4th ATHENA European University Alliance meeting at Heraklion, Crete on 15-17 JUNE 2022

ATHENA Progress Meeting

WHAT ABOUT EVENT

Welcome to the ATHENA Alliance 4th face-to-face meeting that will be hosted by the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Crete between the 15th and the 17th of June 2022. During the event the following main activities will take place:

  • Public Presentation with live streaming through the HMU and the ATHENA Youtube Channel of the Alliance Progress (Presentation of the WP progress, the impact of the ATHENA Expansion, Presentation of the partners).
  • Workshops of the various work packages to plan and decide their future actions.
  • Student Board Meeting.
  • Visit HMU Research Facilities.
  • Preparation of the Alliance’s future.
  • Cultural activities – live the authentic.

WHO WE ARE?

The Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) evolved out of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete (TEI) after 36 years of development and expansion, with over 10.000 students and 250 academic and administrative staff. It now offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Doctoral Studies in 11 Departments in five Faculties in five Cities on the North Coast of Crete, strategically and internationally located in the Eastern Mediterranean between the Continents of Europa, Asia and Africa. HMU is now also a member of the European University “ATHENA”
(Advanced Technology Higher Education Network Alliance) funded by Erasmus+ and Horizon
2020.

HMU has received a lot of distinctions for its participation in the Erasmus Program with the highlight moments being: (a) the award with the silver metal in 2013 from the European Commission for the ‘quality and quantity of the Intensive Programs organized by it’; and (b) the participation in one of the 41 European University Alliances, the ATHENA Alliance.

The HMU Factsheet

  • Five Schools and 11 Departments.
  • Almost 20.000 Undergraduate Students.
  • 800 MSc and Ph.D. Students.
  • 15 MSc Programs and Three International Postgraduate Programs.
  • The offering of more than 55 undergraduate modules in English.
  • The Academic Unit of the International Relations Office, the IRO Academy offers a complete set of modules that correspond to 30 ECTS per semester.
  • Participation in Research Flagship Programs such as HiPER and Graphene Flagship.
  •  205 Academic Staff Members.

Advanced Technology Higher Education Network Alliance (ATHENA)

Taking its name from the ancient Greek goodness of wisdom ATHENA is a federation of mid-size Higher Education Institutions in nine European countries. It draws on their combined strengths to reach a common objective: to deliver high-quality education with a positive impact on research, youth employability, and social advancement at the national and European levels.

Achieving this objective is possible with a holistic, inclusive view of education and an assertive branding strategy. The launch of joint research and educational projects will enhance synergies between HEIs and stakeholders, foster research quality and impact, boost the competitiveness of the submitted proposals, attract funds to support its programs, and fully leverage the network’s infrastructure and scientific potential.

The network’s educational and research priorities will be informed by and aligned with the respective European priorities and needs. The introduction of joint multidisciplinary modules and curricula, supported by blended and actual mobility schemes, will break down any possible scientific and cultural barriers to mobility.

Live the authentic

15th to 17th of June 2022

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys, and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover!

Where to go 

Heraklion is the largest city in Crete and one of Greece’s major urban centers. The city flourished under a multicultural influence throughout the centuries; that’s why there is a plethora of Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman structures to look out for!
The city’s landmark is the 16th c. Koules fortress on the westernmost side of the old Venetian port, which along with the fortification walls (dating back to the same period) are among the most significant and imposing sights.

Chania (also spelled: Hania) is the capital city, a place where different civilizations have flourished throughout the centuries. Strolling around the Old Town’s maze-like alleys with the beautiful Venetian mansions, the fountains, and the churches will guide you through well-preserved historical monuments. The city of Chania is built in the area of Minoan Kidonia, at the end of the homonym gulf between Akrotiri and Onicha peninsulas. It was the former capital city of Crete (from 1847 until 1972). Nowadays, it is the second-largest city of Crete after Heraklion and the capital of the homonym prefecture. Get familiar with the city of Chania by wandering around its streets, visiting its museums, and admiring the different architectural styles presenting the historical route of the city.

Rethymno is located at the north end of the prefecture, built by the sea, and is a city with many faces. Rethymno or Rithymna as it was once called has been inhabited since the Later Minoan III period. Nowadays, it keeps the elements inherited by its history (from antiquity up to now), preserving at the same time the characteristics of a modern city. You can reach Rethymno by boat from Piraeus or by plane from Athens to Chania and then drive 60 km to Rethymno.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE How to Travel to Crete
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PARTICIPANTS

9

SESSIONS

6

CULTURAL EVENTS

The following cultural events have been planned …for the moment!!

  1. Short music concert offered by the Heraklion city’s mayor’s house (15th of June).
  2. Campus Tour with Dr. Garethw Owens on the 15th of June at 17.30 on the 15th of June.
  3. Welcome Dinner for all the participants on the 15th of June at 20.30
  4. Knossos Palace tour on the 16th of June, departure at …from HMU main entrance.
  5. Heraklion City Tour on the 17th of June at 18.30
  6. Farewell Dinner on the 17th of June for all the participants at 20.30
20

SPEAKERS

Registrations have closed. 

See you soon in Crete!!

Services will be offered during the meeting

15th - 17th of June 2022

During the meetings’ period the Hellenic Mediterranean University will secure the following:

  1. The provision to all the workpackages’ rooms equipped with the audiovisual equipment for the working groups to work.
  2. Wi-Fi connection will be available on all campuses using your eduroam credentials.
  3. The 1st day will be streamed through the HMU channels.
  4. The transportation from your accommodation to the campus during the three days of the event.
  5. The transportation on the 16th of July from the campus to the Knossos Palace and back to Heraklion city center.
  6. The coffee and lunch breaks during the meetings’ days.
  7. On the 1st and the 3rd day dinners will be offered to all the participants.
  8. On the 16th of June the rectors will dine with the external consultant.
VIEW OUR SHOP

The Meeting Support Team

The Hellenic Mediterranean University Governance and the University whole is very honored with its participation in the ATHENA European University.

The whole Institution will support this meeting before, during, and after its completion in order to make your stay in HMU and in Crete unforgettable.

The International Relations Office, the academics & administrative staff involved in the ATHENA will facilitate your stay within and beyond the campus at any moment.

VIEW THE LIST of ALL THE SUPPORTIVE TEAM

Hellenic Mediterranean University Rector

Professor Nikolaos Katsarakis, HMU Rector

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ATHENA Communicator & HMU IRO Member of Staff

Ms. Eva Menegaki

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Hellenic Mediterranean International Relations Office

Ms. Gloria Vega

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Academic Coordinator of the HMU International Relations Office

Konstantinos Petridis (ATHENA Academic Coordinator)

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Director of the International Relations Office

Dr. Gareth Owens

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ATHENA Administrator

Ms. Anna Orfanoudaki

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CONFERENCE AGENDA

day 1 agenda

Wednesday, june 15, 2022 - 1st Day of the Meeting

08:15

Bus Picking Up of the participants from the two meeting points.

08:15 - 08:45

The bus services offered by the HMU have decided to pick up and also return all the participants from/two pick-up points every day.

For those who have reserved accommodation in the Heraklion city center, the pickup point will be the Astoria Hotel in ‘Eleftheria’ plaza.

For those who have reserved accommodation in the Amoudara area, the bus service picks up & returns you back to your hotel accommodation.

An email to all of you has be sent last week before the meeting so as to know of you what will be your pick-up point.

09.00 AM

Participants Registration

09.00 AM - 10.30 AM

Registration of the participants and receiving of the badges.

10:30AM

Conference Opening and welcome messages from the official participants.

10:30AM - 11:30AM

Professor Nikolaos Katsarakis welcomes the ATHENA participants and announces the opening of the progress meeting. Welcome messages from the ATHENA Academic Coordinator and the participating officials.

11:30 AM

Coffee Break

11:30 AM - 12:00 AM

A short coffee break will be offered to our dear guest on the premises of the lecture room.

12:00 AM

WPs overview/current standing/goals to achieve in 2022/23 academic year by WP/group leaders (10 minutes each)

12:00 AM - 13:30 PM

Plenary session: WPs overview/current standing/goals to achieve in 2022/23 academic year by WP/group leaders (10 minutes each)

  1. WP1 Management, Quality Assurance
  2. WP2 Governance, Observatory
  3. WP3 Education
  4. WP4 Research
  5. WP5 Branding
  6. WP6 Industry
  7. WP7 Internationalisation
  8. WP8 Infrastructure
  9. WP9 Sustainability
  10. Students Board
13:30 PM

Lunch Break

13:30 PM - 15:00 PM

A lunch & coffee break will be offered to our guests in the premises of the meeting room.

15.00 PM

Plenary session ATHENA kpi and expansion

15.00 PM - 16.30 PM

Plenary session ATHENA KPI and expansion (20 min KPI/progress report by ATHENA project coordinator, 15 min by the ATHENA Governance, 15 min presentations for each new partner university, 20 minutes for the integration in ongoing activities and discussion)

  1. ATHENA KPI, progress report (20 minutes), Dr. Nino Escudeiro
  2. ATHENA expansion plans (15 minutes), Dr. Konstantinos Petridis
  3. ATHENA new partners presentation (15 minutes each)
  4. Inclusion of the new partners in ongoing activities
16:45

Room music break offered by the Municipality of the Heraklion City Mayor's House

16:45 - 17.15

New Cretan Quartet

Giannis Mageiropoulos     Violin

Georgios Chliavoras           Violin

Stefanos Simeonidis          Viola

Costis Spiridakis                 Cello

The New Cretan Quartet was created by new musicians who correlate with Crete, especially Heraklion, City’s Music School and the Cretan Symphonic Orchestra of Young.
Its name has its origins to the Cretan Quartet which was performing for a small period of time, 1920-1930, under the responsibility of Aristeidis Antonakakis, a violinist and composer of the first known quartet written at Crete.
New Cretan Quartet aims to highlight Greek’s Music Creativity, especially Cretan’s, among the international repertoire, as Miki’s Theodoraki’s music for example.
An important moment for the New Cretan Quartet was its participation at “Upto8” Festival, which was organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki during Christmas celebrations of 2021, where the epic concert for violin, piano end string quartet of Ernest Chausson was presented to the audience by the pianist, Vasilis Varvaresos and the violinist, Giorgos Demertzis.

17:30

Campus Tour

17:30 - 18.30 PM

Dr. Gareth Owens will provide a campus tour through the main attractions of the Hellenic Mediterranean University Campus: Academic facilities, Sports Facilities and Library Facilities.

18:45

Bus Transportation to your hotels

18:45 - 19:15

Bus services to your hotel accommodations (to nearby pickup points) will be available from the main HMU entrance.

20.30

Welcome Dinner in Avli of Defkalionas

20.30 - 22.30

The Hellenic Mediterranean University will offer a welcome Cretan cuisine dinner in the Avli of Defkalionas at the Heraklion City Center to all the participants.

The Avli of Defkalionas on google maps can be found here:

https://goo.gl/maps/owMw3c37uU5rSWkr5

day 2 agenda

Thursday, june 16, 2022 - 2nd day, WP WORKSHOPS

08:15

Bus Picking Up of the participants from the two meeting points.

08:15 - 09:00

The bus services offered by the HMU have decided to pick up and also return all the participants from/two pick-up points every day.

For those who have reserved accommodation in the Heraklion city center, the pickup point will be the Astoria Hotel in ‘Eleftheria’ plaza.

For those who have reserved accommodation in the Amoudara area, the bus service picks up & returns you back to your hotel accommodation.

An email to all of you has been sent to you during last week.

9:30 AM

Parallel Work Packages' Workshops

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

The following bodies will summit and at the following rooms:

Executive Board Meeting (in Rectorate Room, Moderator: Dr. Petridis)

WP3: Education Meeting (Moderators: Dr. Nuno Escudeiro, IPP, Portugal & Dr. Giorgos Fouskitakis, HMU, Greece)
WP4: Research Meeting (Moderators: Dr. Tatjana Welzer, UM, Slovenia & Dr. Michalis Tatarakis, HMU, Greece)
WP5 & WP9 Meetings (Moderators: Dr. Asta Radzeviciene, VGTU, Lithuania & Dr. Manolis Maravelakis, HMU, Greece)
WP6: Industry (Moderators: Dr. Ilka Kureck, USIEGEN & Dr. Markos Kourgiantakis, HMU, Greece)
WP7: Internationalization  (Moderators: Dr. Anne Delouis, UORLEANS, France)
WP8: Infrastructure (Moderators: Dr. Matteo Ginesi, UNICUSANO, Italy & Dr. Ioannis Barbounakis, HMU, Greece)

11:00 AM

Coffee Break

11:00 AM - 11.30 AM

A coffee break will be offered to all the participants.

11:30 AM

Continuation of the Workpackage Workshops & SumUp Session

11:30 AM - 13:00 PM

The various workpackages’ workshop continues. During this slot, the workshops also should compose their conclusions and decisions taken.

13:00 PM

Lunch Break

13:00 PM - 14:30PM

Lunch will be offered to our guests on the premises of the venue.

Attention: The editing team of the new proposal will have a working lunch with the external consultant.

14:45 PM

Presentations by the WPs of their conclusions and future plans

14:45 PM - 16:00 PM

Each workpackages’ group will have ten minutes to present their main conclusions and short-term future plans & actions.

16:15 PM

Cultural Activity: Visit the Knossos Palace

16:15 PM - 19:00 PM

Hellenic Mediterranean University has arranged the transportation, the free entrance, and the transportation of the participants to the Knossos Palace.

The bus will depart from the main entrance of the HMU to Knossos Palace. The tour within the Palace will happen in two groups by Dr. Gareth Owens. While the 21st group will enjoy the professional tour the 2nd group will enjoy the relaxing environment of the Palace’s cafeteria and shops. Ms. Menegaki from the IRO will accompany the group as well.

ATTN: The Steering Committee will stay in the facilities of the Hellenic Mediterranean University for a working session with the external consultant. The objective will be to design the task groups for the new proposal. So the steering committee members will not join the Knossos Palace excursion.

16:15 PM

Steering Committee & External Consultant Workshop

16:15 PM - 18:00 PM

The steering committee will discuss and propose/plan with the external consultant (Peter) the tasks and the formulation of the task teams. Moreover, the external consultant will explain his action plan and timeline.

20.30 PM

Dinner with Rectors & External Consultant

20.30 PM - 22.30 PM

The HMU will offer dinner to the ATHENA Rectors (and Vice-Rectors of the new partners) and the external consultant at the 7 Thalasses Restaurant in the city center.

The restaurant can be found on the google maps at the following link:

https://goo.gl/maps/qfVosZ7qekxJ5bqf8

day 3 agenda

Friday, june 17th, 2022 - Rectors' WORKSHOP

08:15

Bus Picking Up of the participants from the two meeting points.

08:15 - 09:00

The bus services offered by the HMU have decided to pick up and also return all the participants from/two pick-up points every day.

For those who have reserved accommodation in the Heraklion city center, the pickup point will be the Astoria Hotel in ‘Eleftheria’ plaza.

For those who have reserved accommodation in the Amoudara area, the bus service picks up & return points will be announced soon.

An email to all of you will be sent a week before the meeting so as to know of you what will be your pick-up point.

09:30 AM

Executive Board Workshop with the External Consultant

09:30 AM - 11:30 AM

The external consultant will explain his plan to the rectors and will collaborate to fix the objectives and tasks of the new proposal regarding the continuation of the ATHENA.

9:30 AM

Parallel Workshops of Student Board and Steering Committee

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

In parallel to the Rectors’ workshop, the Steering Committee and the Student Board will discuss and decide their future actions.

11:30AM

Coffee Break

11:30AM - 12:00PM

A short Coffee Break will be offered on the premises of the meeting areas.

12:00 PM

Plenary session of the ATHENA Rectors with the participants.

12:00 PM - 13:00 PM

Plenary Session for all the participants: The ATHENA Executive Board will share the conclusions with our external advisors whereas the latter will provide any necessary explanations.

13.15 PM

Rectors' Departure to Rethymnon to visit the Center of Laser and Plasma Physics

13.15 PM - 18.00 PM

The ATHENA Rectors will be transported to Rethimnon to visit the Center of Laser and Plasma Physics. Lunch will be offered by the Hellenic Mediterranean University in the Prima Plora fish Restaurant.

13.15 PM

Lunch Break

13.15 PM - 15.00 PM

Lunch Break will be offered to the workshop participants.

15.00

Bus Transportation to your hotels

15.00 - 15.45

Bus services to your hotel accommodations (to nearby pickup points) will be available from the main HMU entrance.

18:30PM

City Tour & Farewell Dinner

18:30PM - 22:30 PM

A city tour of the Heraklion City Center will be offered to all the participants. The city tour will start from the 4-lions square at 18.30 PM.

It is expected the city tour to be completed by 20.00 PM.

Farewell dinner at 20.30 will be offered to all the participants in the Arismari and Valsamo restaurant. During the dinner, the certificates to the participants will be distributed.

The restaurant on google maps can be found at the following link:

https://goo.gl/maps/nRkbQzugkYy72fv3A

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EVENT

INFORMATION

ATHENA Alliance Progress Meeting

15-17 JUNE 2022
Monday - Wednesday 9:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Venue Address

Estavromenos, Heraklion 71410, Crete, Greece

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CONTACT US

Our Office

International Relations Office, Heraklion, Crete, Greece