A new Student Exchange Agreement is underway to facilitate staff and student physical exchanges between the University of Southampton (UK) and the University of Ioannina (Greece), for a study-abroad semester.

The collaboration emerged at the British Council/Study in Greece Conference at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports (February 2024). Discussions at the Conference and subsequent efforts by the Rector of the University of Ioannina, Professor Anna Batistatou, and Professor Bryony Whitmarsh, Associate Dean International of the University of Southampton were instrumental in laying the foundations for this collaboration.

At the “Showcasing UK Higher Education Opportunities” Exhibition in Thessaloniki (Greece), hosted by the British Council (again in February 2024), the University of Southampton’s International Recruitment Manager (Europe) and the University of Ioannina’s Head of IRO (from the International & Public Relations Directorate) engaged in extensive discussions about their respective institutions’ profiles, academic programmes, and areas of academic overlap. The conversation focused specifically on the field of Fine Arts, leading to a subsequent connection between Dr. Christina Mamakos, the Painting Co-ordinator from Winchester School of Art (Southampton) and Director of Internationalisation: Research, and Prof. Xenofon Bitsikas, Vice-Rector for International Relations, Global Engagement and Lifelong Learning (Ioannina) and Professor of Painting at the Dept. of Fine Arts and Art Sciences.

Additionally, in the following months, students of the Dept. of Fine Arts (Ioannina) participated in the Painting Prize 2024 of the Winchester School of Art (Southampton), with two of them among the finalists.

Both universities are committed to using live projects and studio workshops to foster interdisciplinary work and industry connections. This exchange programme aims to enhance students’ educational experiences and cultural understanding.

As this relationship develops, there will be additional opportunities for exchange visits, study tours, and joint projects. Both universities extend their gratitude to colleagues at the British Council and Study in Greece for their enthusiasm in supporting Universities from the UK and Greece to explore potential synergies.