I would like to thank Mr. Euripides Stylianides, the Minister of Education, for his excellent presentation on the matters concerning education in Greece.

I am also proud since he originates from Thrace, and knowing him during the period he was a University student and organization leader.

I would like to present myself as a Professor and Administrator who has served in various American Universities and moreover as one of the leading independent Universities in Greece, The American University of Athens (AUA).  

Starting as The College of Southeastern Europe in 1982 as an affiliate Institute of Boston University, we have introduced an innovative quality University programs in Mechanical, Electrical, Biomedical, and Computer Manufacturing as well as Premedical studies programs that include Biology, Biochemistry and Chemistry.  Ever since, AUA is the only private university dealing with Science and Engineering University degrees.

Today, the AUA offers four year bachelor degrees in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Fine Arts, and Pharmacy reaching to 60 different concentrations; the number of the specializations offered by the AUA is much larger than the total number of all specializations offered by all other private university level institutions. On top of that, the AUA operating in the format of comprehensive American University, operating outside USA like the American University of Beirut (founded in 1866), the American University of Paris (founded in 1910), the American University of Rome, The American University of Cairo, offers a full range of Doctorate and Masters degree programs in more than 40 different areas.

Our university, since most of its programs deal with regulated professions, as Civil Architect, as a Lawyer, Pharmacist, Clinical Psychologist, Accountant, Clinical Biochemist, Microbiologist, is directed toward the professional recognition of the degree for each one of the AUA graduates, using the platform of two European University Acts: EEC 89/48 and EEC 89/49.

Since the ability for a European Union Citizen from one member country to another represents a foundation principle on European Universities, it is well understood, that Greece is obliged to accept the above EEC Acts.  Any kind of excuse, from any representative of the government of organizing such as The Technical Chamber of Greece (TCG).

The decision of the European Court for Human Rights of MUCC 2000 concerning the negative attitude of the Greek governments from 1990 to 2000 concerning EEC Acts 89/49 and 98/5 (for Lawyers) has been associated with the application of Article 1 of the Maastricht Treaty-Violations of Human Rights.

Before I talk about the Act 2005/36, which has been clearly presented by Minister Stylianides I would like to clarify myself about two myths that are around in public media.

The first that the professional recognition of Acts 89/48 and 2005/36 are concerning only the British Universities and their partner laboratories for free studies in Greece.

Act 89/49, as well as paragraph e of the article 11 of Act 2005/36 is dealing with the professional recognition of American or Canadian Universities by European Universities (via Britain or Ireland).

The second myths deals with the professional recognition of certain laboratories of Liberal Studies (of Act 9/9-10-1935) who are claming that there are under the "spirit" of Act 2005/36.

During the Thatcher Reform of the nineties, all Polytechnics offering two to three year programs, from horse training to gardening, as well as other specializations have been upgraded to Universities. (They are called New Universities in UK). The professional recognition of the degrees of most institutions do not exist in UK due to characteristics of their curricula of their teaching staff.

It is understood that the graduate of those institutions and their partner laboratories of free studies cannot be included to the Act 2005/36. Their only way is to proceed with the academic equivalence recognition of DOATAP (former-DIKATSA).

I have talked about the first education reform the Thatcher's administration.  The second education reform which has taken practice by the ex-Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair, has been dealing with the quality upgrading of the British University. "If Britain wishes to remain competitive, must have world-class competitive universities" quoting Mr. Blair.

The same applies to Greece Mr Stylianides, following the pattern of Act 2005/36 and the Low "PLAISIO" for the government universities will optimize the professional electives of the graduates of the private and public universities, making thus Greece more competitive in European Universities as well global standards.