By Penelope Galliou

The government is moving towards the “constellation” of reforms, insisting on the implementation of its pre-election commitments and ignoring the reactions and the political costs that these may bring. A tangible example, after the passing of the bill that established the marriage of same-sex couples, but also the passing of the new criminal code, the institutionalization in the country of non-state non-profit Universities. A “flagship” bill as characterized by the government with the aim of enabling prospective Greek students to study from our country at a university abroad, the attraction of foreign students and foreign scientific staff, the repatriation of Greek scientists and the creation of new jobs .

However, a bill which, before it was even submitted to the Parliament, stirred up heaps of reactions in the student community as well as in the opposition parties, which are already taking combat positions and triggering premature confrontations.

The occasion for the new round of political debates was the clarification of PASOK’s position on non-state non-profit universities, by the party’s president Nikos Androulakis, who in an interview with Mega stated that “We will not vote for the law because we want a clean solution to higher education and not the commercialization that undermines a serious non-state, non-profit but ultimately also public University”.

Earlier, he explained the position of his party, which in the past had advocated for non-state non-profit universities while also attempting to revise the relevant article 16 of the Constitution without then achieving the required majority for its change. “What do we say as PASOK” said Mr. Androulakis and explained “We don’t forbid the existence of something, but we regulate. This is social democracy, “it regulates, but it does not prohibit,” he said, questioning whether the bill will be able to strengthen the public University at the same time.

A position that caused the shyness of the government representative and other government officials who rushed to accuse PASOK and its president of backbiting, as Harilaou Trikoupi’s timeless position was the establishment of non-state non-profit universities and now that the government is promoting this reform, PASOK backs down, attributing it to small-party reasons and expediencies.

“Mr. Androulakis is progressive in words, but in practice a representative of the most genuine anachronism. And it is the most typical case, that someone who does not want something, looks for one after another the most serious excuses not to vote” commented Pavlos Marinakis when informing political editors.

Accusations for which Harilaou Trikoupi raised the gauntlet and in a statement she issued returned the fire by emphasizing, among other things, that “behind every so-called reform of your government, Mr. Marinakis, there are those you like hiding, ready to gnaw public money. The government of the New Democracy is the epitome of regimeism and the client state”.

And other government officials anyway they focused on the change of attitude of PASOK of Nikos Androulakis, in relation to the PASOK of Giorgos Papandreou or Evangelos Venizelos and the position he now holds on the controversial issue of the establishment of non-state non-profit Universities. “Unfortunately, the PASOK of Nikos Androulakis is a disappointment. And I see now what Androulakis is saying which is “SYRIZA plus” and I am saddened. As ND we have adopted PASOK’s proposal, after we adopt PASOK’s proposal PASOK comes and says I am not voting for it . Well, figure it out now” commented Adonis Georgiadis speaking on SKAI radio, launching a personal attack on Mr. Androulakis, characterizing him as a “Syrian” and not a “scumbag” as he said. Accordingly, Makis Voridis spoke on SKAI television about PASOK’s backsliding on the disputed issue. “Yes, maybe, but…” commented Mr. Voridis, describing PASOK’s positions, accusing it of preferring and accepting Greek children to study in Universities in foreign countries, but not in Athens and Thessaloniki.

However, the government representative also countered Androulakis’s tensions regarding the public University, emphasizing that the major part of the controversial bill concerns its strengthening. “Through the bill, 70% of which concerns the public university, freedoms are granted to the public HEIs and their funding through the budget, the Recovery Fund and the emergency aid will reach one billion euros” said Mr. Marinakis, among other things .

The provisions of the bill

The bill outlines the conditions for the establishment of non-state, non-profit branches of foreign HEIs in Greece, with the strictest criteria of any other country in Europe

-Each branch must have at least three Faculties, each with at least one first cycle program.
-To offer for each school at least one first cycle program, which has evaluation and certification in the context of the country of origin and is then certified by ETHAAE.
-To have the prescribed teaching staff, administrative and technical staff that ensure the secretarial organization, the organizational planning, the perfection of the facilities.
– The facility must be self-contained with appropriate building infrastructure and logistical equipment, with provision for secondary facilities within the same prefecture. To be sufficient for the teaching and study of students, to have a functional library, laboratory and research spaces depending on the offered study programs, as well as audio-visual media and an equipped multimedia room with internet access.

All Universities (public and non-state) are evaluated by the National Higher Education Authority.

-The license is granted by decision of the Minister of Education, Religion and Sports, after approval and opinion from ETHAAE and EOPPEP, respectively.

Forty thousand Greek students are currently studying in universities abroad, a number that is much higher than in other countries, as in Spain for example there are thirty-five thousand and in Portugal thirteen.