ERASMUS CHANGING LIVES OPENING MINDS fOR 25 YEARS

Katerina
Galanaki-
Spiliotopoulos
‘My university’s motto for Erasmus – keep flying high’
Home institution:
Athens University of Economics
and Business, Greece
Field of study/job title:
Head of International Relations
Year became active in Erasmus:
1987
With a large number of partnership agreements, the Athens University of Economics
and Business is truly European in its outlook. During Katerina Galanaki-
Spiliotopoulos’ time at the University, the number of incoming students each year
has risen from 3 to 300. Setting up partnerships takes a lot of time however. ‘Before
visiting a new Erasmus partner, I collect details on the institution, its academic
structure, its study programmes, linguistic issues and facilities offered to students.
My aim is to gather as much information as possible to establish a new Erasmus
arrangement which leads to good quality in student mobility.’
As well as benefitting students, the impact on her has been significant. ‘I have
established excellent relations and made wonderful friends and colleagues all
over Europe with whom today we have good contact and we fully trust each other.
We are always able to solve problems for our students with a spirit of understanding
and excellent cooperation.’ This personal aspect has been key to making the
Erasmus exchange programme fly.
Partner universities’ arrangements are often familiar but not always. ‘We noticed
differences with some universities mainly in their academic calendar which created
an obstacle to mobility, in housing and in cultural issues.’ For her good personal
relationships can help students overcome practical problems, while tools
such as the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) enable
academic differences to be accommodated.
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