Students sit at the campus of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, on March 27, 2023. [Alexandros Avramidis/Reuters]
In a historic step, 158 Greek university students have joined the pilot phase of the country’s “internal Erasmus” program, inspired by Europe’s iconic student exchange initiative.
Launched to enhance academic collaboration and provide diverse learning opportunities, this program allows students to spend a semester at a different university in Greece.
Participants submitted applications for up to three departments, with a total of 339 choices. Major universities drew the most interest, including Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University (33 first choices) and Athens’ National and Kapodistrian University (30). Popular departments include primary education, business administration, and political science.
Students transferring within similar disciplines can have all credits recognized, while others receive limited credits. The program is open to undergraduates meeting criteria such as early-stage enrollment and full-time study.
Nikos Papaioannou, the general secretary of higher education at the Education Ministry, said that strong participation underscores the program’s potential. Benefits cited include new skills, interdisciplinary perspectives, and enriched academic experiences in varied environments.