Capital: Athens
Population: 10,607,051 (July 2020 est.)
GDP: $269.002 billion (2019 est., Purchasing Power Parity)
Currency: Euro
Language: Greek
UNESCO Student Mobility Number
39,096 students from Greece study abroad.
CIA World Factbook
24.87% of the Greek population is under 24 years of age.
OVERVIEW
Greece, per its constitution, offers free education as a right to all citizens. Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15. The education system is divided into early education and care for children up to the age of six, primary education for school children between the ages of 6-12, and secondary education for teenagers between the ages of 12-18. There is also higher education for those wishing to attend university and lifelong learning for adults. Most students in Greece attend public schools at all levels, for which there are no tuition fees. Less than 10% of the student population is enrolled in private schools.
Over the years, the Ministry of Culture, Education, and Religious Affairs has made significant changes in adopting recent scientific findings and/or acclaimed education models of other countries worldwide. That was the goal for the new Greek government elected in July of 2019, which proceeded to enact many changes within the structure of the Ministry itself, reinforcing educational material and improving the teachers’ evaluation system. The current government, already intent on accelerating the digitization of government and society before the COVID-19 pandemic, made rapid progress during the pandemic to integrate more online and digital resources.
Reflecting increased interest in strengthening educational links between Greece and the United States, the Ministry of Education announced a partnership in 2020 with the Institute of International Education (IIE) to launch the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) Greece. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic postponing travel plans, an online forum of this partnership was held in July 2020 with Greece’s Prime Minister, Minister of Education, and Greek higher education institutions (HEIs) joining more than 20 U.S. universities and IIE representatives.
SUB-SECTORS
Higher Education: Higher education in Greece is free to the public. There are 25 institutions of higher education in Greece, divided between universities and technical institutes. Popular majors include law, medicine, tourism, economics, shipping, and other academic areas, with most disciplines taking four years. There are some longer programs in the polytechnics and medicine. The sector also includes schools that provide diploma degrees with shorter years of total study.
According to the Open Doors 2020 survey findings published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), thousands of Greek students have chosen the U.S. for their studies, with a total of 2,489 Greek students studying at U.S. institutions during the 2019/20 academic year. Almost half (1,132) attended graduate programs, 793 students attended undergraduate programs, and the rest attended other, non-degree programs. The report also shows a growing number of Americans are choosing Greece as a destination for study. Greece welcomed a total of 5,834 U.S. students during the 2018/19 academic year, marking an increase of 11.7% compared to the previous year and making it the 12th ranked study abroad destination for U.S. students.
Graduate and Undergraduate: While most graduate and undergraduate study in Greece is in public institutions, there is a notable exception. The American College of Greece (ACG) is the oldest U.S.-accredited college in Europe and the largest private college in Greece, located in Athens, the capital city. It has three divisions: Pierce (secondary education), Deree (undergraduate and graduate), and ALBA (graduate). With very competitive graduate (ALBA) and undergraduate programs, Deree enrolled 4,197 undergraduate and graduate students in Fall 2020.
Secondary Education: In secondary education, there is the Athens College (Hellenic American Educational Foundation) and Pierce, part of the ACG institution, two of the strongest schools in the education field with U.S. connections. Both schools not only give the opportunity to students to participate at the National Exams, but also provide IB programs so students can go on to some of the finest schools abroad.
Online Programs: The COVID-19 pandemic has helped raise the importance of online programs as an alternative to traditional education. At the same time, the Ministry of Education has been integrating online education options into its pandemic response with the help of U.S. online education platforms and U.S. technology companies. While online programs are increasing student engagement, this is not a new area for Greece. For over 20 years, Greece has offered the Greek Open University (EAP) as an opportunity for students to participate in graduate and/or undergraduate programs through distance learning.
OPPORTUNITIES
For over 100 years, the United States and Greece have engaged in cross-cultural educational exchange and cooperation. Educational ties are renewed every year as thousands of U.S. and Greek citizens participate in cross-cultural educational programs in each other’s nations. English is the first foreign language in the Greek education system and is taught in private kindergartens and primary schools starting in grade one. Education abroad has long been a key consideration for Greek high school graduates, with the UK attracting the largest number of Greek students. The U.S. has seen a steady and consistent number of Greek students studying abroad, while Greece itself is attracting more inbound U.S. students. More interaction between U.S. students and Greek institutions may contribute to greater outbound students to the United States. As a European Union member state and close ally of the United States, there are no significant barriers preventing students from studying in the U.S., aside from tuition and travel costs.
Best prospects for studying in the U.S. include intensive English language training programs (summer programs for both students and adults), programs in business administration, work/study programs, e-learning, and undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Distance e-learning programs are likely to see increased opportunities, as changes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have introduced many more students to this format. Summer online courses, as well as year-round courses, may appeal to local students.
Greek education partners have participated in Virtual Education Fairs (VEF) organized by the U.S. Commercial Service with U.S. education institutions. Virtual programs are a cost-effective way for U.S. education institutions to market their services in Southeast Europe. The lack of agents and consultants in Greece makes it harder for Greek students to research education options in the U.S. Public schools are limited in the assistance they provide; however, private schools do assist students. Fulbright Greece has an EducationUSA office that also provides counsel.
DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES
The most popular social media sites in Greece are Facebook and Instagram, with TikTok increasing in users. The most common platform used by schools to connect with their students is WebEx. Private schools also use Microsoft Teams, Blackboard, ManageBac, and Zoom. Greek students use Google for their research, but private institutions also provide their students with access to platforms like Euromonitor, EBSCO, Statista, and the Economist as extra academic information sources. Moreover, private institutions maintain digital libraries for research. Greek public universities use an Integrated Library System and are connected in a common database such as OPAC, which allows access to digital libraries abroad for more advanced searches. Job opportunities are announced online through LinkedIn and KARIERA - a Greek job search platform. The most popular platforms for streaming videos are YouTube and Netflix. Schools advertise their programs through TV ads and social media. Moreover, some schools organize career days. Greece, being a small country, gives easy access for parents to receive educational information, especially if they live in Athens or Thessaloniki, the country’s two largest cities.
Greece has a large diaspora in the United States. Outreach to diaspora organizations and local Greek Consulates in the U.S. may help attract more Greek students. Virtual forums and education fairs may be additional ways to increase visibility in the Greek market.
EVENTS
There are no major education fairs in Greece. Private schools and Embassies organize forums that allow for matchmaking between local students and foreign universities. There have been ad hoc events developed with the U.S. Embassy to promote study in the U.S.
RESOURCES
There are many education institutions in Greece that share a U.S. connection. Below you may briefly see U.S. affiliated-schools and educational programs in Greece:
- Fulbright Foundation in Greece
- American School of Classical Studies at Athens
- The American College of Greece
- ALBA Graduate Business School
- American Farm School/Perrotis College
- Anatolia College/American College of Thessaloniki
- University of Indianapolis
- College Year in Athens
- Hellenic-American Educational Foundation (Athens College-Psychiko College)
- Hellenic American University
- Hellenic American College
- Pinewood-American International School of Thessaloniki
- American Community Schools (ACS)
- City Unity College
- New York College
- International School of Athens
- Arcadia University in Greece
- School of American Law for Greece and Cyprus IIT Chicago Kent College of Law
Web resources
- https://trade.gov/greece
- https://trade.gov/education-industry
- www.trade.gov/professional-and-business-service
- https://www.fulbright.gr/en
- https://www.iie.org/opendoors/
- https://gr.usembassy.gov/
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Education_and_training_in_the_EU_-_facts_and_figures
U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT
Maria Georgousi, Commercial Assistant
U.S. Commercial Service – Athens, Greece
Email : Maria.Georgousi@trade.gov
Phone: +30-6942474955