On 6-12 November 2022, the “Pharos Summit 2022” took place in Greece as part of the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) Greece – initiated in 2019. The summit was organised by the U.S. Department of State, the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, the Fulbright Foundation – Greece and ACA associated member, the Institute of International Education (IIE).

With the largest delegation of U.S. universities that IIE has ever organised, the summit gathered 30 U.S. and 24 Greek higher education institutions, along with high-level representatives and leadership from various relevant organisations to explore new partnerships and strengthen already existing ties, reflecting both sides’ intentions to expand and deepen collaboration in the critical field of higher education.

ACA member, IKY, upon the invitation of the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs – which has as a top priority the internationalization of Greece’s higher education – participated in the events organised in the context of the Summit, actively supporting this important initiative and providing answers to questions by the U.S. representatives on scholarship opportunities between Greece and the U.S. for incoming and outgoing students. IKY was represented by the President of the Board of Directors Mr. Michalis Koutsilieris along with other staff of the organisation.

During the Summit, two significant initiatives were announced. The first involves the establishment of the Columbia Global Education Center by Columbia University in Athens. The Center will promote a greater understanding and appreciation of ancient, medieval and modern Greece and the surrounding region. The second initiative concerns a postgraduate student exchange program between the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) and Yale University, to be launched within the current academic year and for which participating Greek students will be exempted from paying tuition.