The Department of Chemistry at Democritus University of Thrace held a particularly moving and proud graduation ceremony for graduates of the interdisciplinary Master’s program “Chemical Industry: Quality, Safety, Security, Health, and Environmental Management,” which awards an MSc in Quality, Safety, Security, Health, and Environmental Management.

The ceremony took place on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in the event hall of the Grand Club of Kavala, in the presence of a large number of guests, graduates, families, and friends. The event was honored by the presence of the Mayor of Kavala, Mr. Theodoros Mouriadis, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor of Culture, Mr. Apostolos Moumtzakis.

Also present and offering their greetings were His Eminence, Metropolitan Stephen of Philippi, Neapolis, and Thasos; Mr. Giannis Paschalidis, Member of Parliament for Kavala representing the New Democracy party; the Deputy Regional Governor for Development of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Alexandros Iosifidis, the representative of the Kavala Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Makis Kafetzis, the President of the Department of Physics at Democritus University of Thrace, Associate Professor Nikolaos Vordos, as well as representatives of organizations and partners.

The ceremony was accompanied by the melodious music of Mr. Thanasis Parmenidis, Chief Conductor of the Kavala Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra, adding a special touch to the event. Ms. Korina Ganitou, Director of Tourism for the Municipality of Kavala, coordinated and presented the ceremony.

Keynote speeches were delivered by the Director of the Program Assoc. Professor Mr. Michael Chalaris and the Vice President of the Department of Chemistry, Professor Mr. Georgios Maliaris, with references to the importance of the Program as a bridge between scientific knowledge and the needs of production, public administration and society, in a field that directly concerns quality of life, occupational safety and sustainable development.

In his speech, the Director of the Postgraduate Program emphasized the significance of the day as a new beginning for the graduates, noting:

“Today you are not finishing something—today you are starting something, a professional career with responsibility, documentation, and a human footprint.”

At the same time, he referred to the importance of the MSc program for Kavala and the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, pointing out that our Region may not be a “center” in the old sense, but it can become a pioneer in the new sense: a pioneer in applied knowledge, documented quality, safety as a culture, and environmental responsibility that is not just a slogan. He also stressed that the MSc program contributes significantly to the creation of highly specialized human resources, which raises the level of operation of organizations, reduces risks and increases reliability, opens up avenues for certification and competitiveness, and strengthens new partnerships.

He made special mention of the Program’s contribution to the Region through the retention and return of scientists, raising the bar for quality and safety in businesses and organizations, and strengthening regional resilience, as issues such as health and safety at work, environmental compliance, fire protection, and risk and crisis management are the infrastructure of social security and economic sustainability. In closing, he emphasized that everything built in Kavala has a “global language,” as management systems, safety culture, sustainability, and quality are universal fields, making the city and the region a place of internationally competitive knowledge and practice.

The MSc program of the Department of Chemistry at Democritus University of Thrace aims to provide comprehensive training to executives in the critical pillars of Quality, the Environment, Health and Safety, and Organizational Security, strengthening the skills required in modern industrial, organizational, and institutional environments, with an emphasis on measurable quality, risk prevention, and the cultivation of a culture of safety and responsibility.