ATHENS – The Indiana-based Purdue University has signed agreements with four research universities in Greece around so-called STEM programs: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The American school is noted for those fields and a deal was also signed with the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce to promote economic and business relationships between the United States and Greece.

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2023/Q2/purdue-launches-partnership-with-greek-universities-and-business-chamber-deepens-collaboration-with-european-semiconductor-hub-in-belgium.html

In Greece, Purdue President Mung Chiang was joined by his counterparts at National Technical University of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University, Democritus University of Thrace, and the University of Patras to finalize the agreements, said a statement from Purdue.

The schools are talking about joint academic and research programs related to physics, computer science, electrical engineering and biological sciences, the Greek colleges specializing in those key areas.

Peristera Paschou, Professor of Biological Sciences and Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Strategic Initiatives in Purdue’s College of Science, earned her doctorate from the National University of Athens.

“We can cast a broad net, so to speak, to ensure we can leverage as many partnerships as possible across the country that would be a good fit with Purdue departments, Purdue initiatives and, of course, faculty and students,” she said.

“We are discussing research collaborations, and we also are discussing the potential design of dual academic offerings, programs that will create a bridge that connects universities in Greece to our programs here at Purdue,” she said.

Other Purdue members included Petros Drineas, Associate Head of the Department of Computer Science; Dimitrios Peroulis, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor; Lefteri Tsoukalas, Nuclear Engineering Professor; Pavlos Vlachos, Healthcare Engineering Professor.

“The intent is for Purdue to offer training for workforce development in Greece and also draw expertise from Greek companies and industry to partner with our faculty here at Purdue and pursue research and innovation,” Paschou said.

Chiang and Purdue colleagues also met with alumni and friends and with the U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis during the trip.

“We enthusiastically look forward to fruitful partnership with four leading research universities in Greece, where there is a strong heritage of classical education,” Chiang also said.

“These vibrant relations are about seizing opportunities for research collaboration, opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in both countries, and opportunities for broadening Purdue’s PhD student pipelines,” Chiang also said.