Study in Greece and China’s CSCSE sign cooperation memorandum as 18 Chinese and 16 Greek institutions meet in Athens
University leaders from China and Greece gathered at Harokopio University of Athens on Tuesday for the second Sino-Hellenic Higher Education Workshop and Chinese Universities Exhibition, a day of talks, signings and networking that organizers hope will turn two ancient traditions of learning into practical partnerships for students and researchers.
The event, held in the 20th anniversary year of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, brought together 34 institutions: 18 Chinese universities and research institutions and 16 Greek universities. It was organized by Study in Greece (SiG), which promotes Greek higher education abroad, and the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), and warmly hosted by Harokopio University of Athens.
The opening session was attended by Harokopio University of Athens Vice-Rector Prof. Chryssa Sofianopoulou, Deputy Minister for Higher Education Prof. Nikolaos Papaioannou, Minister Counsellor Zhang Gang of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, SiG President Christos Michalakelis and CSCSE Director General Li Zhi. Diana Zhong, Head of International Partnerships at Study in Greece, moderated the morning’s proceedings.
The centerpiece of the morning was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between SiG and CSCSE, providing a framework for cooperation in areas including student and faculty exchange, research collaboration and joint activities between Chinese and Greek universities. Representatives of the Chinese Embassy and delegates from all the participating universities witnessed the signing.
Harokopio University of Athens, the host institution, extended a warm welcome to the delegations and lent its full support to the event. Vice-Rector Prof. Chryssa Sofianopoulou opened the proceedings on behalf of the university, saying internationalization is a strategic priority for the university, and that a university’s strength lies not only in its knowledge but in its openness to new ideas and partnerships. She expressed hope that the event could turn shared interests into concrete initiatives.
Deputy Minister for Higher Education Nikolaos Papaioannou described higher education as a foundation for the long-term relationship between Greece and China, and stressed the need for openness, exchange and international partnerships. Noting Greek universities’ tradition in research and the production of knowledge, he called for systematic networking that leads to joint degrees, exchanges and joint research, and said lasting institutional ties and common academic goals matter more than the mere signing of agreements. Recalling his own experiences in Wuhan, he spoke with admiration of Chinese hospitality and infrastructure, and suggested cooperation in the humanities, social sciences and technical fields, noting that both countries have ancient histories. He congratulated Study in Greece and its Chinese partners and expressed hope for new collaborations and stable frameworks.
Minister Counsellor Zhang said Chinese universities are aiming for a considerable increase in the share of international students, offering safe, well-equipped campuses and a wide range of programs and scholarships. “Today’s China embraces the world with incredible openness,” he said. “Choosing to study in China means choosing opportunity.” He urged Greek students and educators to experience the country “in person for an immersive experience.”
“Greek universities and Study in Greece welcome more Chinese students,” SiG President Michalakelis said. Recalling that Confucius and Socrates both believed “that learning begins with conversation,” he said exchange and mobility must run in both directions: “For us, exchange and mobility is a two-way road.” He expressed hope that more Greek students would also discover China.
CSCSE Director General Li said the 2023 first edition of the event had “fostered mutual understanding” and that this year’s gathering should serve as a new starting point. Quoting an ancient Chinese saying, he said: “When people share the same aspirations, no distance between mountains and seas can keep them apart.” He set out three hopes for the day: new platforms for cooperation built through dialogue, bridges of friendship built through student mobility, and practical cooperation, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, science and technology, and languages, to train internationally minded talent.
After a roll call of the participating institutions and a coffee break that included visits to the exhibition booths, participants heard an overview of the internationalization of Greek higher education from SiG Director General Theodoros Papaioannou. Prof. Huang Wuwei of Southwest University, Prof. Liu Yang (UESTC) of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Vice-Rector Prof. Nancy Pouloudi of the Athens University of Economics and Business, Dr. Eleni Vasileiou of the Panteion University and Vice-Rector Prof. Dionissios Mantzavinos of the University of Patras shared examples of Sino-Greek cooperation, with themes ranging from international mobility and two-way engagement to a decade of collaboration with Chinese institutions. Three Chinese university leaders closed the morning with wishes for the cooperation ahead: Wu Qiang of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Cheng Yuhua of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and Wang Weidong of Nantong University.
The programme continued with a networking lunch, followed by an afternoon session at the university, providing the wider academic community with an opportunity to engage and interact directly with the Chinese university delegation.
About the organizers
Study in Greece (SiG) promotes Greek higher education internationally through participation in international education events, roadshows abroad, strategic partnerships with national education agencies, and digital platforms serving international students and institutions.
The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) is affiliated with China’s Ministry of Education and is the country’s only national-level specialized institution dedicated to study-abroad services, covering Chinese students abroad, international students in China, international exchange and cooperation, and the recognition of overseas qualifications.
