The Democritus University of Thrace coordinates with leading European universities for new international Joint Master’s Program

Published on: April 30, 2026
12:40 pm

In a spirit of extroversion and academic excellence, the official signing of the Final Agreement for the establishment of the Joint International Master’s Program entitled “Water Resources Engineering & Ecological Engineering” took place on April 27th, 2026.

The meeting was attended by the Rector of the Democritus University of Thrace, Professor Fotios Maris; Professor Maria Michalopoulou, a member of the University’s Administration Council; representatives of the Department of Civil Engineering and other schools of the Democritus University of Thrace; President Georges Linarès and a delegation from the University of Avignon (France), as well as the Dean of the School of Biology, Beata Messyasz, and a delegation from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan (Poland).

During the discussions, the three institutions emphasized their ambition for this program to serve as the foundation for a future transition to Erasmus Mundus, thereby enhancing the international prestige of the collaboration. The agreement signed today will be submitted forthwith to the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) for approval, so that the program can begin operations. This agreement marks the first of several funded Joint Master’s Programs currently undergoing preparation and accreditation.

The meeting highlighted the potential for the new Joint Master’s program to serve as a “hub” for collaboration that transcends the narrow confines of Engineering, by incorporating critical scientific fields that will lend it an interdisciplinary character, essential for its transition to Erasmus Mundus:

Water Management & International Law: The Dean of the DUTh Law School proposed the involvement of the International Law Laboratory, which conducts research on the legal management of water resources between neighboring states, an addition that will add value to the students’ comprehensive education on international water resources.
Primary Sector & Sustainability: An approved, funded program from the Democritus University of Thrace focusing on the primary sector was presented; this program will serve as a platform for collaborative action and practical application for master’s program participants.
Biological Anthropology: Through the Department of Anthropology at the Democritus University of Thrace and the corresponding research groups at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, new avenues of research are opening up regarding the impact of the environment on humans.
Society & Culture: A representative from the University of Avignon proposed a partnership with a collaborating cultural center in France, with the aim of disseminating scientific findings to the general public and raising environmental awareness.

The Rector of the Democritus University of Thrace expressed his warmest thanks to everyone who contributed to the establishment of this partnership, giving special mention to the Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, Professor Christos Akratos, for his decisive contribution on behalf of the University of Thessaly to the program’s design.

This signing is not merely the completion of a process, but the starting point of a long-term and multifaceted collaboration among the three European universities, aimed at innovation and academic leadership.