New Horizons in Higher Education Institutions: Strengthening the quality, functionality and connection of HEIs with society and other provisions (L.4957/2022)

The purpose of the law is to improve the operation of higher education through an integrated approach that aims to upgrade the quality of the educational, research and scientific work of the institutions, strengthen their human resources, connect them with the development needs of the country and provide additional tools for the implementation of their strategic plans and relevant national strategies.

Some of the important changes introduced by the law are:

• competitive study options and connection to the labour market,
• facilitating the creation of start-ups by students and graduates,
• strengthening meritocracy in the election and advancement of teaching and management staff,
• Greek "Erasmus" for students,
• utilisation of new technologies in teaching. 

In particular, the expected benefits and the corresponding institutional changes by category of stakeholders are:

For students: 

More academic options for modern, competitive, interdisciplinary studies:

• Possibility of choosing courses from other Departments

• Double/joint diplomas

• New minor degree programmes

• New applied science and technology programmes

• "Greek Erasmus student mobility programme"

Better and easier daily life at university:

• Psychological and Counseling Support Centers

• Care for students with special needs

• Ensuring objective grading

• Scholarships based on financial, as well as social and academic criteria

An effective representation, based on students’ real needs:

• Establishment of a Student Council

• Nomination of students to the administrative bodies of the university with a single ballot

Better connection with the labour market:

• Upgrade of internships

• Industrial doctorates in the framework of cooperation between universities and industry partners

• Facilitating the establishment of start-ups by students and graduates

For University workers:

• A more transparent and meritocratic environment with a new framework for the election and advancement of teaching staff

• Greater freedom and flexibility, without overregulation, for an easier and better educational, academic and research daily life

Substantial incentives and facilitations for partnerships in Greece and abroad:

• Double/Joint study programmes with Departments of the same, but also of other universities inside and outside Greece

• Foreign language study programmes

• Summer study programmes for Greek and foreign students

• Branches of universities inside and outside Greece

• Possibility of establishing inter-institutional research institutes with research bodies inside and outside Greece

For society and citizens:

The results of innovative university research (e.g. new educational method, new treatment, new approach) will be disseminated to society for its own benefit, and not recycled internally within the university:

• Incentives for innovative research

• Encouraging entrepreneurship for the exploitation of research results and the development of innovative products and services

• Citizens will have access to services offered by university laboratories – e.g. psychological counseling services, legal support, diagnostic tests

• All citizens and workers will have more learning opportunities

• Greek students, scientists and professionals from abroad are supported to return to Greece, thus dealing with the phenomenon of brain drain.

• Teaching at the Greek university: E.g. rationalisation of parallel employment in foreign universities.
• Research at the Greek university: E.g. tenured researchers and establishment of new full-time positions for funded scientists.
• Working in Greece: Faster and simpler recognition of an academic qualification that allows access to the labour market

Law 4777/2021 regulates issues of admission to higher education, protection of academic freedom, upgrading of the academic environment and other provisions. The regulations are mainly aimed at ensuring the conditions for successful studies and the timely completion of studies, with students who consciously choose their studies in areas that fall within their inclinations and interests. Equally important is the aim of strengthening the protection and security within the premises of the institutions, an aim pursued for the first time and in a comprehensive way. These regulations are justified on grounds of phenomena such as damage to public property and delinquency that take place within institutions, which directly affect the freedom of teaching, research and learning and negate the real meaning of the protection of ideas. In the long run, the aim is to ensure the role and smooth functioning of the institutions, which will establish a sense of trust in the academic community.

Law 4692/2020 (School upgrading and other provisions), as regards higher education, targets organisational and improvement adjustments, enhancing internationalisation of universities, and a more transparent procedure for appointment of new rectorate authorities.