La Trobe renames Greek Research Centre

La Trobe University announced on Friday that it is renaming the Greek Studies Centre it is establishing and calling it the Research Centre for Greek Studies as opposed to the Centre for Contemporary Greek Studies which had been initially proposed.

The new Centre will be replacing the former National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research also known as EKEME that was closed at the end of last year.
Name change reflects a broadening of the academic focus of the Centre to include Classical Greek Studies within its terms of reference.

As a result, the position for the Director of the new Centre will be readvertised. It is expected that the new advertisement will appear within the next couple of weeks.

Applications for the initial offering of the position closed on June 5.

The position itself will also change status from a five year to an ongoing commitment on the part of La Trobe.

University authorities estimate that these changes will attract more applicants. La Trobe’s announcement is being claimed to be a reaffirmation by the University of its pledge to establish the new Centre.

“It’s a definite demonstration of La Trobe’s commitment to the new Centre,” Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Brown said when speaking exclusively to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE).

As reported last week in NKEE, La Trobe University spokesman Mark Pearce had rejected claims that the University was dragging its feet on the appointment of a Director for the Centre.

He had reaffirmed the University’s dedication to the Greek Studies Centre.

“I can say, however, that the Vice-Chancellor is very supportive of the Greek and Hellenic program partnership development,” Mr Pearce said.

He further announced the creation of a scholarship fund that is destined to draw the attention of the Greek community with details pending to be outlined once the University’s budgets have been finalised.