The University of Athens welcomed a delegation from Nanjing University, China, on 4 September 2026, for the delegation’s first official visit to the University, aimed at strengthening academic and research links between the two leading institutions. Representing the University of Athens were Professor Sophia Papaioannou, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion, and Professor Assimina Antonarakou, Chair of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment. The Nanjing University delegation comprised Professor Tan Tieniu, Chair of the University CPC Council; Professor Dong Xiao, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts; Professor Zhao Yu, Dean of the School of Environment; Professor Chen Tianyu, Dean of the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering; Professor Tan Hairen, from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; and Chen Nan, Division Chief for Global Engagement and Partnership within the International Affairs Office. Luo Yang, Deputy Head of the Political and Press Section at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Greece, also attended.
The meeting opened with a warm welcome from Professor Sophia Papaioannou on behalf of the University of Athens. This was followed by presentations from the two universities, highlighting their academic and research activities, international presence and opportunities for further cooperation.
In his presentation, Professor Tan Tieniu highlighted the university’s experience of developing joint and double degree programs with leading universities in the United States. He also expressed his optimism about future cooperation with the University of Athens, emphasising the considerable scope for collaboration across a wide range of academic disciplines and the potential for this partnership to provide a foundation for significant joint academic and research initiatives.
Representing the University of Athens, Professor Sophia Papaioannou outlined the existing general and specific cooperation agreements between the University of Athens and its Chinese partner institutions, highlighting the University of Athens’ substantial experience and established presence in academic cooperation with China. She also stressed the importance of further expanding the University’s international partnerships and creating new opportunities for the academic and research community.
During the open discussion that followed, Professor Sophia Papaioannou and Professor Assimina Antonarakou identified a number of areas as potential starting points for cooperation. These included Geology and Geoenvironment, Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Research and Assessment of Critical Raw Materials, as well as Philosophy, Archaeology and the Humanities more broadly. These fields were identified as particularly promising areas for the development of joint research activities, faculty and student exchanges, joint educational initiatives and, at a later stage, joint or double degree programs.
The discussions highlighted the potential to build a strategic, multi-level partnership between the University of Athens and Nanjing University, drawing on the respective strengths and academic expertise of both institutions. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to signing a Memorandum of Understanding, which will provide the institutional framework for further developing relations between the two universities and implementing specific joint initiatives.
The visit marked a significant first step towards establishing a long-term and dynamic partnership between the University of Athens and Nanjing University, with considerable potential for collaboration in education, research, academic mobility, and international engagement. It also underscored the strong commitment of both institutions to deepening their academic and research cooperation, expanding opportunities for meaningful interaction, and fostering new initiatives that will benefit their respective academic communities.
