A letter from the Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies (CHS US) and C. Lois P. Grove Professor of the Classics, Harvard University, Mark J. Schiefsky, was delivered to the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Nikolaos G. Papaioannou, by Zoie Lafis, Executive Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, DC (CHS US), and Christos Giannopoulos, Managing Director of the corresponding Center in Greece (CHS Greece), during a recent meeting that was held at AUTh’s Rector's Office.

Prof. Schiefsky's letter and the discussions during the meeting highlighted the similarities in the support initiatives of Ukrainian students between the two Universities and pointed out the willingness of CHS to contribute to AUTh’s efforts to support the Ukrainian students. In the context of this contribution, three initiatives are being promoted, as follows:

1) A donation from the Center for Hellenic Studies to the relevant Special Research Fund Account (Greek abbreviation: ΕΛΚΕ), for AUTh to offer the amount in the form of scholarships to Ukrainian students who have expressed a relevant interest/need.

2) A joint invitation from the Center for Hellenic Studies and the International Olympic Academy for the participation of 10 Ukrainian undergraduate students of AUTh in the annual Symposium co-organized by the two institutions from 12 to 15 July in Olympia. The symposium organizers will cover all travel, accommodation, and meal expenses of the students.

3) An invitation of AUTh’s Ukrainian postgraduate students, who have joined the support program of the University, to visit to Nafplio during this fall season and make use of the Center’s unique digital library to support their research. The Center will cover all travel, accommodation, and meal expenses of the students.

The meeting was also attended by Prof. Thomas Kotsopoulos, Vice-President of AUTh’s Committee of International Relations and Coordinator of the initiative for the support of AUTh’s Ukrainian students, Prof. Theodoros Karapantsios, Dept. of Chemistry, member of AUTh’s Committee of International Relations, Prof. Zacharoula Andreopoulou, member of AUTh’s Committee of International Relations and scientific coordinator of the ΕΛΚΕ project / responsible for managing the financial resources of the project, as well as Ms. Dimitra Mendekidou, Head of AUTh’s Department of International Relations.

The discussions that Mr. Apostolos Dimitropoulos, Secretary General for Higher Education, Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, had with the Center for Hellenic Studies during his recent visit to the USA also contributed to the cooperation between the two institutions.

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki also proposed the possibility of hosting Harvard’s Ukrainian students at the AUTh University Camp, which operates in Kalandra, Halkidiki. AUTh’s proposal will be examined by Harvard University, in terms of the possibility of its implementation this summer.

During the meeting the delegations discussed further collaboration topics and common academic interests of the two institutions, as well as other possibilities for future synergies.