Piraeus 24th of October 2025

Press Release

7th International Staff Week of University of Piraeus

The International Relations Office of the University of Piraeus successfully organized the 7th International Training Week from October 20 to 24, 2025.
The event took place in the Conference Hall of the University of Piraeus and was attended by more than 75 partners from non-EU universities from almost all geographical areas of International Mobility, with Vietnam and Cambodia participating for the first time, as well as partner universities within the EU. Cambodia, as well as from partner universities within the EU.
The aim of the week was to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of good practices between participating institutions, to interconnect Innovation Hubs in HEIs, contributing to a vision of internationalization through intercultural dialogue, bringing together businesses through universities, and facilitating the acquisition of new skills by academic and non-academic staff. The event included meetings, workshops, and round tables on topics such as the internationalization of education, innovation, and resilience in higher education.

The first day included greetings from the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael E. Sfakianakis, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of Erasmus+ in promoting the internationalization of Greek universities, by Ms. Andriana Zarakeli, Deputy Mayor for Extroversion, Tourism and European Programs of the Municipality of Piraeus, and Professor Spyridon Roukanas, Vice Rector for Academic, Administrative Affairs and Student Welfare and Institutional Coordinator of the ERASMUS+ Program. A welcome address was also given by the guest Rector of Angkor University from Cambodia, Mr. HOUT Konyou HOUT.

The first day concluded with presentations by Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou, Head of the Department of International and Public Relations at the University of Piraeus, and the Deputy Chair of the Department of International and European Studies, Professor Fotini Asderaki, on the topic of European education policy: current developments and trends.
The second day focused on internationalization, with speeches and workshops by distinguished academics. The Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Extroversion of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, Associate Professor Konstantinos Petridis, organized a workshop on How to organize your online collaborative international learning course (COIL).
Mr. Stavros Milionis and Ms. Raina Melissinou discussed the promotion of social inclusion and diversity through KEAN and the Greek Diversity Charter.

This was followed by a workshop led by Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou, Head of the International Relations Office of the University of Piraeus, on international research collaboration and the contribution to the internationalization of higher education institutions.
Mr. Grigorios Makridis, Professor of Mathematics and STEAME Education at the University of Krakow, Poland, presented an innovative model for measuring the internationalization indicators of higher education institutions.
The Vice-Chair of the Department of Informatics, Professor Dimitris Vergados, and UNESCO Chair holder, referred to the importance of UNESCO chairs and their contribution to the internationalisation of Higher Education Institutions.
The third day was devoted to how artificial intelligence affects the mobility of students and staff.

The EUonAIR program, European University on AI in Curricula, Smart UniverCity and (Return) Mobility (EUonAIR), was presented by Professor Maria Psillaki of the Department of Economics and Ms. Barbara Domardzka, Kozminski University, Poland, through the European Universities Alliances Action, the strategic cooperation within the EU. European University on AI in Curricula, Smart UniverCity and (Return) Mobility (EUonAIR), through the European Universities Alliances Action, the strategy for cooperation within the EU.
Mr. Jorg ZELL, CEO of Interaktiv GmbH, presented in detail the EU’s strategies regarding AI and focused on the presentation of the AI for Mobility program.
This was followed by a detailed presentation by Ms. Sofia Charamousou, Head of Department B – Interoperability, Digital Convergence and Administrative Support at the Ministry of Education, on the strategic role of the European Student Card Initiative: Laying the foundations for seamless, smart and inclusive student mobility in Europe.
Finally, presentations were given by Dr. Anne Nakagiri, Ag. Chair/Director Research and Grants Office, Kyambogo University, Uganda, on the necessity of research and grants: What does this mean for public university institutions in the Global South?

By Dr. Esther Kagure Kanake, Director, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Eastern Africa, Kenyatta University, Kenya, on the topic of Innovative Collaborations: The History of Internationalization at Kenyatta University.
And by Mr. Arsen Erkoyan, Lecturer, ASUE GB, Armenia, on The New Era of Education: The Advantage of Non-Theoretical Universities.
On the fourth day, as usual, there was a cultural excursion to ancient Nemea and the Nafplio area, where participants came into contact with the culture and the first official capital of Greece.
The event concluded on Friday, October 24, with final remarks and a review of the week. The University of Piraeus once again reinforced its role as a center of international academic cooperation and mobility by renewing its commitment to continue cooperation and promote new joint actions between participating universities and institutions. The University of Piraeus continues to promote extroversion and international mobility, actively contributing to the strengthening of European and international higher education.
The Padlet tool was used again this year throughout the Training Week, with participants showing particular enthusiasm in its use.

ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΔΕΛΤΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ 7Η STAFF WEEK