On Tuesday, 23 April 2024, on the occasion of the official launching of the third year of the Greek-British short-term scholarship programme, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, Matthew Lodge, hosted a ceremony at the British Ambassador’s Residence, during which he welcomed the President of the Administrative Board of IKY, Professor Emeritus Michael Koutsilieris, Ms. Anastasia Andritsou, Country Director at British Council Greece, and scholars of the programme.
The Greek-British short-term scholarship programme is delivered by the State Scholarships Foundation and the British Council in partnership with the British Embassy in Athens. Scholars will have the opportunity to carry out mobilities in the United Kingdom between April and June 2024 and build prestigious academic networks, be inspired by new ideas and innovative scientific methods and practices and also utilise the excellent resources that world-class British academic institutions have to offer.
In the current year, a select group of 24 beneficiaries in total have been accepted to 17 British higher education institutions to participate in mobility programmes covering more than 15 scientific fields (e.g. medicine, archaeology, literature, mechanical engineering, economy, music, psychology, molecular biology) and specializations (energy and environment, climatology, theoretical/applied physics, environmental economics).
In his speech, H.E. British Ambassador Mathew Lodge, noted:
The historical and strong educational ties between Greece and Great Britain are still there under different frameworks and in different forms. The successful Greek-British short-term scholarship programme, which is already in its third year, is a characteristic example. State bodies and higher education institutions from both countries warmly embraced both the programme and the scholars and, thus, contributed to further promote the ties between the Greek and the British academic and research community. The programme is an excellent opportunity for young, talented scientists to experience the British education system and I honestly believe that this experience will contribute to their scientific and professional development”.
The President of the Administrative Board of IKY, Michael Koutsilieris, Professor Emeritus of the School of Medicine – NKUA, pointed out:
“We are very pleased to be here today in the hospitable residence of the British Ambassador to Greece on the occasion of the departure of the scholars of the Greek-British partnership programme.
The programme, which has been developed in such a way so as to meet the common educational objectives of Greece and the United Kingdom, is being delivered for the third consecutive year, a tangible proof of its successful implementation owed to the significant outcomes brought.
The feedback from young scientists who participated in the programme in the last two years has always been positive. The programme has been an excellent and most valuable opportunity for the scientific development of the participants, while it also constitutes a sound proof that the new scientific manpower of Greece is being shaped in solid academic institutions and that our manpower is as competent in terms of knowledge, skills and scientific adequacy as its peers abroad.
We hope that our cooperation will always have a positive social and scientific impact and that it will continue to be as successful as it is today and, hopefully, more successful in the future. We hereby commit ourselves to work with the same dedication and consistency for the implementation of the programme, so as to ensure the development of young scientists”.
Finally, Country Director at British Council Greece, Ms. Anastasia Andritsou, noted:
“This specific programme offers unique opportunities for cooperation and for the exchange of ideas and good practices between postgraduate students enrolled in Greek and UK universities. The benefits for participants are most significant both on a personal and on a professional level as they open new horizons for research, strengthening the international opening and self-confidence of the participants and offering unique networking opportunities”.
Note for editors
For a third consecutive year, the Greek-British short-term scholarship programme offers a total of 24 scholarships of a 4-week duration to six (6) postgraduate students and sixteen (16) doctoral candidates enrolled in Greek universities, selected out of 52 applicants.
- For academic year 2023-2024, the programme is co-funded by the State Scholarships Foundation and the British Embassy and is being delivered with the support of the British Council in Greece.
- The Greek-British short-term scholarship programme, currently at its 3rd year, falls within the UK-Greece Partnership in Education programme.
- The Greek-British short-term scholarship programme supplements and interacts with the Greece-UK Strategic Partnership in Education programme which commenced in March 2021 but also with the education pillar of the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Bilateral Cooperation Framework between the Hellenic Republic and the United Kingdom concluded on 25 October 2021.
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