ty must be reformed.
The stakes are high, not only for government and the academic community, but for the country as a whole – culturally, socially and economically. Thus, everyone must stand up to this challenge. The Ministry of Education’s set of proposals would form a new identity for Greek higher education, and this report will comment on those proposals and provide independent observations and broad recommendations.
The International Advisory Committee has nine members listed on Appendix A. Due to scheduling conflicts only five members of the committee including Chancellor Katehi, President Sexton, President Naylor, President Hernes and President Ritzen where able to participate in their meeting in Greece on December 17, 2010. This report was synthesized by these five members using their notes from the individual and group discussions (see Agenda in Appendix B), material they were provided in advance and additional publications they had access to after the meeting. All members of the committee were given the opportunity to read the report and provide their written comments.
In September 2010, the Greek government announced the formation of an International Committee to assess the organization of Greek universities. The committee was empowered to provide broad recommendations and advice on how to reform the Greek university system to achieve its mission to educate and improve quality of life, and align it with European universities.
The committee includes nine members from around the world who agreed to offer their advice and guidance. The members of the committee are international scholars with extensive experience as presidents of major universities from the EU, US, Australia and Asia. This experience provides them with the ability to understand the challenges facing the Greek university and Greek society and to appreciate the opportunities to reform and re-invigorate higher education in Greece. A list of the members of this committee and their short bios is given on Appendix A.
A subset of the committee including Chancellor Katehi, President Sexton, President Naylor, President Hernes and President Ritzen met in Greece on December 17, 2010 and participated in discussions with Minister Diamantopoulou, Deputy Minister Panaretos, Rectors and Vice Rectors of various Greek Universities, and representatives of political parties. The agenda of the December 17 meeting is attached on Appendix B.
The members of the committee who participated in the visit have constructed the following report that expresses their impressions and observations, and offers recommendations that the Greek Government could consider as it tries to rethink and reform Higher Education in Greece.
The committee wishes to express its admiration for the willingness of the Greek government to undertake a thorough study of the state of the country’s university system. The goal to reform implies changes that should be implemented if the Greek universities are to be strengthened, improve quality of education and become engines of innovation and economic development.
History has proven that major financial crises affect societal values and have the potential to trigger major social changes. In the past two years, Greece has been at the center of an unprecedented financial challenge that is threatening the social values, dogmas and structures upon which the Greek state has been built.
Navigating Greece out of this crisis and into a future characterized by economic prosperity requires that the Greek university system be embraced as a national asset. It must be preserved, strengthened and protected. As national assets, Greek universities are entrusted to their leadership and faculty who are appointed as guardians and stewards to these national resources. Their primary role is to provide an education according to the Greek Constitution, provide equal access and equal opportunity for learning, and prepare students for work and citizenship.
There is a great volume of literature by educators and economists from all around the world who have spoken to the importance o