International Relations Office - University of Piraeus

📌 [Success Story] Celebrating the Completion of the 5th International Staff Week (Erasmus+ KA171) in Crete!
With great success and the full achievement of its strategic goals, the 5th International Staff Week has officially concluded. This high-level event took place within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA171 Consortium of International Credit Mobility of Greek HEIs, which is proudly coordinated by the University of Piraeus.

🏢 Hosted magnificently by the University of Crete at the Gallos Campus in Rethymno from May 25 to May 29, 2026, the event served as a vibrant hub for international academic dialogue and the exchange of best practices.

🌱 Directly aligned with the broader objectives of the European Union, this year’s core theme, “Digital Transformation, Environment and Climate Change and Education,” brought together higher education professionals and distinguished academics from European and global partner institutions (including Uganda and Armenia). Together, they explored multidimensional perspectives to foster the sustainable operation of universities.

💡 Key highlights from our Group’s dedicated track:
Knowledge Exchange: Sharing institutional internationalization strategies and modern digital tools in higher education.
Interactive Workshops: Co-creating solutions and addressing the distinct challenges of digital transformation for sustainable universities.
Cultural & Historical Exploration: Immersing our participants in Greece's rich heritage with a milestone excursion to the iconic Archaeological Site of Knossos Palace in Heraklion, alongside a networking visit to the Institute for Mediterranean Studies and an authentic culinary experience at Arolithos traditional village.

🙏 We extend our warmest thanks to all the participants whose active engagement, diverse insights, and expertise made the workshops and panels truly impactful.

🤝 A special, heartfelt thank you goes to the University of Crete, a valuable institutional partner of our Consortium of ICM. Their exemplary hospitality, flawless organization, and continuous support ensured an outstanding Staff Week and further strengthened the bonds between our institutions.

We remain committed to driving internationalization, innovation, and strategic global partnerships forward!

Leading by example, the Department of Maritime Studies of the University of Piraeus organizes a panel discussion on " -driven and in ". The discussion is part of the Posidonia Events.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, June 3rd, between 5 pm and 7 pm at the Posidonia Conference Hall.

You can sign up for the event at the following link:
https://lnkd.in/dFv32D6X

📢 Announcement: 5th International Staff Week – “Digital Transformations, Environment & Climate Change, and Education”

The International Relations Office - University of Piraeus, as Coordinator of the Consortium of International Credit Mobility (Erasmus+ KA171 ICM), is pleased to announce the 5th International Staff Week. The event will take place from May 25 to 29, 2026 , in Rethymno, co-organized and hosted by the in close cooperation with the Consortium of ICM (Erasmus+ KA171).

🌍Themes & Objectives🌍

This year's Staff Week focuses on three critical pillars aligned with the broader objectives of the European Union:
1. Digital Transformation,
2. Environment & Climate Change
3. Education
The program aims to create an open space for dialogue and the exchange of experiences and practical know-how among higher education professionals from various European universities.

📅 Preliminary Agenda📅

Day 1: Arrival, welcome, networking, and a guided tour of the historical center of Rethymno.
Day 2: Strategic frameworks, presentation of the ICM Consortium by the University of Piraeus, and session on Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs).
Day 3: Presentations on education, innovation, and digital practices in the post-COVID era.
Day 4: Experiential workshop: "Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Transformation for Sustainable Universities".
Day 5: Field trip to the Cretan countryside and farewell.

Stay tuned for more 🤩🤩

🎯Bridging Educational Frameworks: Towards Standardised and Transferable Learning

✏️To ensure transparency, universality, integrity, and the transferability of learning outcomes, we are working on aligning the structure and content of our MOOC E-Quality course with the principles of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), as well as with the national regulations of our partner countries, including their National Qualifications Frameworks.

🎓An important micro-credential confirming the knowledge, competencies, and skills acquired will be the opportunity to obtain a digital certificate in the form of Open Badges–compliant credentials.

To learn more, explore our platform:
👉 https://equality-programme.eu/platform/ 📚✨

🤝All project partners: University of Piraeus - Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς, Enoros Consulting Ltd, Великотърновски университет „Св. св. Кирил и Методий“ (St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo), Neapolis University Pafos, UNIMED - Mediterranean Universities Union, Politechnika Białostocka (Bialystok University of Technology)

Καλή Ανάσταση Καλό Πάσχα

University of Piraeus Coordinates the 3rd Progress Meeting of the -QUALITY Project in Rome ‼️

The University of Piraeus, acting as the project coordinator, successfully led the 3rd Progress Meeting of the European project E-QUALITY (“Enhancing Quality Assurance in Higher Education”). The meeting took place on February 26-27, 2026, in Rome, Italy, hosted by UNIMED at the premises of IULM University. 👏
➡️ The -QUALITY project (2024-1-EL01-KA220-HED-000247816) is co-funded by the European Union and focuses on modernizing quality assurance mechanisms in Higher Education Institutions. The University of Piraeus was represented by Dr. Christina Kontogoulidou and Ms. Zoi Katsiri.

❗ Key Highlights of the Meeting ❗
➡️ During the two-day event, partners from Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Poland, and Cyprus collaborated on the following strategic areas:
Platform Development & MOOC: The consortium reviewed the pilot testing of the project platform and discussed technical adjustments. It was decided that the upcoming MOOC will feature interactive materials, including videos, to enhance the learning experience.
➡️ ECVET Harmonization: Partners discussed the harmonization of training units with the specific rules and legislation of each partner country, ensuring compliance with the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET).
➡️ Dissemination & Local Summits: The WP2 leader outlined the strategy for upcoming “Local Summits”. These events will target QA coordinators, academic and administrative staff, and students, with a goal of reaching 150 participants across 6 summits.
➡️ Sustainability & Quality: Discussions were held regarding the long-term exploitation and sustainability of the project’s results.

❗ Next Steps ❗
➡️ As the coordinator, the University of Piraeus outlined the immediate timeline, including the completion of legal framework surveys by April 2026 and the conclusion of pilot testings by May 15, 2026.

History in the making !

🌟 Strengthening Quality Assurance Across Europe – E-QUALITY Project Update! 🎓✨
It’s been a busy period for the E-QUALITY partnership, and we’re excited to share new progress from our ongoing work to enhance Quality Assurance (QA) in Higher Education across Europe.
Over the past months, our consortium has been actively shaping innovative tools and training opportunities that support universities in improving teaching, learning, and institutional evaluation processes. From developing the E-QUALITY digital platform to piloting the training course and MOOC for QA managers, the project is moving closer to delivering meaningful, user-friendly solutions for the academic community.
📌 What we’ve been working on recently:
✔ Refining the E-QUALITY Platform based on feedback from partners and stakeholders
✔ Advancing the MOOC and QA Training Course for university staff
✔ Preparing upcoming dissemination materials and translations
✔ Engaging QA teams and university stakeholders across Europe
Our goal remains clear: to empower institutions with modern, transparent, and inclusive quality assurance practices aligned with European standards.
Stay tuned for more updates, new materials, and upcoming events!
🌐 Explore the project: https://equality-programme.eu/
💬 Tell us: What does quality in higher education mean to you?
University of Piraeus - Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς Politechnika Białostocka Великотърновски университет „Св. св. Кирил и Методий“ Neapolis University Pafos UniMed Enoros Consulting Ltd International Relations Office - University of Piraeus