The University of NSW has taken steps towards strengthening its Greek Studies program, while the Hellenic Studies Foundation which operates in the University’s framework, is offering reduced tuition fees.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) professor James Donald announced recently, that undergraduates of UNSW undertaking a minor in Greek as part of their degree will now be offered the opportunity to complete the majority of their Greek language courses at the University of Sydney via cross-institutional enrollments.

On the strength of this decision, the Hellenic Studies Foundation is offering partial scholarships (a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees for this course) to the first 20 students who will enroll in ARTS1540-Introductory Greek A, in the first semester of 2014. This financial incentive aims at leveraging and further developing Greek Studies at UNSW.

Dr Efrosini Deligianni, Convenor of the Greek Studies Program said that “This decision taken by the University is most definitely a positive step forward and I wish to thank the Dean of our Faculty for his full cooperation and his favourable response to our every proposal for the promotion of Greek at UNSW.

“His positive stance toward our every request, when it comes to all issues that relate to Greek Studies at UNSW, has been always decidedly supportive”.

The Foundation’s President, Costas Vertzayias said that: “This decision by the University does justice to the fights and efforts of the Greek community (paroikia) for the sustainability and establishment of Greek at UNSW. Driven by this initiative, the Foundation has responded with funding support as a sign of goodwill.”

It should be noted that the Greek Studies at the UNSW organised a successful course throughout the 2013 academic year, which reached its peak last June at the International Symposium on Constantine Cavafy.

“Evidently, 2014 starts with the most promising prospects for the advancement of Greek Studies at UNSW and potentially opens up the road for even more important Greek language achievements and attainments in the near future”, said Dr Deligianni..

For further information on Greek Studies at UNSW visit the course website at:

http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/2014/ARTS1540.html or contact the course convenor, Dr Efrosini Deligianni (Tel: (02) 938 52188;
E-mail: e.deligianni@unsw.edu.au).