- Introduction
Study in Greece (SiG), as the official national body that promotes Greek Higher Education internationally and coordinates internationalization actions of Greek universities, carried out a working visit to New York of the USA, during the period 30/10/2025 – 8/11/2025.
The visit was carried out by the President of Study in Greece, Professor Christos Michalakelis, at the invitation of Ms. Stella Kokoli, President of the Federation of Hellenic Teachers of America and the Ms. Eftychia Pylarinou – Piper, Sr. VP Red Apple Group NY, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce (HACC) (https://www.hellenicamerican.cc/ ) and member of the Advisory Board of Study in GreeceMrs. Kokolis and Mrs. Pylarinou-Piper also planned the program of the visit, which was implemented with their participation, as well as with the participation of Father Gregory Stamkopoulos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Director of Education of the Holy Archdiocese of America.
This report describes in detail the actions, meetings, conclusions and proposed strategies for the next stage of cooperation.
2. Objectives of the visit
The main axes of the mission were:
- The promotion of Study in Greece and its work within the context of the internationalization of Greek Universities.
- The emergence of Greece as a study destination for students of Greek origin who attend Greek charter schools in America, as well as for international students.
- Strengthening the connection between Greek universities and the Greek diaspora.
- The expansion of collaborations between Greek and American universities.
- Supporting the Greek language and cultural identity through higher education.
3. Meetings and Collaborations
During the visit, meetings were held with the following bodies:
- Greek Consulate, Consul Ms. Ifigenia Kanara.
- Archdiocese of America, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Director of Education of the Holy Archdiocese of America Gregory Stamkopoulos.
- Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies at Queens College, CUNY, Dr Fevronia Soumakis, Incoming Director
- Visits to Greek schools:
- Stony Brook University, Long Island, Stella Tsirka, Maria Athanasopoulou, Simos Zenios
- Saint Demetrios Greek-American School, Astoria, Gregory Stamkopoulos (School Superintendent), Mr. Vasilios Skordas (Supervising Principal), Ms. Helen Karagiorgos (Middle/High School Assistant Principal), Ms. Thea Gibbs (Information Technology Director)
- Odyssey Charter School, Delaware, Ioanna Lekakou Dr. Ioanna Lekkakou, Dean of Hellenic and Classical Education, Niki Tantalou, Greek Language Coordinator
- Cosmos Hellenic Media, New York Stelios Taketzis (Homogeneia Radio, interview grant)
- Stony Brook Vein Center, Antonios Gasparis, Professor of Surgery, Director, Stony Brook University Medical Center, President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York
· Representatives of the Greek diaspora.
- Representatives of universities and colleges the greater New York area.
Within the framework of these works, the study opportunities in Greece were presented, for students of both Greek origin and more broadly international students, as well as the role of Study in Greece in supporting the internationalization of Greek Universities. The presentations were accompanied by particularly interesting discussions which highlighted the strong interest and intense desire of Greek Americans to connect with Greece through education. Excellent touching was the fact that children from other countries, without any connection with Greece, they attended school programs in the Greek language, receiving a Greek education and essentially constituting potential future students of Greek Universities, in both foreign and Greek language study programs.
It was manifested great interest in foreign language study programs because of removal of language restrictions, low tuition fees and low cost of living, especially in relation to America, as well as the international reputation of Greece as a country that produces culture. It was also recorded particularly great interest also in Greek-language undergraduate programs of Greek Universities, as many of the students have, or are acquiring, certified knowledge of the Greek language, and therefore can attend the courses of the Greek Universities without any problem. However, many of the students who do not have sufficient knowledge of the Greek language have a strong will to acquire it, in order to enroll in the Greek-language programs. This is also a broader request of the Greek diaspora, which includes the simplification of procedures, which are currently considered particularly dissuasive for international students, as they are considered highly bureaucratic, but also the increase in the percentage of places available.
At this point it is noted that importance of international promotion and Greek-language undergraduate programs as a study option as, among other things, constitute an intermediate stage of internationalization for universities that do not yet have foreign language undergraduate programs, but also a a way to stop the shrinkage of universities, due to the demographic problem and the operation of the National Universities and CollegesAt the same time, it will contribute to local economies and Greece's GDP as well as students in foreign language programs, while they will be potential candidates for postgraduate programs. This strategy is complemented by the strengthening the teaching of the Greek language, with distance learning methods, synchronous and/or asynchronous, from Greek Universities, in order for students - potential students to prepare for their studies in Greek-language programs.
In addition, special interest was for summer study programs in Greece, educational visits and “Study Abroad” programs specially designed for both students of Greek origin, and exchange programs with students from Greece, as they contribute to efforts to preserve the Greek language and strengthen ties with Greece.
4. Study in Greece
Study in Greece was widely accepted with particular emotion, receiving the thanks and congratulations of all the diaspora organizations for its role and for the important work it has accomplished so far. It was emphasized Particularly the importance of having a body representing all universities, offering the full range of Greek higher education options, while at the same time Greece is systematically, uniformly and coherently promoted as a destination country for studies and researchIt was emphasized that the efforts made so far, while important, were isolated, fragmented and without continuity, without covering the promotion of Greek Universities as a whole.
As a result of the recognition of the necessity for the successful operation of Study in Greece and its contribution to Greece, as well as the high importance it has for the Greek diaspora for the work it performs in developing ties between the Greeks of the diaspora and Greece, the following emerged: creation of the following points of presence of Study in Greece:
- At Archdiocese of America, in order to have a point of contact with the Greek diaspora, as well as use of the Archdiocese's extensive network to inform schools, as well as interested parties through the parishes.
- on Consulate of Greece in New York, in order to support networking with American universities in the region and to inform those visiting the Consulate
- on Queen's College in which it operates Chair of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, in order to develop cooperation between Greek academics and Greek language chairs and programs and to implement relevant actions.
In addition, it was recognized the contribution of Study in Greece to the strengthening of the Greek language, as the participation of young people from the diaspora in study programs and summer academies in Greece leads to a substantial improvement in language proficiency through daily contact with the linguistic environment — something that cannot be achieved only in community schools abroad.
Finally, the creation of networks and opportunities for youth through university collaborations and exchanges opens avenues for academic and professional development for young people of the diaspora, strengthening their participation in international networks connected to Greece, while at the same time contributing to the preservation of the cultural identity of Greeks with their roots.
5. Conclusion
Study in Greece's visit to New York highlighted the fact that Study in Greece is a key institution for the Greek diaspora, because it offers concrete, practical and sustainable benefits to the communities of Greeks abroad, with direct impact on the preservation of identity, language and ties with Greece.
The Greek diaspora, especially in the United States, faces the perennial issue of intergenerational transmission of the Greek language and education, as younger generations often distance themselves from their Greek cultural heritage. In this context, the Study in Greece is open not symbolically, but demonstrably as a tool for continuity and renewal.
Study in Greece is committed to strengthening initiatives to connect the youth of the diaspora with Greece, its language and culture. The internationalization of Greek universities as an expression of educational diplomacy is a powerful soft power tool, while it is also accompanied by significant economic benefits for Greece, considering that for every 1.000 international students who come to the country, the contribution to GDP is in the order of €20M.
6. Acknowledgements
Warmest thanks and recognition of their significant contribution are addressed to the ladies Stella Kokoli and Eftychia Pylarinou – Piper, as well as to Protopresbyter Gregory Stamkopoulos, for inviting, hosting, planning and implementing a highly productive program of activities within the framework of the visit, for the implementation of which they went above and beyond, as well as for the general support of the development of Study in Greece. Without their contribution, the visit could not have been implemented in any way, especially with such quality and success, nor would such important prospects have emerged.
With a shared commitment, these actions will continue and intensify in order to strengthen the bridges between Greece and the diaspora with the participation of Greek Universities.
Christos Michalakelis,
Professor President of the Board of Directors Study in Greece
photo https://studyingreece.edu.gr/masters/
