The Greek-Australian Society has officially signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding with the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and its MBA International Program.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) represents a monumental collaboration that was the result of extensive talks in 2023 and early 2024, with its aim being to support educational and professional collaboration between Greek-Australians and the University.
The agreement is the first of its kind entered into by GAS and signifies an innovative partnership between a Greek-Australian association and a Greek tertiary institution.
Dr Eric Soderquist, Professor of Innovation & Knowledge Management and Director of the MBA International Program at AUEB, spoke highly of this new relationship formed with the Greek-Australian organisation.
“The MBA International of AUEB, the leading MBA Program in Greece, fully taught in English, is thrilled to engage in this partnership with GAS, aiming to advance exchanges and a dialogue around business topics between our two countries, Greece and Australia,” Dr Soderquist said in the announcement.
“We are excited about the prospects of this collaboration and look forward to mutually engage and benefit from this process.”
Dr Emmanuel Alexandrakis, Adjunct Professor and Strategic Development and Internationalisation Advisor of the MBA International Program at AUEB, stressed his belief in establishing relations with the Greek Diaspora.
“We now think it is time to open academic corridors between Australians of Greek origin and the motherland and show to the Greek-Australian Community that Greece can offer world class post-graduate Business Studies, in addition to immemorable cultural experiences,” Dr Alexandrakis said.
Speaking on this historic agreement, GAS Secretary and Co-Founder George Mpliokas said the organisation is “creating a new paradigm for collaboration between Greece and Greek-Australians by signing this Memorandum of Understanding with AUEB”.
He noted the significance of AUEB as a tertiary institution, with it being the premier Economics and Business University in Greece as well as the third oldest university in the country (established in 1920).
Mr Mpliokas expressed excitement in sharing the English-language MBA International Program (established in 1998), which is one of only three accredited MBAs from a tertiary institution in Greece, with the society’s membership base.
“By making AUEB’s MBA International Program more accessible than ever before to Greek-Australians, the opportunity for professional, artistic and cultural synergies with Greece make for compelling incentives to participate, engage and invest even further,” the GAS Secretary said.
The first benefit of this collaboration will be realised on Tuesday, March 5, wherein an information session and webinar session titled ‘Innovating Modern Transformation: Why do we need Circulists?’ will be held virtually via an exclusive GAS member link (TBC).
The one-hour webinar will take place at 6 p.m. AEDT (9 a.m. GMT+2) and will feature a panel of Dr Soderquist, Dr Alexandrakis, GAS Vice-President Peter Dracakis and Nick Gonios, Founder of Circulist and an Athens-based GAS Mentor.
GAS mentioned that Mr Gonios played a key role in connecting the society and AUEB and thus had a big influence in helping get this MoU agreed upon and signed.
Mr Mpliokas will act as moderator for this panel webinar.
Registration (GAS Member Exclusive) here.
