ACG celebrates centenary in Washington, DC

The American College of Greece celebrated the 100th anniversary of its operations in Greece with a public discussion in Washington, DC on March 2 on the role of education as a pillar of growth and US-Greek ties in the presence of high-level diplomats and business leaders from both countries. 

The discussion centered on the long-standing ties between ACG and American academic institutions and the US business community, while also focusing on its top-quality education and research programs. Finally, they also highlighted the important economic and social impact ACG has had on Greece and beyond.

At a time of strong bilateral relations between Greece and the US, the discussion also sought to assist the diplomatic efforts of both governments through educational partnerships and people-to-people ties, as well as deepening cooperation with potential donors and academic partners in the US.

“It [ACG] plays a vital role in promoting growth and innovation,” noted the chair of the ACG Board of Trustees, and former ambassador to Greece, Daniel Smith, in his welcome address, adding that it “is more than a pillar of American education.”

“To add distinctive and sustainable value to students, Greece, American education, Hellenic heritage and the global community through transformative teaching, scholarship, and service,” said ACG President Dr David Horner of the college’s mission, noting that it is a “mighty micro-pillar” in both Greece and the United States and pointed to its 65,000 alumni.

The ACG president also presented an update on the ACG Institute for Hellenic Growth and Prosperity that provides support to Greece’s shift towards a market-based economy and to the development of high-growth potential pillars of the Greek economy through three Centers of Excellence, a Research, Technology, and Innovation Network, and a planned Innovation Hub at the Demokritos National Center for Scientific Research, as well as the ACG – Research Center to facilitate tech transfer and incubate startups.

The State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Erika Olson said that the US government supports exchange programs, as they empower students and help develop deeper international ties. In fact, she noted that Greece is the ninth most popular study-abroad location for US students, while Greece is the eighth EU country in the number of students it sends to the US.

“I have not heard of another country so ready for opportunities as Greece is,” said the US State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Ethan Rosenzweig during a panel discussion titled “Education as a Pillar of US-Greece Relations.” He also highlighted the value of programs such as the Fulbright Scholarship and the exchanges of the Digital Communications Network, noting that educational exchanges ensure that students are exposed to different cultures, share technical information, and maintain relationships for future collaboration.

Greek Ambassador to the United States Alexandra Papadopoulou noted that education lies at the heart of the Greek cultural system and is greatly valued as the key to personal and economic advancement. She added that educational partnerships and exchanges can help bring people together.

In the discussion about the role of education as a pillar for growth with business leaders from the US, Greece, and the Hellenic diaspora in the US, the president of the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Nikolaos Bakatselos, noted the need for further developing technology skills. As he stressed, Greece will have a shortage of 7,500 tech professionals in the next seven years, a need that can be satisfied by focusing on technology training and STEM education.

From her part, the president of the Hellenic Innovation Network, entrepreneur and writer, Marina Hatsopoulos, noted the need for other skills, such as grant-proposal writing, and expanded on the value of startups in job creation, social mobility, and reversing the brain drain. As she noted, the startup ecosystem is just beginning and will need another five to 10 years to come to full fruition, in turn attracting more people to Greece.

Finally, the senior director of education policy at Microsoft, Allyson Knox, argued that “the unique aspect of Greece is that the sky’s the limit” – noting that young people need to be part of the innovation process that is bound to lead to greater growth. She stressed that if the Microsoft Artificial Intelligence online course in Greece is any indication, 4 million engagements “prove that the Greek people are interested and hungry to attain more knowledge in AI.”

The ACG event in Washington was organized under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in the US and in collaboration with the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, while Kathimerini English Edition was the event’s media partner.