The web portal Study in Greece is campaigning for the promotion and international visibility of Greek Universities and the comparative educational advantages of our country. In particular, the campaign focuses on the foreign language study programmes that Greek Universities offer to Greek and international students. The initiative is supported by the General Secretariat of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In this context, a number of educational programmes and actions are presented in detail on a regular basis, such as undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, summer schools etc, to inform international students about the many foreign language options offered by Greek Universities.
Study in Greece interviewed Professor Kyriaki Kosmidou, of the School of Economics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), on AUTH’s Master in Business Administration offered by the university, on the programme’s features and what it has to offer to international students.
Kyriaki Kosmidou is Full Professor in Banking Finance at the School of Economics of the Aristotle University, Head of the School of Economics (9/2020-8/2022) and Director of the MBA programme. She also teaches as visiting professor at postgraduate programmes of the International Hellenic University, the Hellenic Open University and the University of Nicosia.
She is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics and member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Finance and Accounting Association and the Financial Engineering and Banking Society. She is an active member of the European Financial Management Association, the Multinational Finance Association, EURO Working Group for Financial Modelling, the EURO working group on Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding and the Hellenic Operational Research Society.
Please, tell us about the history and the content of the Master in Business Administration —its aims, its directions.
The programme is designed to provide research opportunities, training, and expertise to graduates and those who wish to broaden their specialisation in Business Administration. Our goals are to help scientists of all disciplines to acquire knowledge in Management in order to improve their prospects and careers as executives in companies and organizations; create specialised scientists in Business Administration; train managers so they can meet the needs of the private and public sector; and promote research in the scientific field of Business Administration.
Our goal is to develop students into leaders, and we believe that attending the MBA courses at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the largest university in Balkans, will offer a competitive advantage and a unique experience for all of us.
Going through the programme’s official website, we saw that many international students share their experience of attending the MBA, so we presume the output is satisfactory so far.
The output is really very satisfactory. After graduating, international students are enthusiastic about the MBA programme, the lectures, the academic staff, and the life in Thessaloniki.
Please tell us about the relation between the MBA and the constantly evolving world of business.
In order to keep pace with the constantly evolving world of business, the MBA is continually evolving and improving its teaching and learning experiences. The MBA continuously challenges students through an innovative programme design that keeps pace with current business developments. Throughout the programme, students are invited to work on academic and professional projects, so as to explore new areas of business.
Are there any ties between the Master and the market? What about the students’ career opportunities?
The programme invests in high level academic and professional staff and is configured in a way that meets professional ambitions. Lectures and events are often organised, where business people share information about careers in their line of business, advise students about their next steps after attending the Master’s courses and have constructive discussions with the students. The MBA provides, also, professional coaching and career guidance.
Please tell us a few things about the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki — its history, its departments, its facilities, and the research carried out by the university.
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki was founded in 1925. AUTh is the largest University in Greece covering all disciplines. It is widely recognised as a vibrant centre of learning which draws its inspiration from a long tradition of academic achievement. This can be supported, among other factors, by its international role in sciences, art, and divinity, medicine and technology. The facilities of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki are located in the main campus and in the area of Thermi. Some educational and administrative facilities are located off campus for practical and operational reasons. A number of these facilities are located outside the city of Thessaloniki or even in other cities. The main campus is located in the centre of the city of Thessaloniki and covers an area of about 33.4 hectares. The strategic objectives of AUTh, in the framework of its vision and mission, remain high and consistently oriented to the continuation of its tradition, namely, to be a pioneer institution, standing out among Greek and many foreign Universities on all levels: education, research, culture, connection with society.
Thessaloniki, the second largest and historic city of Greece, is considered a very popular and hospitable destination for superior studies. How attractive are these factors for an international student?
Thessaloniki is considered a popular and hospitable destination for international students. It is Greece’s second largest city and one of the biggest educational hubs of Southeastern Europe, with 150.000 students each year at several universities, colleges, and research institutions, including Aristotle University, the largest university in the Balkans. There are more than 5,000 researchers based in the area – a higher number than the EU region average. A significant historical, multicultural, and economic centre, with a population of more than one million people, the city of Thessaloniki offers a variety of opportunities and options to graduate and postgraduate students, and it is an important education and learning hub in the region.
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