Interdisciplinarity, adaptability, meritocracy, innovation, values, contribution are the elements on which the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki should focus, so that in the second century of its life, which rises in a rapidly changing – educationally and not only – environment, it can cope with its role as a beacon of knowledge that guides society and supports its course. The positions of six distinguished AUTH graduates from the Greek and international academic world converge in this finding, who were invited tonight, in the context of a round table organized by the Alumni Association and the Aristotle Rectorate, to evaluate the scientific work of their academic matrix and to submit their proposals for the future of the institution.

In the “Alexandros Papanastasiou” Ceremony Hall of the Old Building of the Faculty of Philosophy, the Professor of Medicine and Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Director of the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Munich Vassilis Dziachristos, Mr. Professor of Aristotle’s Department of Philology and Regular Member of the Academy of Athens Theodoros Papagelis and Professor of Molecular Systems Biology at the Medical School of the University of Crete Nektarios Tavernarakis answered the questions raised by the president of the Aristotle Alumni Association and Mr. Professor of Biology Zacharias Skouras. Michael Gatzoulis, Professor of Cardiology at Imperial College London, Kostas Arkolakis, Professor of Economics at Yale University and Co-Director of the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions, Costas Arkolakis, and Dimitris X. Lagoudas, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Texas A&M University, connected and placed themselves via the internet.

The distinguished speakers were welcomed, opening the event, by the Rector of AUTH, Kyriakos Anastasiadis, who pointed out that “in its 100-year course, Aristotle developed a multi-level, extroverted and internationally recognizable imprint in academic and not only contexts”, as “graduates of the University have staffed and are staffing high-ranking positions, both in Greece and and internationally, in universities and research centers, in public institutions, in international organizations, in the labor market, in areas of policy making and social action”. “Through their path, their effort and their personal example, the quality of the studies they received at Aristotle, the scientific training, critical thinking, social responsibility, humanistic education and excellence are highlighted in the most eloquent way”, underlined Mr. Anastasiadis.

He added that “Aristotleio should no longer be satisfied with its role as the custodian of a brilliant history, but to take advantage of the historical milestone of 100 years for a radical restart with extroversion, participation, transparency, utilizing its great material, but above all, its enormous intangible property, to which priceless property”, as he explained addressing the speakers “you belong, who have Aristotle as their alma mater and can be the think tank, the ambassadors and the timeless goodwill of our University”.

The challenges for AUTH

The speakers, after being asked to outline the biggest challenges that everyone faces in their scientific field of activity, referred to the factors on which the drawing up of the educational strategy of the AUTH should be based, judging whether the HEIs can better capture the signs of the times.

“The university must have a universal position towards the challenges of the times and take into account the new conditions which are changing,” said Mr. Gatzoulis, urging “to be more ambitious and believe more in ourselves.”

“If Aristotle is the best university in Southeast Europe, it should perhaps have an ambition to be one of the best universities in Europe as well. I don’t see any reason why this can’t be done”, he said, assuring that “AUTH is the most valuable suitcase that one carries around the world”.

Mr. Arkolakis, after referring to the structural changes brought about by artificial intelligence in the labor market, pointed out that in order for the university to cope, large investments, convergence and interdisciplinary coordination are required. Universities, as he clarified, should adapt research and development and Greece and Europe should find a path to autonomy. He particularly focused on the value of academic freedom “which unfortunately has suffered more and more in recent years”.

“Universities should not just follow society and changes, but guide it through knowledge, innovation and the creation of new values,” said Mr. Lagoudas. As he explained, the mission of higher education is also to form competent scientists and citizens who can face the needs. “When we think about an educational policy, three axes are important for its formulation: Quality, relevance and adaptability. Quality is essential for education and research, relevance to social and industrial needs and adaptability to rapid technological changes,” he noted.

“I believe that for a university a very basic value is to be able to offer to society”, underlined Mr. Dziachristos, clarifying that this is done through the provision of high quality knowledge but also through innovation. He emphasized the value of interdisciplinarity, noting that polytechnic schools have people who provide solutions in other fields as well, such as in the field of health. “When you put engineering in one place, solutions come more easily”, he explained, assessing that AUTH has the will and the potential to respond to challenges.

“I consider it self-evident that universities are beacons, that they are in the vanguard, that they lead and don’t follow,” Mr. Papagelis pointed out, observing that “there are many things in today’s societies that started through seminars,” citing the gender fluidity debate as a typical example. “It started as an academic discussion, as a theory, essentially in a seminar. Therefore, universities are in fact ahead”, he said, stressing that the university is a space that has osmosis with society and this should be preserved.

“Today, more than at any other time, we need universities that are points of reference for society, high-profile, reliable institutions that can act as beacons, as models for society, especially in an era when unscientific theories can be spread, as we see happening in America on issues that concern our health, issues that have to do with our very lives. There should be a university counterbalance to all these phenomena that we will see happen more and more often in the future due to the technologies that have been developed and that can very easily produce information that has nothing to do with reality”, underlined Mr. Tavernarakis.

Smaro Avramidou