Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) is the largest comprehensive University in Greece. It is widely recognised as a vibrant centre of learning which draws its inspiration from a long tradition of academic achievement. It prides itself in its international outlook. Most of its academic personnel have been trained in reputable Universities in Europe, the United States and as far afield as Australia and Japan. It has been actively participating in the Erasmus Programme since 1987, accounting approximately for one fourth of the total Erasmus mobility in Greece.
Nevertheless, mindful of rapid change and progress, we aim to improve our strategy, policies and everyday practices, in order to meet contemporary local and global demands. By assessing our experiences, we have been able to determine our strengths and weaknesses, and we have adopted a holistic internationalisation strategy, whose main objectives can be briefly described as follows:
- Strengthen our role in the European and international knowledge community, by building upon collective and personal academic achievements.
- Enhance our visibility among the traditionally prestigious academic institutions around the world by establishing long-term cooperation schemes at research, education and training level.
- Reinforce our traditional presence as leading education and research institution in South-eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean by building focused strategic partnerships in the area.
- Play a decisive role in academic exchange, good practices dissemination, and knowledge diffusion.
- Support multicultural co-existence, social and cultural cohesion, and sustainable regional development.
- Make multilateral rather than unilateral approaches a core aspect of our work, at education, research and administrative level.
- Enhance and reinforce our relation with Greek society.
- Make our graduates able to think and act across traditional academic boundaries and across national borders. Properly equip them, so that they may benefit from international knowledge and experience and support national and local dynamic development.