Elevating education through collaboration
A strategic partnership between Aegean College and the University of Essex is helping to equip students with industry-relevant skills and learning
Higher education institutions across the world are recognising the role of collaboration in advancing the quality of education. The surge in international collaboration is yielding promising outcomes. Aegean College in Greece has embraced this new direction through its partnership with the University of Essex in the UK.
Founded in 1946 as part of the Omiros Education Group, Aegean College offers an extensive range of academic courses and lifelong learning programmes across its four campuses in Greece, located in Athens, Piraeus, Larissa and Thessaloniki.
Through its nine schools, it delivers undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses in subjects such as business, tourism and hospitality, maritime studies, health sciences and STEM subjects. The college is currently preparing to host its first PhD programme, which will add to its current student population of over 4,000 students.
Since November 2020, the college has held a strategic partnership with the University of Essex, allowing students enrolled in 80 selected undergraduate and postgraduate courses to graduate with a qualification from a UK university. The University of Essex ensures the overall quality and academic standards of the Aegean College by maintaining robust academic standards and processes equivalent to those used at the University of Essex.
According to Laura Maska, managing director of Aegean College, the move has brought a level of confidence and quality assurance to prospective students and collaborators, helping to “ensure the high overall academic standard of Aegean College”.
Dedication to student well-being is embedded within Aegean College’s ethos. The institution champions a student-centric culture, offering year-round support services through various onsite programmes, including personal development portfolio workshops, career guidance and counselling services. All Aegean College students are offered English classes, IT skills training and an additional language course, free of charge.
Programmes are designed to be practical and to include face-to-face interaction between students. The resources available at the college include the BioSensors SmartLab, a centre for interdisciplinary research that was established to foster student-led innovation and research collaboration in fields such as psychology, artificial intelligence and neuromarketing.
“All the programmes within our curriculum stem from comprehensive research endeavours undertaken by the institution. The spectrum of programmes available has emerged as a result of diligent analysis of the labour market conducted between two to three years prior,” Maska explains.
“This systematic approach embodies the college’s commitment to aligning courses with current industry requirements, enabling our students to transition into the professional arena equipped with the skill sets sought after by employers.”
The college’s market-led approach is generating results. The latest statistics show that around 90 per cent of students are in full-time employment within one year of graduation and many secure jobs before completing their course, says Maska.
Aegean College’s commitment to practical training is supported by dedicated clinical coordinators who arrange clinical placements and mentorship for students. The college has established collaborations with hundreds of clinical placements in both the public and private sectors.
The college takes a holistic approach to teaching and learning, boosting students’ capabilities through academic writing workshops, seminars, industry guest lectures and conferences that expose students to real-world challenges.
According to Maska, Aegean College’s support extends beyond graduation, offering guidance to alumni as they enter the professional world. Alumni collaboration cements the connection between academia and industry, ensuring that graduates thrive in various sectors, she concludes.
Find out more about Aegean College.