The particularly strict criteria and conditions that will accompany the possibility of licensing for the operation of non-state non-profit universities in Greece, Odysseas – Ioannis Zoras, General Secretary of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religion, underlines in his interview with APE-MPE, emphasizing the the fact that “a key role in the control of the criteria and also in the licensing of the foreign branches will be played by the National Authority for Higher Education (ETHAAE) – an independent administrative authority”.

Referring to the purpose of the “Free University” he talks about the “liberation” of the Public University from the pathogens of the past and the release of higher university education from the anachronistic “state monopoly”. He observes, in fact, that already Greek HEIs, with recent legislation, have created their branches abroad, strengthening their extroversion.

At the same time, he expresses the belief that there will be no delay in the implementation and the schedule as already announced by the government, with the aim in 2025 to operate the first non-state university in Greece.

The following is the interview of Odysseus – Ioannis Zora, Secretary General of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs

Q: What will the legislative regulation for the so-called free university be aimed at?

A: The title “Free University” of the draft law that will be introduced in the next period of time in the Hellenic Parliament was dictated by the double purpose it is called to serve: a) The “liberation” of the Public University from the pathologies of the past and the outdated and largely unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, with the parallel strengthening of its autonomy and its multi-level reinforcement both with new financial tools and with the further development of its internationalization and extroversion and b) the release of higher university education from the anachronistic “state monopoly “, making use of article 28 of the constitution for the establishment of branches of foreign higher education institutions in Greece.

At this point we have to point out that the recent law 4957/2022 provides the possibility for Greek HEIs to create their branches abroad, strengthening their extroversion but also the possibilities of creating and expanding their collaborations with other higher education institutions abroad. This possibility has already been utilized by the Ionian University with the establishment of a University office in New York, the University of Patras with the establishment of a Branch in Alexandria and recently the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with the establishment of a Branch in Cyprus.

Q: What will be the criteria to establish non-state universities in Greece, in terms of academic, financial and building conditions?

A: Obviously, the possibility of licensing for the operation of non-state non-profit universities in Greece will be accompanied by particularly strict criteria and conditions in order to achieve and ensure the high quality of the educational services provided.

A key role in the control of the criteria and also in the licensing of foreign branches will be played by the National Authority for Higher Education (ETH.A.A.E.) – an independent administrative authority whose mission is to ensure high quality in Higher Education. Thus, indicatively, the criteria that will be set in order for foreign universities to operate their branches in Greece are academic, quality criteria of the education they will provide but also criteria regarding the facilities and infrastructure.

The main ones from the above can be summarized as follows:

– The operation of at least 3 university schools from their first year of operation.

– Its recognition in the country from which it originates and its certification by the corresponding accredited Authority of the country from which it originates.

– The individual study programs that lead to the awarding of degrees should also be certified by the accredited Authority of the country of origin.

– Degrees issued in Greece will be the same as those that would have been issued if the students’ education took place entirely in the country of origin of the foreign university and will confer the same academic and professional rights.

– Its teaching and educational staff members must have a doctoral degree and its specialist staff must not exceed 20% of its teaching and research staff.

– In the event of revocation of the license of the branch, the parent institution will be jointly responsible with its branch for the completion of the studies of all admitted students and the awarding of degrees to them.

– To have a training school license in accordance with the building regulation in force today, and its building infrastructure should be self-contained, to have a library, workshop spaces, multimedia rooms, logistical equipment, etc.

– To have financial reliability and robustness, which will result from the five-year economic and technical viability study which will be certified by a reliable audit-consulting company.

– To provide a letter of guarantee of good performance from a reputable bank in the amount of 500,000 euros for each school and to pay a fee of 500,000 euros for the granting of the operating and installation license.

Q: By what process will degrees be recognized?

A: The recognition of the academic titles offered by the branch of the foreign University will be done in exactly the same way as is already done for the “parent” university. All standard procedures for the recognition of foreign degrees will be followed. This is also the reason why the criteria listed above include all the necessary safeguards for the recognition of study titles, the granted professional rights and the certification of the content of study programs by the necessary accredited authorities of both the country of origin of the foreign university as well as by the independent authority of our country (ETHAAE).

Q: What is the timetable for the implementation of the legislation, since it was announced by the minister that in 2025 the first non-state university will already be here? Do you think there will be no issue of delay with Article 16 of the Constitution?

A: As already announced by the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Minister of Education, Religion and Sports Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the draft law will be put to public consultation in January and will become a law of the Greek state upon its vote by the Hellenic Parliament in the same month .

Given that the legal status of the operation of these annexes in our country, which has been explained and documented by reputable and distinguished Professors of Constitutional Law, is distinct from that of the constitutional revision of article 16, this procedure (of the revision of article 16) which will be opened in the next period, it is not going to cause obstacles or delays in the implementation and schedule of the operation of the branches of the non-state universities.