The Internationalization of Higher Education can be defined as a pivotal strategy adopted by academic institutions in order to holistically address their three core mandates: pedagogy, scholarly research, and innovation-driven progress. The term ‘internationalization’ encompasses both global and intercultural dimensions, and these elements must be deeply embedded within the institutional ethos to materialize the vision of internationalization truly.

Such international endeavors typically encompass:
Mobility programs for students and academic staff.
Incorporation of internationalization strategies within domestic settings.
Global academic courses and curriculum structures.
Collaborative engagements in global academic consortiums.

Implementation of standardized policies such as the Bologna Process Instruments, the Erasmus Identification Mechanism, and the Pan-European Joint Academic Qualifications.

Furthermore, the facet of Scientific Diplomacy underscores the confluence of international relations and academic scholarship.

Yet, challenges persist in achieving the European Commission’s ambitious objective of facilitating physical mobility for half of the student population within Europe, a strategy conceived to propagate European ideals intra-continentally and internationally. Barriers to this aspiration include linguistic disparities, financial constraints, administrative hurdles, country-specific legislative impediments, and barriers rooted in cultural and personal motivations.

To elucidate institutional stances on the subject of higher education’s internationalization, the ATHENA European University Alliance is set to commemorate Erasmus Days 2023 by orchestrating a symposium. Esteemed panelists will convene to delineate their experiential insights, challenges faced, and strategic recommendations for university administrations on amplifying support for internationalization endeavors. This discourse is scheduled for the 11th of October, 2023, commencing at 10:00 Central European Time (CET) and will be broadcast via the Zoom digital platform.

 
The presentations and discussions will last 60 minutes. Our panelists will be: 
  1. Professor Aikaterini Kampasi, Vice Rector, Ionian University, Greece
  2. Emeritus Professor, Ioannis Kaliakatsos, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece
  3. Professor María Isabel del Pozo Triviño, VIce-Rector for Internationalisation, Universidade de Vigo, Spain
  4. Professor Sanja Pekovic, Vice-rector for Internationalisation, University of Montenegro, Montenegro
  5. Ass. Professor Christos Michalakelis, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece
  6. Alexandra Letourneur, Administrative head, European and International Office, University of Orleans, France
  7. Dr. Ewelina Panas, Rector`s Proxy for Internationalisation of Education, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland
Moderator: Assistant Professor Geroge Kakavelakis, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece
Professor Aikaterini Kampasi, Vice Rector, Ionian University, Greece

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extraversion

kkabassi@ionio.gr

Emeritus Professor, Ioannis Kaliakatsos, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece

Emeritus Professor, Ioannis Kaliakatsos, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece

giankal@hmu.gr

Professor María Isabel del Pozo Triviño, VIce-Rector for Internationalisation, Universidade de Vigo, Spain

Professor María Isabel del Pozo Triviño, VIce-Rector for Internationalisation, Universidade de Vigo, Spain

mdelpozo@uvigo.es

Professor Sanja Pekovic, Vice-rector for Internationalisation, University of Montenegro, Montenegro

Professor Sanja Pekovic, Vice-rector for Internationalisation, University of Montenegro, Montenegro

srna@ucg.ac.me

Sanja Pekovic holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Paris-EST. She is a Full Professor at
the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management and the Vice-Rector for Internationalization at the
University of Montenegro. She is Associate Researcher at the University Paris-Dauphine Between
2006 and 2011, she was a Researcher at the Center for Labor Studies (Centre d’Eudes de l’Emploi)
and Lecturer at the University Paris-EST. Her research interests are quality and environmental
economics, the economics of innovation, and applied econometrics. On this topic, she has presented
studies at national and international scientific congresses, which have been published in
international journals. Dr. Pekovic was a visiting scholar at the INRASupArgo (Montpellier), at the
University of Montenegro (Podgorica), at the Laboratoire CNRS UMI 2615 Franco-Russe PONCELET
(Moscow), and at the Institute of Environment, UCLA (Los Angeles), etc.

Ass. Professor Christos Michalakelis, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece

Ass. Professor Christos Michalakelis, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece

michalak@studyingreece.edu.gr

Alexandra Letourneur, dministrative head of Polytech Orleans IRO, University of Orleans, France

Alexandra Letourneur, Administrative head, European and International Office, University of Orleans, France

alexandra.letourneur@univ-orleans.fr

Dr. Ewelina Panas, Rector`s Proxy for Internationalisation of Education, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland

Dr. Ewelina Panas, Rector`s Proxy for Internationalisation of Education, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland

ewelina.panas@mail.umcs.pl

Ph.D. in social sciences, scientific speciality: the science of international relations (June 2013). The winner of the contest PRELUDIUM and research grant beneficiary of the National Center for Science (implemented in 2012-2014). Member of the Polish Association of International Studies (member of the audit committee PTSM Department in Lublin), a member of the Polish Political Science Association, a member of the International Political Science Association, a member of the Polish Association of European Studies. The author of articles on the functioning of civil society organizations, diplomacy, international law and international security.