EULiST Open Day: Celebrating Two Years of the EULiST European University at NTUA
On Monday, December 8, 2025, an institutional event entitled “European University EULiST: Opportunities and Prospects for the NTUA Community” was held with great success at the Event Hall of the Administration Building on the NTUA Zografou Campus. The event was organized on the occasion of the completion of two years since the launch of the activities of the European Project concerning the European University Alliance EULiST “European Universities Linking Society and Technology,” with a total budget of €14.6 million and a duration of four years, in which the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) participates.
The event was opened with welcome addresses by the Vice-Rector of NTUA and Co-chair of the EULiST Management Board, Prof. Athanasios Zisis, as well as by representatives of other European Alliances that are already in their second cycle of European funding: Mr. Ilias Antoniou (CIVIS, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Ms. Vera Haritou (EU-CONEXUS, Agricultural University of Athens), and Assoc. Prof. Omiros Iatrellis (INVEST, University of Thessaly). They emphasized the most significant achievements of their alliances, such as joint master’s degree programmes and shared education and research infrastructures.
Subsequently, EULiST activities were presented by the NTUA Scientific Coordinators. Prof. Emer. Katerina Adam highlighted the importance of continuity, excellence, and the exchange of good practices through the network of partners, identifying as a key objective the implementation of goals for a sustainable and inclusive university campus in a clear and measurable manner. Prof. Sotiris Karellas presented the progress in supporting Research and Innovation (WP4), underscoring NTUA’s leading role and the development of a common research strategy with the other EULiST universities. He also referred to initiatives such as “Fridays for Research” for the development of research proposals in cutting-edge fields, and the “EULiST Global Conference” for the advancement of technological innovation for the benefit of society and for strengthening urban resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.
This was followed by a roundtable discussion on the opportunities, prospects, and challenges faced by the different members of the NTUA community—faculty members, researchers, administrative staff, and students. Prof. Efi Dimopoulou, Coordinator of the EULiST Digital Campus, focused on the role of the Digital Campus as a multiplier of opportunities for faculty, through access to a European Teaching and Learning Ecosystem. Dr. Efstratios Nikolaivits referred to the immediate benefits for early-career researchers, emphasizing networking and interdisciplinarity. Ms. Antonia Lampropoulou, EULiST NTUA local coordinator and Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations and the EU, highlighted the important role of cooperation among different departments of the administrative services in the implementation of the Project, focusing on the optimization of administrative procedures and opportunities for personal and professional development. Finally, undergraduate student Evilia Chatziparaskevaidou, a member of the EULiST NTUA student team, focused on the active contribution of students to decision-making through their participation in the Student Board and presented new types of student mobility opportunities, such as participation in student conferences and Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs).
An open discussion followed, during which the need for broader information dissemination within the NTUA community as well as the challenges in the recognition of courses with ECTS credits were highlighted. Interventions were made by representatives of other Greek universities participating in European University Alliances, and good practices related to these issues were exchanged. Finally, emphasis was placed on cultivating a culture of active participation in the opportunities offered by EULiST, as well as on its establishment as a sustainable, long-term institutional framework.
Overall, the event attracted more than 120 participants, including the former Rector and founding member of EULiST, Prof. Andreas Boudouvis; the Executive Director of NTUA, Dr. Maria Vardaki; NTUA General Director of Administrative Support and Studies, Ms. Eleni Papayianni; members of the entire NTUA community; faculty and researchers from the nine schools of NTUA; administrative staff; and students at all levels. The presence and intervention of Mr. Ioannis Katsanevakis, representing the Secretary General for Higher Education of the Greek Ministry of Education, were also particularly significant.
The event highlighted the pivotal role of the European University EULiST as a strategic choice for outreach, offering significant opportunities for education, research, and professional development for all members of the NTUA community, while simultaneously strengthening NTUA’s role in shaping the European Higher Education Area.
