Official visit by a delegation from the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding to the island of Chios

As part of the work program, a two-day official visit was made to the University of the Aegean and key institutions on the island of Chios, marking an important milestone in the development of the Ukrainian-Greek academic partnership.

On April 28, the first official coordination meeting took place between Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding and the University of the Aegean. The event was held at FutureLab and brought together representatives from the scientific, educational, and public sectors of Ukraine and Greece in a hybrid format. The meeting was opened by Mykhailov Mykhailo, Vice Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Activities at the National University of Shipbuilding, who emphasized in his address the importance of international academic cooperation as a tool for Ukraine’s resilience and recovery.

On the Greek side, participants were welcomed by Professor Andreas Papathodorou and Professor Emmanouil Christofakis.

Among the event’s distinguished guests were Chios Mayor Yannis Malafis, Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in Greece Volodymyr Lyashenko, Mykolaiv Deputy Mayor Dmytro Falco, as well as representatives of Ukrainian universities, underscoring the high level of institutional support. The NUOS delegation was represented by Georgiy Rogov, Eduard Khachaturov, and Oleksandr Tur. During the session, the universities were presented, along with their educational and research capabilities, as well as the role of the Mykolaiv region in the development of cooperation between Ukraine and Greece.

Also on the first day, working meetings were held with representatives of the Department of Shipping, Trade, and Transport, the Department of Business Administration, and the Department of Tourism Economics and Management. Discussions focused on practical aspects of cooperation in the fields of education, science, and innovation.

🔹 On April 29, the visit continued with meetings with representatives of the regional administration and the municipality of Chios Island, where issues of interregional cooperation, the role of universities in regional development, and prospects for joint initiatives were discussed.

Separate negotiations were held with the Department of Financial and Management Engineering, during which the parties outlined areas for further cooperation.

🔹 Key outcomes of the visit included:

• Identification of areas for joint research

• Agreement on expanding cooperation within the framework of Erasmus+ and other international programs

• Discussion of participation in the TIASI initiative

• Reaching agreements on academic mobility for students and faculty

• Initiation of the drafting of a trilateral memorandum of cooperation

The visit reaffirmed the parties’ mutual interest in a long-term partnership and laid a solid foundation for the implementation of joint educational and research projects.

Special thanks to Sotiris A. Bouzeas and the TIASI GREEK CHALLENGE team for their excellent organization, support, and assistance, which ensured that this trip and coordination meeting were conducted at a high level.