, advancing academic excellence and fostering wider community engagement.

The establishment of the Athina Ioanni Martinou Chair is a meaningful tribute to the contributions of the Martinos family and a significant step forward for our University. The Chair will focus on cardiovascular medicine—a scientific field of critical importance to public health—as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in both Greece and worldwide, accounting for 34% of all fatalities. The Named Chair will be based at the University of Athens’ School of Medicine, within the 3rd Clinical Department of Cardiology at the Sotiria General Hospital of Thoracic Diseases.

Accordingly, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, stated: ‘The creation of the first Named Chair in our University’s history is a powerful example of how generosity and social responsibility can support knowledge, research, and healthcare. We warmly thank Mr Athanasios Martinos, Great Benefactor and Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Athens, for his steady and wide-ranging support, as well as the crucial contribution to Greece made by him, his wife Marina Martinou, and the entire family. Athanasios Martinos is a well-known philanthropist whose far-reaching actions have made a real difference to society, and a forward-thinking leader who is deeply committed to the well-being of the community and motivated by genuine compassion for others. He carries out his extensive humanitarian work with remarkable modesty and a disarming kindness of spirit that truly reflects the qualities of the Great National Benefactors of Global Hellenism’.

The Athina Ioanni Martinou Chair was created under Law 4957/2022, which enables Higher Educational Institutions to establish professorships funded through donations or grants, aimed at strengthening teaching and research in specialized fields of study.
The Chair will be launched following the signing of a memorandum of understanding, as required by law. It is expected to play a pivotal role in training young scientists and promoting cardiovascular research in Greece.

Our University intends to move swiftly to establish yet another Named Chair in honour of one of its Great Benefactors.

A new volume, ‘Modern Greek Diaspora in Central-Southern Italy in the Early Modern Period (15th-18th Centuries)’, has just been published.

It contains the proceedings of the conference of the same name, held in Venice from 27 to 29 June 2023. The event was jointly organized by the Laboratory of Italian History and Historiography at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies, under the auspices of the Embassy of Greece in Rome.

As with all previous publications of the Laboratory, the volume is freely available in open access.

https://labstoria.ill.uoa.gr/dimosieyseis 

Dr Athena Bazou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Philology, participated as an invited speaker at the 11th Nishan Forum of World Civilizations in China, delivering a lecture entitled ‘Ancient Pandemics in Greece and China: Concepts, Prejudices, Lessons’.

The Nishan Forum, held in Qufu—the birthplace of Confucius—in Shandong province, was inaugurated in 2010 in response to a United Nations initiative. Since then, it has evolved into a distinguished platform for the exchange of ideas and intercultural learning, seeking to foster understanding between nations and to examine the role of ancient wisdom in shaping our modern world.

The Forum is organized jointly by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the International Confucian Association, and the Shandong Provincial People’s Government.

This year, it brought together more than 500 academics, political figures, and cultural leaders from over 70 countries, united in their aim of fostering cross-cultural dialogue and preserving traditional Chinese values.

Centred on the theme ‘Beauty in Diversity: Nurturing Understanding Among Civilizations for Global Modernization’, the Forum featured six sub-topics: The Origins and Future Development of Civilization, Confucius Culture: Significance for the World and Value to Our Times, Mutual Assistance in Pursuing Modernization, The Importance of Family and Social Development through the Lens of Civilization, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Civilization, Qilu Culture and World Civilization.

George Alexandropoulos, Associate Professor in the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has received the 2025 Best Paper Award from the journal Intelligent and Converged Networks (https://www.sciopen.com/journal/2708-6240) in recognition of his article:

M. Jian, G. C. Alexandropoulos, E. Basar, C. Huang, R. Liu, Y. Liu, and C. Yuen, ‘Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces for wireless communications: Overview of hardware designs, channel models, and estimation techniques’, Intelligent and Converged Networks, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-32, March 2022.

(https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9765815).

The School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is delighted to showcase the work of its newly established Liver Transplantation and Liver Disease Surgical Department, operating at the General University Hospital of Athens ‘Laiko’, under the direction of Dr Georgios Sotiropoulos, Professor of Surgery and Transplantation. This Department, the only one of its kind within Greece’s public national health system, plays a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s liver transplantation programme, setting a new standard for both scientific excellence and social contribution.

Since the reintroduction of the liver transplantation programme in Athens in 2018, the number of procedures has steadily increased each year. By the end of 2023, the Liver Transplantation Unit at ‘Laiko’ Hospital had successfully carried out 58 liver transplantations. This growth has been supported by the 1st Department of Gastroenterology at the University of Athens, under the direction of Professor Georgios Papatheodorides. Following the establishment of the Liver Transplantation and Liver Disease Surgical Department in 2024, an additional 45 liver transplantations have been performed as of August 2025—a significant milestone for public transplantation activity in Athens and a clear indicator of the Department’s dynamic expansion. Among these were 4 liver transplantations in patients with acute liver failure and 3 living donor liver transplantations (LDLT), which marked the commencement of Greece’s first living donor liver transplantation programme. Indeed, the first LDLT in Greece using robotic assistance was recently performed successfully, when a woman donated the right lobe of her liver to her young son. The Department has also successfully carried out reduced-size liver transplantations, providing new opportunities for patients with severe liver disease, who are not suitable for conventional full-size grafts. Furthermore, it has implemented a liver transplantation protocol for colorectal liver metastases, positioning Greece as the 4th European country to apply this internationally recognized approach.

The Department’s multidisciplinary team, comprising expert surgeons, hepatologists, anaesthesiologists, intensivists, pathologists, radiologists, and nurses, achieves exceptional survival rates. The team is at the forefront of adopting innovative medical technology, advancing organ donation, and training the next generation of scientists.

The University of Athens continues to champion initiatives that enhance public health and offer patients with severe liver disease a second chance at life, contributing significantly to the transformation of our country’s transplantation landscape.

With the symbolic strength of Athens’ scholarly tradition encompassing contemporary academic collaboration, the 35^th General Assembly of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) closed at the historic main building of the University of Athens.

The proceedings began on Thursday, 19 June, with the UNICA Administrative General Assembly. The meeting, held in a hybrid format—with in-person attendance as well as options for remote participation and voting—offered an opportunity for senior leaders of UNICA member Universities to exchange information, share strategies, and make decisions on the future of the alliance.

‘It is a great pleasure and distinct honour to welcome to Athens our colleagues from the Universities from the capitals of Europe’, said the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos. ‘This event strengthens the ties within the UNICA network and reflects our commitment to international academic cooperation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the promotion of humanistic values in Higher Education.’

In the afternoon, parallel sessions followed, namely:

• The UNICA leadership meeting at the Great Hall of NKUA and
• The UNICA Contact Persons and International Relation Officers’ meeting at the ‘Alkis Argyriadis’ Amphitheatre.

On Friday, 20 June, the focus shifted entirely to the UNICA Rectors’ Seminar on the theme ‘The Key Role of the Humanities in Our Universities.’ A series of presentations, panels, and discussions, with the participation of distinguished figures from the academic and research community across Europe, shed light on the challenges and importance of the Humanities in today’s Universities.

The Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos stressed that: “This year marks a significant milestone in our journey—a celebration of 35 (thirty-five) years of collaboration, innovation, and shared commitment to the advancement of higher education across Europe. Over these decades, UNICA has grown into a vibrant network of universities, united by our dedication to academic excellence, cultural exchange, and the pursuit of knowledge.

We gather here not only to celebrate the remarkable legacy of our network but also to reaffirm our shared mission: to strengthen the role of universities as engines of critical thought, democratic dialogue, and sustainable transformation across Europe and beyond.

Our gathering here today is not just a meeting of minds but a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to shape the future of higher education. In a world that is rapidly changing, the role of Universities has never been more critical. As we engage in discussions, let us be guided by the topic of this year’s Rectors’ Seminar: “The Key Role of the Humanities in Our Universities.”

Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and data governance are reshaping not only our economies but the very meaning of human agency. It is here that the University has a moral responsibility: to frame technological progress within a context of ethics, equity, and democratic accountability.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, one of the oldest institutions in Southeastern Europe, is proud to host this gathering of university leaders of all the universities, members of the wide UNICA network!

Together, let us embrace this opportunity to reflect, collaborate, and envision a future where our universities continue to be beacons of knowledge, understanding, and progress.”

The University of Athens extends its warmest congratulations to the Greek high school students who distinguished themselves at the 8th International Economics Olympiad (IEO), held from July 20 to 29, 2025. This year’s event was hosted by Azerbaijan and brought together participants from 50 countries.

Representing Greece were five students who qualified through the 6th Panhellenic Economics Competition for High School Students. This marks Greece’s seventh consecutive year participating in the IEO—and once again, the results were outstanding.

Three students earned bronze medals in the individual parts of the competition:

· Michail Tsoukis (Pagkrition Private School),

· Athanasios Karageorgos (8th General High School of Trikala), and

· Dimitris Georgoulas (1st General High School of Evosmos).

In the Business Case team competition, the Greek delegation achieved a strong 12th-place finish.

At the Department of Economics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, we are proud to have supported this initiative in close collaboration with the namesake Department of the University of Thessaly. Together, we co-organized the 6th Panhellenic Economics Competition for High School Students.

We would like to thank our faculty members—Professor Stelios Kotsios (Chair of the Department), Assistant Professor Frago Kourandi, and Assistant Professor Pantelis Kostis—for their invaluable role in preparing the students.

Most importantly, we wholeheartedly congratulate the participants on their remarkable achievements. Their dedication, hard work, and passion for learning are truly inspiring.

You’ve made us all proud!

Greece’s national team delivered another outstanding performance at the 36th International Biology Olympiad (IBO), held from 21 to 27 July 2025 in Quezon City, Philippines. Competing against over 320 students from more than 70 countries, the Greek team — made up of four final-year secondary school students — returned with one bronze medal and two honourable mentions.
Dimitris Kalogeropoulos was awarded the bronze medal, while Maria-Ioanna Michailidou and Ilias-Evangelos Theocharous earned certificates of merit for their commendable achievements.

The students who secured a place on this year’s national team were selected through a highly competitive process involving over 3,500 candidates from across the country. The final team comprised:

Maria-Ioanna Michailidou, Aristotelio College of Thessaloniki,
Dimitris Kalogeropoulos, The Moraitis Schools,
Ilias-Evangelos Theocharous, General Lyceum of Neapoli, Kozani, and
Michail-Aggelos Chalkiadakis, Model General Lyceum of Heraklion.

The Greek delegation was headed by Dr Georgios Kapolas, a secondary school biology teacher, with Dr Christos Georgiadis — a member of the Laboratory Teaching Staff in the Department of Biology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and affiliated with the University’s Museum of Zoology — serving as assistant leader.

Since first participating in 2007, Greece has developed a strong and consistent presence at the IBO, having now accumulated a total of one silver medal, twenty bronze medals, and thirteen certificates of merit. The Olympiad offers a prestigious and intellectually rigorous platform, aimed at nurturing the world’s most promising young minds in the biological sciences.
What makes this year’s success particularly noteworthy is the broader educational context. Greek students compete with peers from countries where biology holds a more prominent position in the secondary school curriculum and where significantly more teaching hours are allocated to the subject. Despite biology being widely regarded as the science of the 21st century, in Greece it remains a relatively under-represented field in secondary education — except for pupils who choose to specialize in Health and Life Sciences (Third Stream) in their final year.

In this light, the Greek team’s achievements are not simply a reflection of academic aptitude, but a testament to the students’ passion, determination, and personal commitment to excellence.

Immediately after completing their national university entrance examinations, the selected students undertook an intensive, bespoke training programme at the NKUA’s Department of Biology. The two-week programme, led by volunteer academic and laboratory teaching staff, aimed to bridge gaps in both theoretical knowledge and practical laboratory skills — gaps that are, in many cases, a direct result of the current structure of biology education in Greek schools.

The Museum of Zoology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was proud to act as one of the principal sponsors of this year’s Greek delegation. In doing so, the Museum not only supported the students’ efforts but also seized the opportunity to promote its educational mission on an international stage. The Museum remains committed to fostering scientific outreach, promoting excellence in life sciences, and contributing to the wider academic and societal goals of NKUA.

A long-standing request from graduates and public services has finally been fulfilled: degree certificates issued by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens since 2000 are now available through the ‘Πιστοποιητικά Σπουδών [Degree Certificates]’ platform on gov.gr.

The entire process is completed online using your Taxisnet credentials and Social Security Number (AMKA).

How to access your degree certificate via gov.gr:

1. Visit the website ptyxia.gov.gr.
2. Select «Έκδοση πιστοποιητικού σπουδών [Issue Degree Certificate]».
3. Log in to the service with your Taxisnet or personal internet banking credentials.
4. Check your personal information and enter your Social Security Number (AMKA).
5. Pick the University from which you graduated.
6. Choose your degree and the language you want it issued in, then preview your details.
7. When the process is finished, save the certificate to your device.

The Discipline of Gerodontology of the Dental School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), continuing a 14-year-long effort to promote the oral health of older citizens, especially those in vulnerable groups, has successfully completed its educational and civic engagement activities for the academic year 2024–2025.

These activities were organised and carried out through the “service learning” component of the mandatory Gerodontology course offered in the 10th semester of the NKUA undergraduate dental studies programme, as well as through the “Smile for Life” programme developed within the framework of the “CIVIS Intergenerational Communities Open Lab”.

The Gerodontology service learning programme included weekly educational visits by students and teaching staff to the Nursing Home of Athens from March to end May. During these visits the students connected and interacted with the residents, performed comprehensive oral examinations using mobile dental equipment, informed them and/or their guardians about their oral health status, provided training to the residents and their caregivers on daily dental, oral and denture care, and distributed oral care products free of charge.

We are proud to announce that the team from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Law successfully participated in the grand final of the 13th Helga Pedersen Moot Court Competition, which took place from May 19–23, 2025, at the premises of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The team, consisting of undergraduate students Nikolaos Kyrillidis, Andriana Chandanou, Iason-Omiros Christidis, and Kyriaki Chronaki, distinguished itself across all phases of the competition, which featured approximately 60 teams from across Europe.

They were coached by Katia Rippi, LLM candidate, and Eirini Vyzirgiannaki, trainee lawyer, both former participants in the competition, under the academic supervision of Professor Maria Gavouneli.

Saroosh Zahid is a rising junior at Georgetown University-Qatar, pictured above third from left.

As I walk down the most recent lane in memory town, I can’t help but smile at the thought of two  wonderful weeks I spent with a brilliant group of people in Greece. I was part of the Earth Commons’ summer course in Greece: Sensing Marine Ecosystem Health & Climate Impacts from Space. This was a joint initiative between Georgetown University (GU) in Washington, DC, Georgetown University-Qatar, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), with five students from each of the participating institutions. This 5+5+5 formula turned out to be the “secret sauce” which gave this course so much flavor!

We received academic tutelage under professors Jesse Meiller and Dionysios Raitsos, with the logistical brilliance of Katerina Downward of the Earth Commons-Greece keeping everything running smoothly. The course consisted of two parts: the first in Athens at the NKUA biology department and the second in Andros with the Andros Research Center. As a student of International Economics at GU-Q, this course was somewhat distant from the normal scope of my academics. So far, I have been privy to more of the policy discussions around environmental science, and I have consistently felt a lack of scientific knowledge informing environmental policymaking. This course offered me a way to snorkel (somewhat literally and intellectually) in the waters of science-proper while expanding the colors on my academic palette.

Over the first week in Athens, we learned the fundamentals of marine biology, starting with phytoplankton and thermoclines and all the way to oceanographic equipment used to collect in-situ data. In the second week, we put our new knowledge to practice by collecting samples from the ocean using niskin bottles, secchi disk, and sea surface samples from the Andros port and from a few kilometers into the Aegean. We then studied the samples under the microscope, observing the phytoplankton, zooplankton and, unfortunately, quite a few microplastics in the water. Nearing the end, we worked in pairs to prepare a research report about primary productivity of any interesting oceanic region around the globe using satellite data from ESA & NASA and presented our findings on the last day of course.

As exciting and fun as the academic experience was for me, it was the shared meals, quiet conversations and slow weaving of trust that gave our learning deeper meaning, reminding us that science, at its best, is a profoundly human endeavor.

As I look back on the two weeks, I find it very hard to pick and choose a particular memory because every moment is so special to me. However, something that is evidence enough of the beautiful human experience is that although we were able to have several meals on our own, there was barely a Mediterranean meal that we had solo. Even after spending the whole day together, our cohort would get together to grab dinner and be out late, laughing, sharing, and being excellent humans deep into the night.

At the precipice of my undergraduate years, I would like to use the knowledge I gained and the relationships I’ve built in Greece to inform a mindful life that embodies a respect for the world I’ve been entrusted with, to act for preserving life—both microscopic and macroscopic—and to advocate for science-based environmental policy at every policy discussion I get to be a part of.

To my mentors and colleagues: thank you all for creating and sharing this experience of a lifetime with me!

The University of Athens warmly congratulates the athletes and staff of the National Women’s Water Polo Team on their historic performance at the World Aquatics Championships! Team Greece was crowned World Champion in Singapore following a thrilling 12-9 victory over Hungary in the final.

Our Institution is especially proud that five members of our ‘national favorite’ team are currently active students at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, demonstrating that academic excellence and elite-level sport can go hand in hand. These remarkable student-athletes are Foivi Angelidi (School of Dentistry), Marina Kotsioni (School of Physical Education and Sport Science), Christina Siouti (School of Medicine), Vasiliki Plevritou (School of Dentistry), and Sofia Tornarou (School of Medicine).

Their achievement serves as an inspiration to the entire academic community, proving that with faith, perseverance, and teamwork, anything is possible.

It is worth noting that this marks the fifth gold medal ever won by the National Women’s Water Polo Team—their 15th medal overall, which also includes five silver and five bronze medals. Meanwhile, Greece has firmly established itself as the undisputed leader in Women’s Water Polo, clinching its second gold medal within just a few months—the first coming at last April’s World Cup, with a 13-9 win over Hungary.

Supporting the team at every match is Associate Professor Giorgos Marinos from the University of Athens’ School of Medicine, serving as the team’s dedicated doctor.

Heartfelt congratulations to all!

#ΕΚΠΑ #TeamGreece #WaterPolo #WorldChampions #ΠανεπιστήμιοΑθηνών #Υπερηφάνεια #Αριστεία

For another consecutive year, the School of Medicine and the School of Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have maintained their pre-eminence and appeal, securing top spots in the admission scores of the ‘Panhellenic Exams’. In addition, the Departments of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, and Informatics have proven exceptionally popular, continuing to attract top-achieving candidates from across the nation. This sustained level of performance has further reinforced the University’s reputation as one of Greece’s premier Higher Educational Institutions, underscoring its leadership in academic excellence and its pivotal role in shaping the future of the country’s professional and scientific landscape.

Τhe School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has once again retained its status as the most sought-after Department of Higher Education, with the greatest entry score in the country (18,775 points). Similarly, the School of Law has also this year received the largest number of first-choice preferences, solidifying its dominance in the 1st Field (Humanities, Legal, and Social Studies), with an admission score of 17,875 points.

This strong performance highlights the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ exceptional academic standards, scholarly distinction, rich history, and global reputation.

Our academic community—Rector, Vice-Rectors, Administration Council, University Senate, teaching staff, researchers, and students alike—continues to work with unwavering dedication, creating an educational environment that fosters knowledge, supports research, and encourages meaningful contributions to society.

The above results also confirm the trust prospective students place in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and further emphasize the critical role our University plays in generating new knowledge and nurturing the country’s scientific potential.

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens congratulates all successful candidates and warmly welcomes the new students who have chosen to pursue their education at its Schools and Departments.

Our University remains committed to its tradition of providing high-quality instruction while steadfastly supporting the development of the next generation of scientists.

For the admission scores, please click here  

Admission scores download

On Monday, 21 July 2025, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens welcomed a delegation from Armenia, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations in the fields of Higher Education and culture.

Representing the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens was the Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs, Student Welfare, and Lifelong Learning, Professor Christos Karagiannis, who was joined by his legal advisor, Ms Eleni Vrinioti, and the administrative officer from the Department of European and International Relations, Ms Athina Nikolaki.

The Armenian delegation included:

–The Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports,Ms Zhanna Andreasyan,

–The Rector of Yerevan State University, Associate Professor Hovhannes Hovhannisyan,

–The Rector of Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences, Associate Professor Davit Gyurjinyan, and

–The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Hellenic Republic, Mr Tigran Mkrtchyan.

The series of educational, cultural, and artistic activities titled ‘NKUA in the City’ was introduced by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens—following a proposal by the present author—and officially launched on March 21, 2024. The events are co-organized with the Municipality of Athens based on a Memorandum of Understanding that was mutually agreed upon as early as February 2025.

As part of this series of activities, dozens of educational, cultural, and artistic events have been organized so far, with strong participation from both the University community and the City of Athens [:NKUA in the City – NKUA Hub ].

The video was made by the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema, School of Economics and Political Sciences, NKUA

These events include:

1. Anniversary Celebrations

To date, the following events have been organized:

event to mark World Poetry Day® 21 March 2024: Poetry Marathon Ι & 21 March 2025: Poetry Marathon II

event to mark World Music Day® 21 June 2024: Concert with ‘Music Odyssey’ on the square in front of the Propylaea

event to mark World Environment Day® 5 June 2025: The Natural Environment Meets Our Folk Tradition

event to mark World Philosophy Day® 28 May 2025: 1st Festival of Philosophy: ‘Philosophy: Reason and Passion’ & 17 June 2025: Lecture by Denis Robichaud at Plato’s Academy & upcoming celebration on the 3rd Thursday of November 2025

period before Easter Sunday® 22 April 2024: ‘“Today Smells Like Springtime”: Easter with Alexandros Papadiamantis’ & 9 April 2025: Easter Concert

period before Christmas® 20 December 2024: NKUA and the City of Athens Carolling at Christmas

2. Thematic Sections

Series of events on Poetry and Literature

section titled ‘Poetry: The Negative of Silence’ (coordinated by Tzina Kalogirou)® 11 June 2024: Titos Patrikios & 13 December 2024: Tasos Germenis & 24 February 2025: Kyriakos Charalambides & 28 April 2025: Svetlana Kalezić-Radonjić–Echoes of Her: Resonances of the Female Voice – From Silence to Expression

section titled ‘Word and Knowledge in the City of the 21st Century’ (coordinated by Kirki Kefalea)® 18 June 2024: Christos Yannaras & 17 January 2025: Stelios Ramfos & 2 June 2025: Paschalis Kitromilides

3. Lectures

Series of lectures by members of the University community

Maria Efthymiou (‘Food, an Important Parameter of World History’ & ‘Private Ownership – Communal Ownership, Or How Humanity Is Measured Historically Against Itself’)® 6 November & 3 December 2024

Petros Roussos (‘Parenting in the Digital Age’)® 13 March & 3 April & 22 May 2025

Manos Stefanidis (‘Propylaea-City Hall: The Two Pillars of Our Modern Culture’)® 9 May & 6 June 2025

Two unique lectures, one by the Rector of NKUA, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, at the City Hall (18 March 2025: ‘“PROLAMVANO”. Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases’), the other by the Mayor of Athens, Dr Haris Doukas, at the Great Hall of NKUA (10 April 2025: ‘Sustainability and Social Transformation in Cities’)

4. Broadcasts

The series titled ‘Visual Explorations. Glimpses on Modern Greek Art’, curated by Art Historian Dimitris Pavlopoulos, continues successfully (to date, thirteen episodes have been released on the Pemptousia TV channel)

5. Concerts

two ‘Concerts Accessible and Friendly to People With Dementia and Their Carers’, or, in other words, ‘Listening to Music for Everyone’® 12 March & 2 May 2025: musical ensembles of the Department of Music Studies, School of Philosophy, NKUA, coordinated by the Laboratory of Music, Cognitive Sciences, and Community.

6. Special Occasions

‘1st Student Poetry Competition of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’® 20 September 2024 – 20 January 2025 (Awards ceremony and commendations on 21 March 2025, as part of Poetry Marathon ΙΙ)

‘META-FRASEIS – Event Dedicated to the Translation Work of Maria Papadima’® 12 June 2025

The educational, cultural, and artistic events as part of the series of activities titled ‘NKUA in the City’ continue to grow!

Stay tuned by following updates through the official channels of NKUA and the City of Athens.

ACHILLEAS G. CHALDAEAKES

Member of the NKUA Administration Council

On Thursday, 12 June 2025, Professor George Sirrakos, together with a group of students from the Department of Secondary Education of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, paid a visit to the Department of Educational Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Upon arrival, they received a warm welcome from Professor Christos Parthenis, Associate Professor Alba Papakonstantinou, Dr Antonia Samara, and Dr Lydia Exarchou at the premises of the Department.

The visit included a guided tour of the Museum of Education, featuring a brief introduction to the evolution of the educational system in Greece by the Museum’s curator, Dr Lydia Exarchou.

Immediately afterwards, Professor Christos Parthenis gave a presentation entitled: ‘Intercultural Education: Theory, Greek Reality, and the Role of the NKUA Intercultural Education Lab’. Dr Alba Papakonstantinou and Dr Antonia Samara then led a discussion about secondary teacher training in the two Departments, collaboration opportunities between them, and international developments in Higher Education in both the American and European contexts.

The meeting continued with questions from the invited students and concluded with both sides reaffirming their strong interest in joint research initiatives and collaborative actions.

On Monday, 14 July 2025, an online meeting took place between two faculty members of the Department of Public Law at the School of Law of the University of Athens, namely Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Dr Aikaterini Iliadou, and Assistant Professor, Dr Nikolaos Simantiras, on the one hand, and, on the other, representatives of the Sino-German Legal Cooperation Programme, which is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The foreign delegation included five members serving onthe Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. During the meeting, discussions focused on the constitutional framework of Greek Public Administration, the organization of Public Administration, the general principles governing the actions of Public Administration, the instruments of administrative action, as well as issues of judicial control over administrative actions and judicial control over theconstitutionality of laws.

The meeting was constructive, featuring a presentation of the general framework by Dr Aikaterini Iliadou and remarks by Dr Nikolaos Simantiras, in response to questions raised by the foreign delegation. The questionsconcerned, in particular, the principle of proportionality, the operation of independent authorities, and theprocedures for the judicial and administrative control over Public Administration.

Globally, the Child Eye Health organization estimates that at least 450 million children have vision conditions requiring treatment, and 90 million children live with some form of vision loss. In Europe, the European Blind Union (EBU) (https://www.euroblind.org/) estimates that 30 million people are visually impaired. These figures highlight the significant scale of the problem and the urgent need for support worldwide.

Children with visual impairments often experience delays in fundamental motor skills, including locomotion, object control, and balance. Acquiring these skills is crucial, as they profoundly impact the development of social skills, emotional functioning, autonomy (in orientation and mobility), confidence with technology, independent daily living activities, and ultimately, a successful life. Early support is therefore vital for these children to thrive.

Under the scientific supervision of Professor Emerita Dimitra Koutsouki, the project officially began in January 2024 and will run for two years, concluding in December 2025.

Newsletter

“Move as you are” is an Erasmus+ program implemented through a partnership of organizations from Greece, Portugal, and Italy. The program aims to create educational materials for sports coaches, physical education teachers, special educators, and parents. These materials are designed to help them integrate visually impaired children into sports. This program represents an innovation in the field of adapted physical activity and special education. It strives to address a significant gap by focusing on two key pillars:

1. Social Inclusion: The project enhances social inclusion and equal opportunities in sports by encouraging the participation of visually impaired children in sports activities. Through sports, children develop motor skills and integrate more smoothly into their local communities.
2. Support and Empowerment: The project also aims to boost the self-confidence of visually impaired children and raise awareness among their families about their children’s participation in sports. Concurrently, it provides ready-to-use resources for sports professionals and special education experts, improving the quality of instruction and facilitating the inclusion of these children in sports.

Professor of Oncology in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University Chicago, USA, Dr Leonidas Platanias, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the School of Medicine. The awarding ceremony took place on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, at 19:00, at the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

On 5 May 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron undertook an important initiative to attract scientists to Europe. Together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he spoke at the high-profile international forum Choose Europe for Science, held at Sorbonne University in Paris. Also invited to the event by President Macron was Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, alongside other University leaders from across Europe.

Nobel Laureate Economist Joseph Stiglitz was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the Department of Economics of the NKUA’s School of Economics and Political Sciences.

A significant distinction, which establishes the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in the consciousness of the international academic community as one of the top 100 Universities worldwide for research activity, was reflected in the results of the AD Scientific Index World Top Universities Ranking 2024-2025.

More precisely, our Institution climbed up 30 places from last year’s rating to 62^nd place internationally, out of 24,317 Universities, Research Institutes, and Organizations from 220 countries included in the ranking. In addition, it ranks 15^th among European Universities and 1^st among Greek public Universities for 2024-2025. Following NKUA is Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2^nd place nationwide and in 194^th place globally. Next come the University of Patras (330^th place globally), the University of Crete (399^th place globally), and the National Technical University of Athens (425^th place globally). The University of Thessaly (472^nd place globally), the University of Ioannina (541^st place globally), Democritus University of Thrace (768^th place globally), the National Centre for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’ (822^nd place globally), and the Technical University of Crete (919^th place globally) round out the top 10 nationwide.

The Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) has accredited the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens as fully compliant with all seven individual quality principles. That is an amazing accomplishment for our Institution and clear proof of the outstanding work in teaching, research, and administrative affairs at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

It is important to note that this was the first time our University has achieved full compliance with all the principles that constitute the evaluation framework for quality assurance, specifically:  

1. The strategy, quality policy, and target setting of the Institution,
2. The programming and allocation of material and human resources,
3. The structure, organization, and operation of the Quality Assurance Unit and the Internal Quality Assurance System,
4. The implementation of internal evaluation procedures in all of the Institution’s Study Programmes,
5. The procedures and tools for collecting, measuring, and analyzing information and quality data used by the Institution for decision-making and continuous improvement,
6. The media and procedures used for making information public (web pages, social media, etc.), and
7. The extent to which the Institution has made use of the findings and recommendations from the most recent External Evaluation and Accreditation of the Internal Quality Assurance System.

The first step in the accreditation process was an external evaluation of the Institution carried out during an on-site visit by a five-member Panel of external evaluators and experts appointed by HAHE. From 26 May to 1 June 2024, the Panel held working meetings and conducted interviews with the Central Administration of our University, Chairs and other academics-members of the Departments’ Internal Evaluation Groups, representatives of undergraduate, postgraduate students and PhD candidates, Heads of Sections and Administrative Units, graduates of the University, and external stakeholders. In addition, the Panel visited teaching, research, and other facilities at our University to assess their quantitative and qualitative adequacy.

The Panel’s on-site visit was preceded by months of work by our University, which involved, among other things, preparing and submitting a comprehensive accreditation portfolio to HAHE. Coordinating the entire procedure was the Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion, Professor Sophia Papaioannou.

Following the visit, the External Evaluation Panel compiled their Report and Recommendations, which they submitted to HAHE for our University’s consideration. HAHE’s competent Council approved the Report and published the Accreditation Decision. Based on the above Report and the decision issued by HAHE, the Internal Quality Assurance System of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens has been accredited as compliant with the principles outlined in HAHE’s Accreditation Standards and the Principles and Guidelines for Quality Assurance of the European Area of Higher Education (ESG).

In his letter to the University, Professor Pericles Mitkas, President of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education, congratulated the University of Athens on its excellent performance in the accreditation process and expressed confidence that NKUA will take into account and make optimal use of all recommendations of the Accreditation Panel, with the goal of continuous improvement—following HAHE’s Guidelines for Accreditation.

Accordingly, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, made the following statement: ‘Our country’s oldest and biggest public University effectively works to provide high-quality services to Greek society and beyond, achieving new heights once more. The accreditation of the NKUA’s Internal Quality Assurance System by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education—and, in fact, as fully compliant with all evaluation principles—is proof of our dedication to constantly improving the quality of our academic and administrative procedures on the one hand, and our commitment to implementing a quality assurance strategy on the other, which is not just empty words but enters into practice with visible results for our Institution and the society at large. The evaluation’s findings provide more evidence of our Institution’s outstanding performance across all global University rankings. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of our staff, as this was the first time our University achieved full compliance with all seven evaluation principles. We will not settle for anything less than high quality’.

The links below (NKUA’s Quality Assurance Unit web page) provide access to the Accreditation Decision and the External Evaluation and Accreditation Panel Report for the Internal Quality Assurance System of NKUA.

Accreditation Decision IQAS_NKUA

External Evaluation & Accreditation Panel Report

HAHE Information Letter

The School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers a fascinating Summer Program on Byzantine Aesthetics.

Byzantine Aesthetics is one of the most distinctive periods in the History of Art with its own, very particular style that is recognizable at first sight and which exerted a major influence on the evolution of artistic expression and aesthetics. This intensive program aims to introduce participants to the magical world of Byzantine Aesthetics, Byzantine Painting and Byzantine Music. The program includes workshops that will allow students to gain an in-depth understanding of the theory and practices of Byzantine Art and a series of visits to important archaeological sites, monuments and museums that will enable students to delve into the sublime Byzantine universe.

For more information on the program’s topics, check here.

On the occasion of the 25 years since the launch of the Graduate Program in “Chemistry Education, Information and Communication Technology and Education for Sustainable Development”, a conference will be held on March 29th and 30th 2024 in the Argyriadis Amphitheatre in the Central Building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (30 Panepistimiou St.).

The Graduate Program is an inter-institutional collaboration between the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Departments of Chemistry, Pedagogy and Primary Education, History and Philosophy of Science), the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Department of Chemistry) and the National Technical University of Athens (School of Chemical Engineering).

The Graduate Program provides its graduates with a Certificate of Pedagogical and Teaching Proficiency. Students of the Program will present their work at the conference.  There will be no participation fee.

The conference’s website:    https://conferences.uoa.gr/e/25yearsdixinet  

The Organizing Committee

Guide to Cross-Cultural Physical Literacy

Within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA2 project "Cross-Cultural Physical Literacy" (CCPL), this guide was developed with three goals in mind:

1. enhancing children's physical literacy, regardless of their background as refugees or immigrants;

2. encouraging greater participation in physical education and sports; and

3. fostering respect for cultural diversity by developing a toolkit of physical education and sports activities.

Three partners from three distinct countries—Turkey, Greece, and Italy—as well as three diverse backgrounds (national NGOs, European networks, and academic institutions) make up the collaboration.

Coordinator: Şanlıurfa Gençlik ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü.

Partners: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and ENDAS Italia.

The partners have created this instructional handbook to benefit parents as well as children by combining their individual expertise in the domains of inclusive education for children with and without refugee and/or migrant origins. The Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activity/Developmental & Physical Disabilties of the School of Physical Education and Sports Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with Scientific Manager Emeritus Professor Dimitra Koutsouki, participated as a partner in the 3rd Transnational Meeting of the Erasmus+ KA2 "CCPL" program, held in Sanliurfa, Turkey 13-14/11/23.

Within the context of the 3rd Transnational Meeting, Em. Professor D. Koutsouki and the Laboratory members presented the pertinent toolkit. Prior to the last transnational meeting in May in Rome, the trainers had received theoretical and practical training in its usage. After that, 8- to 10-year-old kids from Turkey and Italy who had or had not experienced refugeeism or immigration were given the opportunity to participate in the toolkit activities. Lastly, a kid-friendly version of the toolkit's questionnaire was used to evaluate each activity.

We are thrilled to present this handbook, which was translated into Arabic and Turkish in addition to being published in English. Through the force of sport, the guide aims to establish cultural ties and unite people on a worldwide scale.

Unity in diversity!

Diversity in culture, language, religion, education!

  Children of immigrants and non-immigrants, from different countries, and a toolkit that we created, so that they can all play together in common sports activities despite their huge differences, after we first completed the training for the trainers!!!

Also included in the guide are 3 advisory appendices:

1. Physical literacy and the psychological dimension, where the basic concepts of fair-play are highlighted, but also the psychological factors and the socio-emotional benefits of the participation of children with and without a refugee and/or immigrant background in common team games.

2. Physical literacy and physical therapy dimension, where the importance of reducing the risk of injury and the effectiveness of injury prevention programs is highlighted.

3. Physical literacy and nutritional dimension, where the basic parameters for a healthy diet of children 6-12 years old are given.

Are you ready to explore cross-cultural experiences, united by the strength of physical literacy? Let's move together and embrace diversity!

Visit this link to get the directions and take part in the activity: linktr.ee/cross_culturalpl

We hope you enjoy reading, everyone!

Relevant websites:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090881962539     
http://www.apalab.phed.uoa.gr  
https://www.facebook.com/apalab.phed.uoa/ 
www.facebook.com/dkoutsou.uoa.gr 

The Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Photis Photiou, and the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor M.-A. Dimopoulos, met on the 26th of September at NKUA to sign the renewal of the agreement between the Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus and NKUA to conduct anthropological and forensic examinations on remains of missing and fallen Greek Cypriots and Greeks identified through DNA analysis by scientists of the Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of NKUA.

Also present at the meeting were: the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Greece, Kyriakos A. Kenevezos, the Vice-Rector of Finance, Planning and Development, professor Chara Spiliopoulou, the Vice-Rector of Research and Lifelong Education, Professor Nikolaos Voulgaris, the Vice-Rector of Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Dimitrios Karadimas, and the Associate Professor Konstantinos Moraitis, Scientific Director of the Programme. Noteworthy that the initial agreement between the Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus and NKUA dates back to 2018.

NKUA ranked 86th worldwide according to the ‘Top Universities by Top Google Scholar Citations’ ranking

In the 2022 rankings of U-Multirank the University of received the highest grade “A” in 13 of the 29 indexes of the rankings. This is the ranking, which is implemented by the European Commission and co-financed by the Erasmus + program, the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Santander Group.

In the 2022 ranking, in which data and comparisons are provided for 15 Greek Universities, NKUA received the highest grade “A” in 13 of the 29 indexes of the ranking. It is followed by the University of Crete with 8 and the University of the Aegean, Ioannina and National Technical University with 6 indicators with the highest grade “A”.

Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

Anastassios Philippou, Associate Professor of Physiology-Exercise Physiology at the Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, was recently recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was founded in 1954 with the recognition that health problems were associated with certain lifestyle choices. Since then, ACSM members from different scientific and professional backgrounds have applied their knowledge, training and dedication in sports medicine and exercise science to promote healthier lifestyles for people around the globe. The ACSM has grown to more than 50,000 members and certified professionals from 90 countries.

ACSM Fellowship is an elite member status for long term Professional Members, who have provided significant service to ACSM. These members have demonstrated high standards of scientific and professional development and shown a commitment to the goals and long‑range activities of the College.

The purpose of the Fellowship is to recognize commendable service to ACSM and distinguished achievement in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science, and to encourage continued service to the College in a leadership role with ongoing dedication.

Greek belongs to the Indo-European family of languages and has been spoken uninterruptedly in the eastern Mediterranean for at least thirty-five centuries, from the age of linear-B tablets and Homeric heroes to our times, the times of social media, greeklish and of an unprecedented expansion in the production and diffusion of the printed word, of online and oral discourse. In the course of its long journey, Greek has managed to survive despite the numerous national, political, social and financial challenges its speakers had to face. As a means of communication and literary expression, it has been systematically cultivated, it has taken many forms, expressed various ideas, mentalities and philosophical systems. As a result, it has accumulated an unrivalled richness of vocabulary which enables the speakers of the present day to express demanding ideas with clarity and precision.

Greek has been since antiquity the means of expression of significant authors, philosophers and scientists. Homer, Sappho, Aeschylus, Herodotus, Sophocles, Thucydides, Euripides, Aristophanes, Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle are among the many ancient Greek thinkers who cultivated the oldest form of our language and have passed on their intellectual heritage through it to the next generations. In the postclassic period, thanks to the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek spread to the edges of the then known world. Challenged by the Roman conqueror, it emerged victorious: the Romans were deeply influenced by Greek culture and adopted many Greek words in their language. Greek was widely taught at that time and became the official administrative language of the eastern part of the Roman empire and, later, of the Byzantine empire. In short, Greek remained the main international language from the age of Alexander the Great to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and was the mother tongue and the means of communication of most of the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean. The universality of Greek is reflected in the fact that it was the language in which the New Testament was written and into which the Old Testament was translated in the early Hellenistic period. Through Greek, classical culture and its eternal values were transmitted to the Byzantine empire. The Church Fathers and the byzantine scholars continued the work of the great thinkers of antiquity. Even after the fall of Constantinople, Greek language and thought were transferred along with Greek-speaking scholars to the West, and contributed to the intellectual and cultural Renaissance of Western Europe. In this way, Greek and, along with it, Greek culture have become the heritage of humanity in general.

From antiquity to the present day, Greek has been influenced from other linguistic systems, something which happens to all languages. This must not surprise us, for interaction between languages usually creates a highly productive dynamics in their development. The evolution of Greek from the second millennium BC to the present day has known tensions but also an admirable harmony and the Greek language has adapted to a series of historical, social and cultural challenges, particularly but not exclusively those mounted by the Western world, in all domains of life, thought, science and art.

Modern Greeks must feel lucky to be speaking a language that was once universal. This language, in its continuity across time, is a priceless element of our national and cultural identity. George Seferis has managed to express this in a few lines, written at difficult times (1941): ‘The Greek language, man, the sea… How marvellous it is to think that, from Homer’s time to the present, we are speaking, breathing and singing in the same language. And this has never stopped, whether it is Clytaemnestra talking to Agamemnon, or the New Testament or Romanus’s hymns and Digenis Akritas, or Cretan drama and Erotokritos, or folksongs. And all those, great or not, who have thought, spoken, counted in Greek, you must not think that they are like a path, a historical line, obscured in the night of the past and that they are outside of you. You must understand that all of these are inside of you, and that you will find them if you dig deep in yourself […]. Our modern literature is necessary to understand not only ancient literature but Greek tradition in its entirety’ (Dokimes, I, 177-8).

Professor Amphilochios Papathomas
Head of the Department of Greek Philology
School of Philosophy
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens