University of York Europe Campus

A community event focusing on mental health was hosted by a team from our Psychology Department working on the EQUICARES project, Professor Ana Vivas, Dr Vassilis Chatzimpyros, Dr Ifigeneia Manitsa and Ms Christina Katsoridou in collaboration with Ms Iris Balli Hajdinaj, President of the Albanian women’s community JETA and Mr Nikolaos Mittas, President of the Center for the Study of Elderly Issues and Solidarity PNOI ZOIS.

The event aimed to raise awareness and encourage open discussion about the creation of a Smart Health Lab in Thessaloniki, which will be a space that will promote mental health access and education on mental health issues, as well as strengthen community support and wellbeing.

The University of York Europe Campus is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with IASIS NGO, marking the beginning of a meaningful collaboration focused on mental health, psychosocial support, education, research, and community engagement.

This partnership will create new opportunities for academic collaboration, knowledge exchange, student internships and volunteering, further strengthening the connection between higher education and social impact.

A shared commitment to supporting wellbeing, professional development, and meaningful community contribution through education and collaboration.
Read more: https://shorturl.at/bHx19

Undergraduate students from the Business School, of the University of York Europe Campus recently visited KLEEMANN’s manufacturing facilities in Kilkis as part of the Human Resource Management module, led by Dr Giovanni Serafini, Associate Professor at the Business School.

The visit bridged classroom learning with the realities of a leading Greek multinational. Founded in Kilkis and now active in more than 100 countries, KLEEMANN provides a strong example of how international growth is supported by innovation, quality, safety, and a people-centred culture. Its values of Safety, Trust, Passion for People, and Breakthrough Culture were especially relevant to students’ understanding of HRM in practice.

Through a guided facilities tour and an open HRM discussion, students gained meaningful insights into talent development, employee wellbeing, professional growth, and continuous improvement in action. Warm thanks to the KLEEMANN Human Resource Management team for their warmth and genuine engagement. Experiences like this help students understand that effective Human Resource Management is not confined to policies and procedures. It is enacted through culture, leadership, systems, relationships, and the everyday practices that help both people and organisations thrive.

Our second-year BA in Communication & Digital Media student, Ani Mukuchyan from our Humanities Department, shares how quickly the programme’s skills and knowledge can translate into real work experience and open doors to professional opportunities even during studies!
"As a second year student of the BA in Communication & Digital Media programme, I have some reassuring news for future students: the skillset and theoretical knowledge we are taught during the first two years of the programme are more than enough to start working in a variety of media environments and companies. In October of 2025, I started working as Marketing Executive for a real estate agency specialising in luxury housing and the Greek Golden Visa programme. From basic communication theories to complex data analysis tools, everything I learnt during my studies has proven applicable and necessary for my work. What supported me the most, however, have been the marketing modules. They are so incredibly updated and closely aligned to industry practices, that I can pretty much pinpoint each assignment I've done as a separate task at the office.
Use your resources today and you may start earlier than you imagined!"

Our Masters students attending the MSc in Cognitive Neuropsychology and the MA in Clinical Neuropsychology together with Dr Ekaterini Klepousniotou, Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology and Director of the Postgraduate Programmes in Neuropsychology at our Department of Psychology, visited the “St Helen” Day Centre of Alzheimer Hellas that caters to people with dementia at earlier stages of the disease, their caregivers and their families.
The students had the opportunity to actively participate in the programmes of the Day Centre and engage with the patients as well as observe neuropsychological assessments conducted by the psychologists and neuropsychologists at the Centre.
We are grateful to Dr Magda Tsolaki, President of Alzheimer Hellas, for facilitating our visit to the Day Centre. We are also grateful to Dr Elena Poptsi, Maria Vasiloglou, Litsa Mpakoglidou and Panagiotis Liapis - the psychologists and neuropsychologists at “St Helen” Day Centre - for the warm welcome and insightful discussions and for providing this invaluable experience to our students!

Dr Chrysopigi Vardikou, Lecturer at our Business School, will participate in this year’s York Festival of Ideas with an interesting session titled “Subtle is the New Loud: Digital Autonomy”.

The talk explores how consumers navigate digital persuasion in an era of constant online noise and advertising. Drawing on real-world data, it examines when and how individuals resist digital influence, and how decision-making autonomy is shaped in social media environments.

📅 Wednesday 3 June 2026, 6:00–7:00 pm (UK time) | 8:00–9:00 pm (EEST)
📍 Online only

More about the talk:
https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2026/calendar/subtle-new-loud/
___________________________________________________________________
Dr Kalliopi Megari, will also participate in York Festival of Ideas with a talk on“Rethinking Environments for Neurodivergent Minds”, focusing on neurodiversity and environmental design in relation to emotional and cognitive processing.

More:
https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2026/calendar/rethinking-environments/

Subtle is the New Loud: Digital autonomy In a world of ‘brain rot’ and digital noise from ads, Chrysopigi Vardikou of the University of York Europe Campus examines how we protect our free will.

The University of York Europe Campus is proud to participate in this year’s York Festival of Ideas with two events showcasing research and insight from our academic community.

One featured session by Kalliopi Megari, “Rethinking Environments for Neurodivergent Minds”, explores how purposefully designed “safe places” can influence emotional and cognitive processing in neurodivergent individuals, highlighting the impact of environmental design on wellbeing and neurodevelopment.

📅 Thursday 4 June 2026, 3:00–4:00 pm (Greek time)
📍 Online only

Join the discussion and learn more:
🔗 https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2026/calendar/rethinking-environments/
____________________________________________________________________
The second talk will be presented by Dr Chrysopigi Vardikou from our School of Business. More about Dr Vardikou's talk: https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2026/calendar/subtle-new-loud/

Rethinking Environments for Neurodivergent Minds Kalliopi Megari of the University of York Europe Campus examines the effects of ‘safe places’ on the cognitive and emotional processing of people with neurodevelopmental disorders.

"Studying at the University of York Europe Campus was truly a transformative experience, both personally and professionally. The Executive MBA program challenged me to approach complex problems from multiple perspectives, deepen my understanding of my field, and clarify my long-term goals. Working closely with other students was a big part of the experience. Our projects led to meaningful discussions about leadership, strategy, and real-world challenges. By sharing ideas and experiences, we learned a lot from each other.

To current and future students, my advice is to engage in both academic and social life on campus fully. Some of my fondest memories are of relaxing by the seaside after classes. These moments of connection enriched my experience and made me feel at home. The EMBA journey is even more rewarding when you build lasting friendships. Make the most of your time, nurture relationships, and allow yourself to learn and grow. When you graduate, you’ll leave not only with a degree but with memories and friendships that last a lifetime."

How is AI transforming service quality and customer experience?
During the Managing Service Quality class led by Dr Ana Cruz at our Business School, students had the opportunity to explore this important topic with guest speaker Titos Simitzis, Co-Owner and GM at Alternative Research Solutions, who shared valuable insights on the role of AI in marketing, customer experience, and service delivery.
Key discussions focused on how AI can help organisations better understand customer needs, improve service processes, and predict challenges earlier, while highlighting that empathy, ethics, and trust-building remain fundamentally human skills.

Many thanks to Titos Simitzis for an engaging and thought-provoking session.