A letter from Mark J. Schiefsky, Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies and Professor of the C. Lois P. Grove Chair of Classical Studies at Harvard University, USA, was delivered to the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Nikolaos C. Schiefsky, in order to inform the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Nikolaos C. Schiefsky. Papaioannou, the Executive Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in the USA, Ms. Zoe Lafi, and the Executive Director of the corresponding Center based in Greece, Mr. Christos Giannopoulos, during the recent meeting held at the Rector’s Office.

The letter of Mr. Schiefsky and the discussions that took place during the meeting highlighted the similarities in the initiatives to support Ukrainian students of the two Universities and highlighted the willingness of the Harvard University Center for Hellenic Studies to assist the AUTh in its efforts to support its students from Ukraine.

In the context of this contribution, the following three initiatives are being promoted:
A donation from the Center for Hellenic Studies at the AUTh, in order for the institution to offer the money in the form of scholarships to Ukrainian students who have expressed interest/need.
Joint invitation of the Centre for Hellenic Studies and the International Olympic Academy for the participation of 10 undergraduate Ukrainian students of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the annual symposium co-organized by the two institutions, from 12 to 15 July 2022, in Olympia. The organizers of the symposium will cover all travel, accommodation and food expenses of the students.
Invitation of Ukrainian postgraduate students, who have joined the AUTH support program, to travel to Nafplio next fall to use the Center’s digital library, which gives access to the entire network of Harvard University’s electronic libraries and databases. The Center will cover all travel, accommodation and meal expenses for the students.

The meeting was also attended by the Vice-Chairman of the International Relations Committee and coordinator of the support program for Ukrainian students, Professor Thomas Kotsopoulos, member of the International Relations Committee, Professor Theodoros Karapantsios, the member of the International Relations Committee and Scientific Coordinator of the project to be implemented, Professor Zacharoula Andreopoulou, as well as the Head of the Department of International Relations, Dimitra Mendekidou.

The cooperation between the two institutions was enhanced by, among other things, the discussions that the Secretary General of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Apostolos Dimitropoulos, had with the Center for Hellenic Studies during his recent visit to the USA.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki also proposed the possibility of hosting the Ukrainian students of Harvard University at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s university camp in Kalandra, Halkidiki. The offer of the UAS will be examined by Harvard as to its feasibility for this summer. At the same time, broader issues of cooperation and common academic interest between the two institutions were discussed.

Photos

Attached are photos from the recent meeting held at the Rector’s Office, on 10/5/22: (from left to right) (1) The Executive Director of the Center for Greek Studies at Harvard University based in Greece, Christos Giannopoulos, the Rector of AUTh, Professor Nikolaos G. Papaioannou, the Executive Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in the USA, Zoe Lafi (2), and Roula Andreopoulou, Professor of the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor of the Department of Agriculture Thomas Kochopoulos, the Executive Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies of Harvard University in Greece, Christos Giannopoulos, the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Nikolaos G. Papaioannou, the Executive Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in the USA, Zoe Lafi, the Head of the Department of International Relations of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dimitra Mendekidou and the Professor of Chemistry of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Theodoros Karapantsios (3) the Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies and Professor of the C. Lois P. Grove Classical Studies Department of Harvard University, USA, Mark J. Schiefsky.