Tertiary Education

University education is crucial not only for creating a growing economy but also for providing upward mobility. Currently, Greek universities underperform compared to other European institutions. In addition, there is a big disconnect between what degree programs are offered and the needs of the market, leading to high levels of unemployment among graduates. In parallel, Greece finds itself in the unique spot of holding a constitutional ban against privately held universities. Policy reforms are required on many fronts. Deon Policy Institute has identified three areas of focus:

  1. Improving the performance of public universities,

  2. Better linking universities with the market, and

  3. Supporting the establishment of non-public universities.

Beyond these three core priorities, there also exists an opportunity to position Greece as a regional player for higher education in the Southern Mediterranean, by expanding the availability of English-speaking programs

Deon Education Projects

EXECUTED

Introducing Visiting Professors

During the financial crisis, Greece lost 500,000 skilled people, many with higher education degrees. The challenge is to reintroduce academics to support growth in a knowledge-driven economy. Deon Policy Institute suggests three solutions. These include short-term visiting professor roles (6 months to 3 years), early-career positions (3-5 years), and competitive long-term academic chairs. The Higher Education Law (Law #4957/2022) of July 2022 has already introduced Deon’s recommendation of “Visiting Professor” in Article 171, and €85mn were allocated to these positions.

EXECUTED

Expanding Joint Chair Rights

Greece is considered a “widening country” in research and development, meaning it lags behind the EU average on that front. Still, many top scientists are choosing Greece for their research projects. In 2022, Greece ranked first in the ERA Chair Program, securing €17.5 million out of €80 million. Seven scientists received €2.5 million each to work with Greek research institutions, but the legal framework at the time did not fully meet their needs. Deon Policy Institute studied these needs and proposed changes incorporated in the March 2024 education law (Law 5094/2024, Article 84)

IN-PROGRESS

Bringing Back Greek Scholars

The Greek administration has announced its plans to introduce non-public universities. One of the key open questions is: Who will teach at these institutions? Deon Policy Institute conducted a survey on 500 professors of Greek descent living, teaching, and conducting research abroad to understand their willingness to return and the criteria upon which they would repatriate. This is a first of its kind survey that aims not only to document Greek academia abroad, but also derive tangible policy recommendations for their repatriation. Results will be published on February 4th 2025.