On Friday, October 6, 2023, the Welcoming Ceremony for the students of our "BA Program in the Archeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece” (BAAG) took place in the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

On behalf of the Rector’s Office, the students of the Program were addressed by the Vice-Rector of Finance and Development Prof. Aristeidis Samitas and the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations, and Extroversion Prof. Sophia Papaioannou

Prof. Samitas, in his welcome speech to the new students, highlighted that “the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens maintains a long tradition of academic excellence and that is why we are committed to providing you with a high-quality education as you embark on this new educational journey, where you will have the opportunity to work with distinguished academics, members of our University with significant experience in the field of your studies, as well as engage in activities that will expand your horizons.”

Prof. Papaioannou, mentioned, among other things, that the BA Program “completes its fourth academic year in 2024: next summer we will be celebrating its first graduates. The BA Program in the Archeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece is now an internationally acknowledged program. Today, students from 21 different countries worldwide study in it, while the number of applications significantly increases year by year. It is perhaps one of the most complete and competitive study programs internationally in the study of ancient Greek culture from the beginnings of history to Late Antiquity.”

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Georgios Kotsiras, then addressed a greeting to the students, and emphasized the significant contribution of the foreign-language study programs of Greek Universities to the extroversion and international visibility of our country. Welcoming the new students, Mr. Kotsiras also emphasized the quality of Greek higher education and its potential to offer high-level educational opportunities in a modern, internationalized environment. While stressing his unwavering support to the promotion of the foreign-language study Programs of the Greek Universities, he stated that: "Greece is a reliable choice in the field of international education. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports every educational initiative that strengthens the extroversion of our country and the promotion of Greek culture.”

Finally, a greeting by Professor Emerita Ms. Eleni Karamalengou, Academic Director of BAAG and former Dean of the School of Philosophy, followed. Prof. Karamalengou stated the following:

“This is a very special year for the Program and for all of us, as we are welcoming the new students, who are here to commence their studies, but we are also welcoming our fourth-year students for the last time, as they begin their final year in our BA and will soon be our very first graduates. I hope that the years that you have spent in Athens have been productive and full of new experiences. I also hope that, at least part of your expectations has been met. Our wish is the same for our new students!”

The presentation of the program was delivered by Professor Mr. Dimitris Plantzos, Asst. Program Director.

The ceremony concluded with a short music program with songs on the piano by the students of the Department of Music Studies of the NKUA: Thanasis Mantzaris (piano) and Eleni Katsouli (singing), and the offering of commemorative gifts to the students.