2017
International Hellenic University: Graduation Ceremony 2017
#ihu_graduation_2017
Αt the Vellidis Conference Center on Saturday, on 13 May 2017, 285 postgraduate students received their postgraduate degrees in front of family members, friends and faculty. This year graduates come from twenty different countries: Greece, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, El Salvador, France, fYRoM, Georgia, Honduras, Iceland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and the USA. During the two ceremonies the postgraduate degrees were awarded to students of the 18 postgraduate programmes, together with the announcement of special awards to those students who excelled in their studies.
Professor Athanassios Kaissis, Scientific Director of Legal Studies of the School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies and Member of the Governing Board of the International Hellenic University delivered a speech representing the School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies and mentioned that this was the first graduation for the students of the newly created MSc in Energy Law, Business, Regulation and Policy.
The Dean of the School of Technology, Professor Giorgos Evangelidis in his speech congratulated the graduates and their families and said: “I am very happy about the excellent cooperation I had with the students. The School takes into serious consideration your concerns and suggestions in order to improve the programmes. Moreover, in our effort to understand and follow the needs and trends in the Greek and international work environment, we designed a new programme in Data Science which will be launched in the new academic year. It is a rapidly expanding field since the big and varied volume of data flooding us requires new management and analysis techniques.”
Assistant Professor Manolis Manoledakis of the School of Humanities said that “Although this is the seventh graduation, it has a special importance as it sees the first graduation of the students of the MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia. The newly created programme dedicated to ancient Macedonia has undoubtedly filled a gap in Greek academia. It is an honour that the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation has decided to fund the programme for the next four years.”
Ioannis Drossos Kotilis, graduate of the ‘MSc in International Accounting, Auditing & Financial Management’ said that the graduation takes place amid a serious economic crisis with high professional competition and added “However, many of my fellow graduates in the programme have found employment in prestigious companies in Greece and abroad. This is perhaps the biggest confirmation of the remarkable work done at the International Hellenic University.”
On behalf of the International Hellenic University Alumni, Mr Giorgos Kakamoukas, graduate of the ‘MSc in ICT Systems’, mentioned that an academic title from the International Hellenic University is an investment and added “Your graduation coincides with a difficult economic and social occasion but this should not discourage you. For all graduates of the International Hellenic University every obstacle must be seen as an opportunity. An academic title from a leading educational institution in the Balkans is an investment. The International Hellenic University has a mission and a vision. We are part of this vision. Our contribution should not end here today. We, alumni, are the best proof that the University has to continue its mission.”
Professor Costas Th. Grammenos, President of the Governing Board, in his address referred to the results of the evaluation which were published by the Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency in February 2017 that place the International Hellenic University among the seven top Greek universities with the accreditation “worthy of merit”. Professor Grammenos also mentioned that new study programmes on agriculture, tourism, bioeconomy and data science that will be launched at the next academic year. He congratulated the graduates and their families and urged them “to keep in mind that knowledge is the only thing that we, mortals, pass down from generation to generation.”
2016
International Hellenic University: Graduation Ceremony 2016
#ihu_graduation_2016
In a touching ceremony, the International Hellenic University has celebrated the graduation of its 204 postgraduate students at the Vellidis Conference Center on Saturday, 14 May 2015 in front of family members, friends, faculty and VIP guests.
This year graduates come from twelve different countries: Greece, Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Egypt, France, Georgia, Lithuania, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
During the ceremony, the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate was awarded to Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Burkhard Hess, Director of the Max Planck Institute, Luxembourg, for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law. Professor Athanassios Kaissis, the Director of Legal Studies, presented the award to Professor Buckhard Hess.
Professor Burkhard Hess, in his inspiring speech, said: “The collaboration between scholars from different European jurisdictions in a common academic tradition is an important part of this common culture which is the backbone of a peaceful and united Europe”.
The award of the postgraduate degrees followed, together with the announcement of special awards to those students who excelled in their studies.
On behalf of the International Hellenic University Alumni, Mr Giorgos Goniadis, graduate of the ‘MSc in Environmental Management and Sustainability’, mentioned the opportunities offered to him to be creative on his own terms during his studies at the International Hellenic University and added that “there is one way of thinking that leads to success: treat problems as challenges and focus on ways to solve them through creativity and cooperation. We are too young to fail!”’.
Pelin Gungor, graduate of the MA in “Black Sea Studies”, dedicated her speech to her late father and said: “I am happy to be involved with IHU and be a member of the community. It has played a great role in my personal journey. I have realized my stereotypes and got over them. Diversity is the word when I recall my experience.”
The graduation ceremony concluded with the speech of Professor Costas Th. Grammenos, President of the Governing Board, who after mentioning the positive evaluations of the University by external academic evaluation committees, congratulated the graduates and their families, urging them to “open sails” and start their journey.
Please click here for graduation photos.
Please click here to watch the video.
Honorand:
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Burkhard Hess | Director of the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law
Burkhard Hess, born in Worms, Germany in 1961, became founding and executive director of the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law in September 2012.
He studied law at the Universities of Würzburg, Lausanne and Munich and graduated in Munich in 1990. After being granted Venia Legendi in civil law, civil procedure, private international law, European law and public international law in 1996, he held chairs at the Universities of Tübingen and Heidelberg. He was a guest professor in Beijing, in Paris (Sorbonne) and in Georgetown, and served as a part-time judge at the Court of Appeal of Karlsruhe.
Professor Hess often acts as an expert and advisor to the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and national governments. Recently, he has evaluated the European Insolvency Regulation and the Brussels I Regulation. He has also contributed to the drafting of the proposal for the Regulation on the European Attachment of Bank Accounts.
He is the author of various books on German and European civil procedural law as well as co-editor of IPRax and of Kölner Kommentar zum Kapitalanleger-Musterverfahrensgesetz. He is Chairman of the ILA Committee on the Protection of Privacy in Private International and Procedural Law.
2015
Joy, excitement and pride were the prevailing feelings of the 234 postgraduate students of the International Hellenic University that flooded the Vellidis Conference Center during their graduation ceremony. The ceremony took place on Saturday, 9 May 2015 in the packed auditorium of the conference center in the presence of families and friends of the graduates, who travelled to Thessaloniki from around the world to attend the ceremony.
The ceremony began with the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate to Thomas Pfeiffer, Professor of Law at Heidelberg University Law School and Director of Heidelberg University’s Institute for Comparative and Private International Law.
The Director of Legal Studies, Professor Athanassios Kaissis introduced Professor Pfeiffer for the award. The conferment was proclaimed by the Vice President of the Governing Board of the International Hellenic University, Professor Nicolas Moussiopoulos.
In his speech, Professor Pfeiffer, among other things, said: “We, as university scholars, in any event, should be united across all borders by our permanent search for unanswered and relevant questions, by our unrelenting quest for new answers and a better understanding of men and this world, by our unconditional loyalty to the supreme authority of the truth and by our strong desire to disseminate this truth among our students and into the world.“
The conferment of Professor Pfeiffer was followed by the award of the postgraduate degrees of the School of Economics and Business Administration, the School of Humanities and the School of Science and Technology followed, together with the announcement of special awards to those students who excelled in their studies.
Ms Elpiniki Dodou, who received an LLM in Transnational and European Commercial Law, spoke to the audience on behalf of the graduates. “The period of our studies at the International Hellenic University will be etched in our memories as a cycle of laborious effort, with personal sacrifices and tireless work in a demanding environment of high academic standards. It will also be remembered as a fascinating journey towards knowledge.”, she said.
Ms Christina Calbos, graduate in the Master’s in Black Sea Studies, also spoke, on behalf of the students. Among other things she said: "The International Hellenic University continues the historical legacy of Thessaloniki as a cultural capital and confluence of cultures, providing us with the wonderful chance to study, learn and creatively engage with each other. It has been an experience of a lifetime – to return to the beautiful land of my ancestors; to study and learn beside you all; to discuss politics, economics, history, art, philosophy and social issues not only within the classroom but also late at night in cafes and bars in this city that somehow begs to be the backdrop for such conversations. I could never have hoped for such a wonderful experience and opportunity”.
The ceremony was closed by the Vice President of the Governing Board of the International Hellenic University, Professor Nicolas Moussiopoulos, who congratulated the graduates and their families, saying: ”Great and important achievements are the result of independent spirit, great diligence, consistency, assertiveness and effectiveness. They are the result of an irresistible force to create excellence. We cultivate excellence through research and teaching and we hand it over to Society." His final call to the graduates was “Look ahead, aim high”.
2013
New horizons in their academic and professional careers lie before the 126 graduates of the postgraduate programmes of the three Schools of the International Hellenic University. With mixed feelings of excitement and joy, the students and their families and friends attended the graduation ceremony held on Saturday, 20 April 2013, in the packed hall of the "Ioannis Vellidis" Congress Centre in Thessaloniki.
The ceremony began with the conferment of Honorary Doctorates on three prominent academics, Professor of Design, Technology and Management at Harvard Design School, Spiro N. Pollalis, Professor of Private Law at the Heidelberg University Law School, Director of the Institute for Comparative Law, Conflict of Laws & International Business Law and Arbitrator on the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Herbert Kronke and Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens and IBM Fellow and Research Manager (New York), Dr. Phaedon Avouris.
Professor Pollalis was presented for the award by the Dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration, Professor Nicolas Moussiopoulos while Professor Athanasios Kaissis gave the speech of presentation for Professor Kronke and Professor Vlahavas, Dean of the School of Science and Technology, presented Dr. Avouris. The conferment was proclaimed by the President of the Governing Board of the International Hellenic University, Prof. Costas Grammenos CBE, DSc.
The award of the postgraduate degrees of the School of Economics and Business Administration, the School of Humanities and the School of Science and Technology followed, together with the announcement of special awards to those students who excelled in their studies.
2012
New horizons in their academic and professional careers lie before the 129 graduates of the postgraduate programmes of the three Schools of the International Hellenic University. With mixed feelings of excitement and joy, the students and their families and friends attended the graduation ceremony held on Saturday, 5 May 2012, in the packed auditorium of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
The ceremony began with the conferment of Honorary Doctorates on two prominent academics, Emeritus Professor at the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD, France), Spyros Makridakis, and Professor of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute of Advanced Studies (Princeton, USA), Angelos Chaniotis.
Professor Makridakis was presented for the award by the Dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration, Professor Nicolas Moussiopoulos while Professor Athanasios Kaissis gave the speech of presentation for Professor Chaniotis. The conferment was proclaimed by the President of the Governing Board of the International Hellenic University, Prof. Costas Grammenos CBE, DSc.
The award of the postgraduate degrees of the School of Economics and Business Administration, the School of Humanities and the School of Science and Technology followed, together with the announcement of special awards to those students who excelled in their studies.
Ms Maya Petrovska, who received a Master of Science in Information and Communication Technology Systems, spoke to the audience on behalf of the graduates. “Beyond the solid expertise that I have gained during the studies, this master program has helped me to develop into a more innovative and creative person possessing the key engineering skills among which are responsibility, strong working motivation and communication proficiency. Moreover, I have achieved a self confidence in the work that I perform, as we were instructed on such issues by professionals and experts, for instance on how to present ourselves and our knowledge to the highly competitive business world”, she said.
Mrs Fani Stylianopoulou, graduate in the Executive Master in Business Administration, also spoke, on behalf of the Executive EMBA graduates. Among other things she said:"Our graduation coincides with a difficult economic and social context. This should not stop us. Every difficulty hides an opportunity. The academic qualification from a leader of education in the Balkans is the best investment. "
The ceremony was closed by the President of the Governing Board of the International Hellenic University, Professor Costas Grammenos, who congratulated the graduates and their families, saying: "Great and important achievements are the result of independent spirit, great diligence, consistency, assertiveness and effectiveness. They are the result of an irresistible force to create excellence. Now more than ever are these qualities needed." His final call to the graduates was “Look forwards, look high”.
2011
Eighty-four (84) graduates from nine countries received their Master’s degree at the graduation ceremony of the School of Economics and Business Administration of the International Hellenic University. The ceremony was held on Saturday, May 7th 2011, at the Lazaristes Monastery in Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki, in the presence of distinguished guests from academia and business and diplomatic circles.
Graduates obtained the postgraduate degrees of Executive Master of Business Administration (Executive MBA), MSc in Banking and Finance and MSc in Management.
High quality education, provided by renowned professor and lecturers from Greece and abroad, in conjunction with careful and student-focused course administration, are key components in the university’s strategy to make the university a centre of international education.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the University, Professor Costas Grammenos, urged graduates to give "the battle to create merit" and to “look forward and up”, even in their most difficult moments. He stressed the importance of the International Hellenic University for Thessaloniki and Greece and more generally for SE Europe. He also referred to new postgraduate programme proposals, which are pending approval by the Ministry of Education.
The eighty-four graduates come from nine countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, USA.
The ceremony included the Conferment of Honorary Doctorates on Professor Eleni Glykatzi-Ahrweiler (La Sorbonne, University of Paris I, and the University of Europe) in recognition of her contribution to Byzantine Ηistory and to Education and on Professor Joseph Sifakis (Verimag, University of Grenoble) in recognition of his contribution to the field of Computer Science and System Verification.
Addressing the audience, Professor Ahrweiler underlined the contribution of Byzantium to the making of modern Europe and noted that "Thessaloniki was the first megalopolis in European history".
In his acceptance speech, Professor Sifakis referred to the prospects and challenges of computer science and, in reference to the vision of Ambient Intelligence, concluded that "information technology is a milestone in the history of mankind as important as the invention of writing or printing '.
The event was attended by MEP Professor Chrysoula Paliadeli, the U.S. Consul General, Ms Catherine Kay, the Consul General of France, Mr Christian Thimonier, the Vice President of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece, Mr Stefanos Tziritis, the President of the Technological Park of Thessaloniki, Mr Nikos Efthymiadis, the newly elected president of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Professor Athanasios Constantopoulos, the Vice Chairman of the Organization of Planning and Environmental Protection of Thessaloniki, Mrs Aspa Gospodini, the former Vice Rectors of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Olympia Tziampiri-Gibbs andProfessor Katerina Douka-Κambitoglou.
Video by Fotomada
2010
First 64 postgraduate students from 11 countries graduate from the International Hellenic University
In the presence of distinguished guests from Greece and abroad, 64 graduates from 11 countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Moldavia, Romania, Serbia and Greece) were awarded their postgraduate degrees at the first graduation ceremony of the International Hellenic University, held at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall on Saturday May 2010. The multinational puzzle of the 64 graduates reflects the character of the University as the first state international university in Greece.
In a period of crisis and insecurity, the first graduates of the university prove that Greece can be competitive and effective in various sectors, such as education, as long as efforts are based on serious strategic planning and a consistent orientation towards standards of excellence, as demonstrated by the International Hellenic University. This was a key point underlined by the President of the University’s Governing Board, Professor Costas Grammenos, in his welcoming speech.
The International Hellenic University has endeavoured from the first to offer excellence in research and in the quality of teaching at the university so that its graduates are prepared both with the knowledge and skills required but also with an excellent work ethic, needed today more that ever. Commitment to excellence is not just so many words. The selection and planning of the postgraduate programmes to be offered by the university was based on research carried out into more than 4,000 programmes at 256 universities in 19 countries, to ensure that they would be competitive and attract students from abroad.
Top academics in their field from abroad, both members of the Greek Diaspora and foreign nationals, were invited to contribute to the teaching and research work, while gradually a new generation of young Greek academics dedicated to excellence is being developed.
The choice of postgraduate rather than undergraduate study programmes to start with was dictated by the need to achieve recognition of the university as a centre of educational excellence as soon as possible. The completion of an undergraduate programme lasting four years would have inevitably delayed the process.
The President thanked all the members of the Governing Board for their contribution and efforts in the creation of the University and especially for the work of the Dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration, Professor Mario Levis, given that the first graduates are from the programmes of study of the school. He also referred to the new postgraduate programmes which are due to start in October of this year in the School of Humanities (MA Black Sea Cultural Studies) and the School of Science and Technology (MSc Energy Systems, MSc Information and Communication Technologies Systems) and which have already attracted the interest of a large number of candidate students from Greece and abroad.
Concluding his speech, the President asked the graduates to act as ambassadors for the University in the course of their careers and assured them that the University aims to maintain a consistent and meaningful relationship with them through the Alumni network.
The ceremony also included the award of two honorary doctorates to two prominent members of the Greek Diaspora, Professor George Constantinides, Leo Melamed Professor of Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, for his contribution to research in the field of finance, and Minos Zombanakis, Chair of the Group for International Study and Evaluation AG, for his contribution to the creation and developments of the Euromarkets.
The School of Economics and Business Administration commenced its postgraduate programmes of study with the first intake on the Executive MBA programme in March 2008, closely followed by the first intakes on the MSc in Management and MSC in Banking and Finance in January 2009.
