On Friday 23 May 2025, the Hellenic Open University promoted Professor Emeritus John Bessant to Honorary Doctorate of the School of Social Sciences, at a ceremony held in Athens, at the Foundation’s Annex, in the presence of the Rector Professor Emmanuel Koutouzis and members of the Board of Governors.

Professor Bessant’s appointment is in recognition of his long and decisive contribution to education, research, management and innovation. His work has left an indelible mark on the international scientific debate on the management of innovation and its link to organisational strategy.

During the ceremony, the Rector of the Hellenic Academy of Sciences, Professor Emmanuel Koutouzis, and the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Prokopios Theodorides, addressed the ceremony and underlined the importance of recognizing internationally renowned personalities, such as Professor John Bessant, whose work inspires the university community and promotes science and innovation with a broad social impact.

Στη συνέχεια, η Διευθύντρια του Προγράμματος Σπουδών MSc in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship – IME (Διοίκηση Καινοτομίας και Επιχειρηματικότητα – IME), Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια Αναστασία Κωνσταντέλου, παρουσίασε το έργο του τιμώμενου, αναδεικνύοντας τη μακρόχρονη συνεισφορά του στην επιστημονική θεμελίωση της διαχείρισης της καινοτομίας και την επίδρασή του σε πρακτικές επιχειρηματικές εφαρμογές.

The ceremony was attended, among others, by the members of the Foundation’s Management Board: Professor Augustinos Dimitras from the School of Social Sciences, Professor Stylianos Zerefos from the School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design, the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, Professor Athanasios Michiotis from the School of Social Sciences and the Vice Rector of Infrastructure and Finance, Professor Efthimios Zervas from the School of Applied Arts and Sustainable Design.

In addition, the event was attended by George Tsekouras, Associate Professor at the University of Greenwich, London, and Prof. Peter Augsdorfer, Professor at the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, who honoured the ceremony with their presence. Prof. Augsdorfer spoke at length about Professor John Bessant’s significant contribution to the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, noting his catalytic contribution to the academic community and professional practice.

The ceremony concluded with a speech by Professor John Bessant, who thanked the Foundation for the award and shared his thoughts on the future of innovation in higher education and society in general.