Spyros Vliamos
Professor Emeritus, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Rector, University of Derby Greece ULE
Dear Students,
It is with great joy and deep emotion that I address you from my new role at a new university — the University of Derby Greece (UoD Greece) ULE. This institution was founded by the well-established and highly regarded Mediterranean College, in partnership with the distinguished University of Derby in the UK.
Both partners have approached the matter of private universities in Greece with the utmost seriousness. At the heart of our discussions during the design of this new university was the nature and quality of post-secondary education in Greece. Our guiding principle has been to serve education in the land of Paideia — a country of Ethics, Decency, Justice, and Freedom.
I often reflect on how the ancient Greek philosophers, poets, craftsmen, and artists — both renowned and anonymous — elevated beauty to a divine ideal. Through their unmatched artistry, they achieved the remarkable feat of “bringing the gods down to earth.” These remarkable creators and teachers, who set the standards for what is noble and excellent, were unparalleled thinkers and tireless seekers of knowledge. They endeavoured to unite the powers of soul and mind, experience and observation, faith and reason, all to serve, awaken, and improve humanity. Their teachings, both succinct and pioneering, became milestones in the intellectual advancement of humankind.
Yet, I am mindful that engaging with the past is no simple matter. Nevertheless, I believe there is much we can learn — not through sterile veneration of ancestors, but by embracing freedom of thought and expression, curiosity, inquiry, liberty of choice, and above all, the joy of living.
It is within this framework, in a nation modest in wealth yet rich in history and culture, that an intellectual journey begins — one open to all Greeks who wish to acquire skills and knowledge that enhance life not merely for survival, but for true flourishing.
Recognizing that the relationship between public and private universities has evolved worldwide — from rivalry to cooperation and shared progress — we set out to create a new kind of university that:
• Advances social and economic development; and
• Meets significant global challenges, including:
– The evolving international landscape of higher education, marked by institutional diversity and flexible undergraduate, postgraduate, and lifelong learning programmes;
– International competition without geographical limits;
– Fundamental shifts in the labour market and the professional recognition of academic qualifications.
Drawing on these principles, and echoing the words of a university professor and former Greek government minister, I would highlight that the university we deserve — the university of the future, whether public or private — must be capable of competing with:
• Public universities abroad, often operating under far more flexible regulatory frameworks, sometimes even based in Greece or targeting Greek students;
• Non-state universities from other countries offering their services in Greece, either on-site or through distance learning.
If this is our definition of the university of the future, then ours must continually engage with that future.
I will conclude by borrowing the closing remark from the article I mentioned earlier, which states:
“The university of the future must be institutionally liberated, flexible, and genuinely autonomous. It must possess open epistemological horizons. Yet, it must also be a university of values — a guardian of democracy, the rule of law, and social inclusion.”
Professor Spyros Vliamos
