The NET24 Athens International Conference, a collaboration between Study in Greece and the international organization NET24, which took place on April 3rd-4th 2025 has successfully concluded, bringing recruitment agents, educators and students from all around the world together in a productive two day event that yielded fruitful results for everyone involved.
During the first day of the conference, more than 50 higher education professionals from all across the world attended the business meetings conducted at the Intercontinental Athenaeum Hotel. This is the 1st international conference that brings together recruitment agents from all over the world in Greece, aiming to build bridges of communication between Greek and international universities and professionals in the field of internationalization alike, to strengthen the extroversion of Greek universities and to develop strategic contacts and partnerships to promote the internationalization of Greek higher education and attract international students to our country.
In the context of this conference, representatives of Greek universities (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, National Technical University of Athens, National Technical University of Athens, University of West Attica, University of Thessaly, University of Macedonia, Hellenic Open University), as well as representatives from universities of other countries (Cyprus, Malta, Armenia, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, etc.) met with experts in the field of internationalisation of higher education who provide consultancy and mediation services for the the purpose of attracting international students. The meetings resulted in fruitful discussions on trends in international higher education and laid the foundations for collaborations that can produce significant benefits for the strengthening of Greek universities in the highly competitive international higher education environment.
Later on the same day, an event followed at the Harokopio University of Athens, where, after a brief greeting address by the rector of the university, Professor Dedousis, prominent speakers from educational organizations around the world (United Scholars Center, ONER Education and Hermesis Study Abroad) shared their valuable insights on how higher education institutions can improve the experience of international students at every stage and aspect of their studies abroad. Also, through examples from their years of extensive experience, they presented good practices to facilitate student mobility and provided useful answers to audience questions in a warm, collaborative atmosphere.
As far as Greek universities are concerned, the day was extremely productive, as the networking and connections with the attending recruitment agents and universities abroad built strong foundations for the coordinated effort made by the Ministry of Education, the universities themselves and Study in Greece for the development of a comprehensive and modern internationalisation strategy that aims to make Greece an international hub of studies.
On April 4th, the educators from universities abroad attending the conference (Moderna University of Business and Psychology in Warsaw, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Coventry University Wrocław, Yerevan Haybusak University, CTL EuroCollege, Częstochowa University of Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Częstochowa, Prague Film Institute and ONER Education) visited high schools in Athens to give young minds a taste of the experience of studying abroad in their respective universities. The students response to the visits was overwhelming, as they interacted with the representatives with great warmth and productive curiosity, addressing questions to the educators about applications, study programs, facilities and much more, indicating a profound interest in undertaking an undergraduate or even postgraduate education program later on in their academic career in a university abroad.
The NET24 Athens International Conference was a significant step in internationalization of higher education, not only for Greek universities but for all attendees. The connections established between recruitment agents, educators and even high school students set the foundation for further collaboration in higher education, with a common goal of breaking borders for the reinforcement of international student mobility.
