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This paper explores the processes, tensions, opportunities and constraints that migrant youth in Greek higher educational institutions experience at the present time which are characterised by social crises, economic austerity and political instability. In doing so, we also put forward an agenda of critical and feminist pedagogies in developing inclusive spaces of educational citizenship and social justice. Building on a larger collaborative study on youth and migration, this paper draws on a sample of 130 interviews with women and men second generation migrants who are currently, or have been in the past, university students at various institutions in Greece. Migrant youth expanding on their aspirations and capacities harness a developmental pathway of cosmopolitan pedagogies which alter their circumstances and social possibilities. The paper advances alternative discourses in crafting spaces of anti-oppression in the academy through a feminist lens which will cultivate learning communities of equity, justice and reflexivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children from Roma communities are consistently among the lowest academic achievers in many European countries and this holds true in Greece. In Greek schools, Roma students experience high dropout rates and low performance compared to their non-Roma peers. Moreover, in Greece, as elsewhere, Roma experience wide-spread discrimination. Drawing on a set of in-depth interviews with 20 Greek Roma who have entered higher education, this paper examines how these participants account for their educational success. In particular, this article analyses the influence of 'community factors' on the participants' academic progression. This article highlights aspects of the Greek case of Roma's educational success that may contribute towards addressing aspects related to Roma's educational exclusion and promoting educational progression in the European context more widely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today’s single market, standardization helps integrate market requirements and reduce costs, and standards ensure compatibility, quality, safety and efficiency. The impact of standards is highly dependent on the level of knowledge among the workforce. Knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience in standardization add value to professions and roles in many fields. The rising awareness and spread knowledge about standardization are globally-recognised as a powerful tool to assure public safety having a proficient workforce, bring new technologies to market and drive future businesses. The paper presents the main results of research aiming to identify what is the expectations and requirements of the lecturers and students of five EU countries, namely Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Latvia, and Romania, for a standardization course. What are opinions, and attitudes of the faculty staff as well as the students regarding the standards focused education? How the integration of the standards’ focused training into HE could be facilitated and improved? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses alienation from the more-than-human world and the need for nature pedagogies through the experience of nature journaling in an environmental education course in higher education. Students at a University Department of Early Childhood Education in Greece engaged in nature journaling through an assignment that encouraged them to explore their connection with the more-than-human world and reflect on their experience. The research results revealed different ways that the students experienced and connected with the more-than-human world. Nature journaling appeared to be a multilayered pedagogical tool of experience, collaboration, participation, reflection and enjoyment in environmental teaching and learning in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Higher Education, inclusion and the enhancement of equality of opportunities and practices appeal as imperative, in most Western societies' laws. Inclusive education literature, however, reveals that despite inclusion's strong advocacy, delivery remains problematic, as beyond the surface of institutional policy, the reality of university life for students with disabilities may be one of continued exclusion and barriers to learning. Furthermore, in many countries, including Greece, the voices of students with disabilities appear significantly under-represented, not only in policy-making processes and practices, but also in the area of research. Purpose: In the light of the above, this paper aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of 32 students with disabilities on: education in Higher Education Institutions in Greece, the impending transition to paid employment and future aspirations. Method: The paper is based on a qualitative study where data were collected through semi-structured interviews with university students with disabilities. Data were analysed according to the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: Complex and rich accounts divulged specific issues, such as physical access and access to academic knowledge, quality of available support, interactions with tutors and fellow students, as well as perceived factors that may hinder the transition into the labour market. The results of the study also confirmed that students with disabilities are capable of asserting their needs, challenging institutional discrimination issues and proposing more inclusive alternatives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for reconsidering and refining institutional policies and practices in relation to issues of disability and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a qualitative study of youth identities in Greece, the paper unpacks the dynamic processes of ethnonational (dis)identification and belonging that Albanian young migrants are implicated in. Analysis of in-depth interviews illustrates how racism, coupled with their lack of citizenship, affects their (dis)identifications. Additionally, categorisation is reported to crucially mediate their belonging, giving rise to a double-edged sense of otherness and alienation. The paper concludes by putting forward a conceptualisation of young migrants' collective identities as involving the emotive dialectic of (dis)identification, categorisation and belonging, along with negotiation of boundaries and acceptance by 'others' in both home and settlement societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, Greece has been the dominant receiver of large waves of both migrants and refugees. Taking into consideration that (a) immigration (and the displacement of people from their homes in general) is a social phenomenon, (b) education has a significant influence on the development process and access to education is absolutely a fundamental human right, (c) real development calls for improved educational opportunities and access for all citizens without any discrimination, and (d) the lives of young refugees have been impacted by negative experiences, then the purpose of this paper is to investigate, through qualitative analysis, the access and the opportunities that the Greek higher education system offers to young refugees (if they wish to enter) and to identify possible barriers raised by existing educational policy. A qualitative survey was conducted by analysing the relevant Greek legislative framework and by using structured interviews with key personnel of refugee support organizations and higher education institutions (HEIs), both public and private. This study supports the view that higher education should aim to remove any barriers to accessibility, have a humanitarian orientation, ensure equality and constitute a key step in the whole process of socialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to explore the desired wine tourism experience of young adults in Greece. While increased attention has been paid by researchers to age-related differences regarding wine tourism, young wine tourists in Greece have not received academic attention to date. This study addresses this gap in the literature, focusing particularly on the context of the winery visitation experience. More specifically, a list of attributes of the winery visit was adopted for testing and a sample of 156 higher education students participating in a field trip to a winery were asked to rate the importance and performance of each attribute. The study was undertaken within an Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) framework. As indicated from the empirical findings, the core product of the winery experience appears to have limited appeal to young consumers, who have other priorities when visiting a winery. These include enjoying the scenery and food, socialising, and undertaking non-wine related activities. They are also particularly price sensitive. The final section considers the implications of these findings for winery managers and future research into the wine-related experiences of young markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate whether educational leadership in Greece implements the values of total quality management and contributes to the improvement of the educational process, and to offer proposals for a framework of total quality management that would contribute to an improvement in the overall quality of the education process. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on theoretical analysis and on the current legislative framework. Three different aspects of the Greek education system are critically reviewed and discussed. Findings – This study recognises that, due mainly to the lack of a long-term educational strategy, the absence of an educational leadership development programme and limited financial support, the Greek educational system needs to review its structure and procedures - even those that are "taken for granted". Research limitations/implications – Given the differences between education and industry, and the fact that only three different aspects of the Greek education system are investigated here, more research and analysis would be required in this field. Practical implications – The paper is useful to educational planners and policy makers. From the perspective of total quality management, there may be a substantial impact on the improvement mechanisms and outputs in education, contributing to a country's social and economic well-being. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the better understanding of the value of total quality management in education, and offers recommendations that may be more widely adopted, and may contribute to an enhancement of overall educational quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In part due to the increased demand for higher education, typical evaluation frameworks for universities often address the key issue of available resource utilisation. This study seeks to estimate the efficiency of 20 public universities in Greece through quantitative analysis (including performance indicators, data envelopment analysis (DEA) and econometric procedures). The findings show inefficiency in terms of human resources management while also identifying a clear opportunity to increase research activity and hence research income. In addition to the immediate findings, this paper more broadly discusses the methodology behind the evaluation process used in this investigation and its potential to more consistently and reliably evaluate the efficiency of resource management by public universities. This paper is set against, and hopes to contribute to, the broader debate on reforming the management and administration system of Greek universities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to identify the quality determinants for education services provided by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Greece and to measure their relative importance from the students' points of view. Design/mthodology/approach – A multi-criteria decision-making methodology was used for assessing the relative importance of quality determinants that affect student satisfaction. More specifically, the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used in order to measure the relative weight of each quality factor. Findings – The relative weights of the factors that contribute to the quality of educational services as it is perceived by students was measured. Research limitations/implications – The research is based on the questionnaire of the Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. This implies that the measured weights are related mainly to questions posed in this questionnaire. However, the applied method (AHP) can be used to assess different quality determinants. Practical implications – The outcome of this study can be used in order to quantify internal quality assessment of HEIs. More specifically, the outcome can be directly used by HEIs for assessing quality as perceived by students. Originality/value – The paper attempts to develop insights into comparative evaluations of quality determinants as they are perceived by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Using Bourdieu-inspired sociological literature, this paper aims to report on a study that examines the educational choices of new entrants in the three library and information science (LIS) schools operating in Greece at the undergraduate level, with reference to their socio-cultural characteristics. Design/methodology/approach - Data were obtained through a questionnaire, distributed to 187 LIS students, aiming to address the question of what attracted them to the LIS field. Findings - Analysis reveals three distinctive student groups in the sample and shows that these differ in respect to the reasons attracting them to LIS. The first group, with restricted cultural resources at their disposal, is attracted only by extrinsic reasons, namely the prospect of immediate employment. The second group, of middle level parental education, is attracted by intrinsic reasons, most notably the qualitative characteristics of the field as a future profession. This group seems to use these qualities to preserve the belief in an upwards moving and successful educational career. Qualities attracting the students of the third group, when examined with reference to their socio-cultural characteristics, indicate that the choice of subject made is linked to their socially acquired ability to recognise what may be promising regarding possible future LIS career paths. This is in contrast to students from low socio-cultural backgrounds, who seem not to have access to the high cultural resources the LIS field requires for "decoding" and understanding its hidden possibilities. Originality/value - This paper uses socio-cultural explanations of students' choice of LIS as a field of study, contributing methodologically and substantively to this area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at presenting disability issues in library and information science education in general and in Greece in particular. It also examines whether issues such as people with disabilities, accessibility, alternative format material and assistive technologies are incorporated in the library schools' curricula. Furthermore, the results of this study depict that library education still focuses on services for non-disabled users and the level of awareness of the needs of disabled library users' is lower than necessary. This paper is useful for all stakeholders in the LIS field (faculty and students) so as to help them understand the importance of library services for people with disabilities, review their curricula and finally, incorporate disabled patrons in them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the reasons for enrolment demand in higher education in Greece through data collected from 400 students enrolled in the final year of post-secondary education in the Athens area. Results showed that Greek students choose to follow higher studies for a number of reasons but mainly because higher education offers high-level knowledge that creates career opportunities. Family monthly income appeared to be an influential factor in the demand for higher education in Greece since, among those students from families with a greater monthly income, those who had not passed the entrance exams for Greek universities had more opportunities to pursue higher studies abroad. This paper identifies that a more appropriate response, on the part of higher education, to the needs and demands of the labour market could help prevent employment mismatches and so minimise graduate unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a brief review of the development of Greek libraries in order to provide a context for the later papers on education for library and information studies in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate, through empirical analysis, whether or not post-graduate students choose information technology or other information sources such as home institution libraries for the purposes of learning, expanding their knowledge and/or completing their studies. A survey was conducted to gather primary source data for the paper. Questionnaires were administered to 211 education post-graduate students. Results showed that Greek post-graduate students from different fields of study chose the Internet as their primary information source for a number of reasons but mainly: for the provision of creditable and up-to-date information, for easy access to information at home, for the time of day they can access the material and for fast information retrieval. Although the Greek post-graduate students believed the Greek information network to be satisfactory up to a degree, this paper identifies that greater access to Internet resources, training programs providing students with tools to effectively use the network''s resources and more online databases, combined with a historical and statistical database of libraries’ online catalogs are key issues in improving both information source performance and the link between strategy and implementation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper presents the findings of a study of the decision-making process which precedes the choice of a university in Greece. Specifically, the degree of rationality exhibited by prospective students is assessed in an attempt to provide a test for the economic approach to the explanation of human behaviour. Information search is used as an indication of rationality and measured through a survey conducted among 220 university students in the academic year 2003/2004. The findings provide weak support for the rationality postulate in that they indicate that more than 40% of respondents could not be classified as information seekers. Logistic regression analysis was used in order to identify characteristics associated with the propensity to engage in information search: high socioeconomic status students, students who perceived the decision as important, and students who had acquired information prior to the choice of a university were found to be more likely to engage in information search. The paper draws attention to the limitations of the economic rational man model of human behaviour and discusses the implications of the findings for the promotional strategy of universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a framework for the education of ESOL teachers that is inspired by principles grounded in research on English as a lingua franca (ELF) and world Englishes (WE). The essential feature of such a framework is that it involves interested teachers in a critical reorientation of their beliefs toward English language teaching, learning and communication. This transformative framework informs what we call the 'ELF-aware' teacher education component. We then present a framework for a transformative perspective for ELF-aware and WE-aware teachers and describe the phases of a teacher education project that attempted to put this framework into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main reason for the Greek student migration depends on the exclusion from the Greek university system. But this push factor does not exhaust the explanation for the Greek student mobility. By using the findings of a field study in Italy, this paper highlights that the acquisition of foreign educational credentials is considered as an attempt to obtain a more valuable form of education through mobility. Furthermore, it stresses the relationship between mobility and the accumulation of cultural capital through international education whereby the mobility of Greek students tends to create social reproduction in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the accounting curriculum fits business demand. More specifically, it determines competencies that Greek companies demand from higher education[1] graduates and addresses any mismatches between the market's needs and the academic accounting/business curriculum through a survey in Greece. Design/methodology/approach -- Using a survey to reveal their perceptions' differences, the sample included 166 students, 25 lecturers/professors from a department of Accounting and Finance (Higher Education) and 155 companies. Findings -- The results provide evidence that all these groups have different perceptions of the curriculum. Practical implications -- The study suggests ways to improve the academic accounting curriculum. Originality/value -- To the best of the authors knowledge, there is not any previous study that examines these parameters in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the structure of an undergraduate course entitled ‘programming techniques and the use of specialised software in structural engineering’ which is offered to the fifth (final) year students of the Civil Engineering Department of Aristotle University Thessaloniki in Greece. The aim of this course is to demonstrate the use of new information technologies in the field of structural engineering and to teach modern programming and finite element simulation techniques that the students can in turn apply in both research and everyday design of structures. The course also focuses on the physical interpretation of structural engineering problems, in a way that the students become familiar with the concept of computational tools without losing perspective from the engineering problem studied. For this purpose, a wide variety of structural engineering problems are studied in class, involving structural statics, dynamics, earthquake engineering, design of reinforced concrete and steel structures as well as data and information management. The main novelty of the course is that it is taught and examined solely in the computer laboratory ensuring that each student can accomplish the prescribed ‘hands-on’ training on a dedicated computer, strictly on a 1:1 student over hardware ratio. Significant effort has also been put so that modern educational techniques and tools are utilised to offer the course in an essentially paperless mode. This involves electronic educational material, video tutorials, student information in real time and exams given and assessed electronically through an ad hoc developed, personalised, electronic system. The positive feedback received from the students reveals that the concept of a paperless course is not only applicable in real academic conditions but is also a promising approach that significantly increases student productivity and engagement. The question, however, is whether such an investment in educational technology is indeed timely during economic recession, where the academic priorities are rapidly changing. In the light of this unfavourable and unstable financial environment, a critical overview of the strengths, the weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats of this effort is presented herein, hopefully contributing to the discussion on the future of higher education in the time of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – The purpose of the research is to investigate education for sustainability (EfS) practice and perceptions in three university contexts in England, Australia and Greece with a view to identify a suitable systems model for effective EfS across the university. Design/methodology/approach – Research tools involved interviews of key people engaged in EfS (n=25) supported by observations plus appropriate documentary analysis as a basis to establish perceived good practice, barriers and ways to improve EfS. Findings – Clear vision, leadership and support for EfS were considered vital, while agreed understanding about the importance, purpose and nature of EfS was necessary to achieve effective EfS across the university. Wide consultation, consensual agreement and collaborative practice were viewed as important to achieve collective views and coordinated action. A distributed model of leadership in which individuals are responsible and collectively empowered to action is relevant to a systems model for EfS. A systems model for coordination of EfS integrates approaches to governance, curriculum and infrastructure management. Details of examples of good practice and ways to improve practice are discussed. Research limitations/implications – As the research was qualitative in design and focussed on three universities, the sample size is restricted and there are limitations in the generalisability of specific results outside of their contexts. However, the overall results have some broadly significant implications and trends that have relevance for the university sector. Practical implications – The structure and processes for an approach to systems organisation and identified good practice, barriers and perceived ways to improve practice have relevance for coordination of EfS across the university sector. Social implications – The findings have significant social implications, as EfS has urgent and important international priority, while universities have important functions in educating the next generation of professionals across a wide range of contexts. Originality/value – The paper is an original contribution to establishing an effective systems model for EfS coordination; hence it is of significant educational and social value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some of the findings that emerged out of a national survey carried out in the school year 2005–2006 in various parts of Greece. The main aim of the study was to explore the effects of various family factors on the student performance in the (national) higher education entrance examinations. From the analysis of data it becomes evident that, despite numerous attempts at educational reform in the Greek education system in the last 30 years, inequalities among students based on family background still exist. The study has shown that the educational level and occupational status of parents represent two of the major factors affecting student performance – directly or indirectly – through their influence on previous achievement. It has also documented that the interplay between economic, cultural and social capital in shaping educational and occupational ‘pathways' is still an immensely important dimension in sociological studies of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, 93 Greek university departments were evaluated according to their academics’ h-index. A representative sample from the fields of social sciences and humanities, sciences, engineering, pharmacy and economics was adopted. In the reported study, 3354 (approximately 1 out of 3) academics serving in Greek universities were evaluated. The number of papers, citations and h-index have been collected for each academic, department, school and university using the Google Scholar scientific database and the citations analysis software program Publish or Perish. Analysis revealed that departments of the same academic discipline but located in different universities are characterised by strong differences on the scientific outcome. In addition, in the majority of the evaluated departments, a significant difference in h-index was observed between academics who report scientific activity on the departments’ website and those who do not. The viability of the adopted method for measuring and ranking the scientific performance of higher education departments proved to be quite high. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the wage returns to qualifications and academic disciplines in the Greek labour market. Exploring wage responsiveness across various degree subjects in Greece is interesting, as it is characterised by high levels of graduate unemployment, which vary considerably with the field of study, and relatively low levels of wage flexibility. Using micro-data from recently available waves (2002-2003) of the Greek Labour Force Survey, the returns to academic disciplines are estimated by gender and public/private sector. Quantile regressions and cohort interactions are also used to capture the heterogeneity in wage returns across the various disciplines. The results show considerable variation in wage premiums across the fields of study, with lower returns for those that have a marginal role to play in an economy with a rising services/shrinking public sector. Educational reforms that pay closer attention to the future prospects of university disciplines are advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to describe students' attitudes enrolled in an electronics and Electrical constructions subject while working in laboratory of electronics science. Especially, the aim of the research is the analysis of the believes, attitudes, understanding and intentions of the Electrical students of Technological Institute of Kozani, Greece in order to estimate the factors that determine the degree of understanding of the subject of electronics constructions and following this the range of its future professional use. The Students' Attitude toward Electronics and Electrical Constructions Subject (SATEECS) scale was developed in order to measure Electrical students of Technological Institutes students' attitudes towards electronics constructions subject. Important variables related to electronics and electrical constructions such as mathematics ability, student anxiety, student confidence, subject difficulty, subject value and gender continue to influence student attitudes. The methods used for the analysis of data were the implicative statistical analysis and the principal components analysis. Implications from the findings of this study are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high level of graduate unemployment, even though it is acknowledged as one of the most distinctive characteristics of the Greek labour market, it has not attracted enough attention in the academic literature. This paper utilizes micro-data from the Labour Force Survey in order to investigate how the employment situation of young (aged 35 and below) graduates varies across fields of study. The findings suggest that graduates of disciplines that have high levels of private sector employment, such as Polytechnics and Computer Science, are in general better off in the Greek labour market. On the other hand, graduates of disciplines that are traditionally related to the needs of the public sector, such as Social and manities, face poor employment prospects. The findings of this study highlight the need for drastic reforms of the Higher Education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the use of action research in a post- graduate teacher education programme. The first part of the article presents the initial education of secondary teachers in Greece, as well as a postgraduate university programme that could be viewed as an alternative pre-service teacher education (PTE) programme, as implemented in a partnership between a tertiary education institution and certain secondary schools. The second part of the article describes the research I conducted during the programme, as an educator and researcher. It is a case study, aiming at investigating how the school-based PTE programme was experienced by its participants, including the student-teachers and myself, as their supervisor and an educator from a tertiary education institution. Data were collected from questionnaire surveys and interviews administered to the student- teachers, as well as from my personal journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper portrays the inferences that employers in Greece draw from particular aspects of study programmes, as recorded on educational qualifications. Based on semi-structured interviews with human resource managers in 37 industrial and service organisations and general directors of careers offices in eight higher education institutions, and building from inductive data processing and analysis, a theoretical model of selection strategies has been developed. The study showed that regardless of the selection methods used by organisations to assess candidates for employment, a great stock of information about the applicants is extracted from aspects of their educational experience, information which refers not only to technical expertise but also to capacity, personality and motivation as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An academic legislative reform of the public university sector was recently initiated in Greece (since 2005). It was designed to respond to the requirements of convergence to a common frame of the European Space of Higher Education. This reform found significant resistance from university personnel and students, resulting in a very slow degree of implementation. A careful examination of possible causes for the slow pace of reform usually points to the reluctance of a significant part of the academic and administrative personnel (tenured public service employees), to follow quality assurance procedures and undergo performance evaluation. Engineering schools, on the other hand, are more apt to adopt such principles, since they are taught in engineering curricula and widely applied in industry and services sectors. In this paper, the authors comparatively describe their experience in applying basic quality principles and practices to the university laboratory environment, motivated by cooperation with industry. The comparative discussion adds insight to the reasons for the resistance of the public higher education sector to quality assurance procedures and indicates specific directions to enhance the dissemination of quality culture in engineering faculties. After two decades of experience with the application and introduction of quality structures in the university and industry, the authors believe that engineering laboratories are a valuable tool in initiating and establishing a quality culture in the Greek higher education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present an overview of current medical education in Greece. Greece has a centuries-long tradition in practising and teaching medicine. Medical training, although rigorous, is particularly humane. All Medical Schools in Modern Greece are currently, undergoing a series of changes in an effort to modernise training. The medical education system is also getting harmonised to European Standards for Higher Education, relating to Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Continuous Medical Education of doctors. A specific strength of the Greek educational system is its ethos that emphasises good working conditions and excellent support and supervision at all levels. The current overhauls in Higher Education occupy students, academics and the society at large. Political issues, such as accountability, regulation and autonomy of academia are generating debate. The two-cycle, Bachelor-Master, Undergraduate Model, as described in the Bologna Declaration is still to be implemented. Quality control measures are currently introduced in all academic sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the differences and similarities of the three library schools educating librarians and information professionals in Greece. The structure of higher education in Greece has recently undergone major changes (2002) integrating technological institutions and universities under one umbrella that of higher education. As a result, technological institutions today are still struggling to find their identity, whilst universities are trying hard to assert their differentiation. Library schools, existing within both types of institution, provide a very good example of how these changes are affecting education processes, field work, professionals, and jobs for graduates. Although Library Schools are all categorized as higher education institutions, they enjoy different status. Library schools spread across two similar, but yet of different types of organisation within the higher education system of Greece also face the challenge of establishing the professional image of their graduates, of modernizing the curricula and of keeping up with the rapid changes demanded by their European and international counterparts. At the same time affiliations of the schools have shaped the corresponding curricula and have marked the image of the profession within the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While entrepreneurship has emerged as an important mechanism for the generation of social returns in terms of economic growth and job creation, entrepreneurship education is still something new in Europe and the debate about the need and the way of introduction of specific entrepreneurship courses in higher education is on going. This paper deals with the introduction of entrepreneurship education in engineering curricula. More specific it presents the experience of the National Technical University in Greece, as a case in point for discussing the need of an interdisciplinary approach in designing engineering curricula. The main argument is that the introduction of entrepreneurship education in University curricula should not result as an application of policy initiatives only related to economic imperatives. It should be part of a more general discussion related to educational priorities and of a strategic design of University curricula in order to provide engineers with entrepreneurial and management skills that will enhance their profile in accordance with the new requirements of the knowledge-based economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses census data to investigate educational inequality in different types of residential areas in Athens, focusing on drop‐out rates from secondary education, access to higher education and to particular degrees within it. The unequal socio‐spatial distribution of educational attainment is linked to antagonistic middle class education strategies centred on school choice. Different forms of such strategies are identified broadly corresponding to different groups within the middle class hierarchy. Each form of school choice strategy has a particular relation to residential segregation. The latter is growing as a result, but under various forms and spatial scales that sometimes challenge the usual assumptions for the evaluation of neighbourhood effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globalization of education, with its multiple associations with the growth of the knowledge society, the increasing penetration of market forces in higher education and the treatment of education as an exportable good, supplied in different forms and by various providers, exerts the need for systematic quality assurance in higher education. In Europe, the Bologna Process has urged member-states to respond quickly to the impact of globalization by facilitating tertiary assessment mechanisms to make European education attractive to foreign ‘consumers’ and at the same time to prevent academic migration to the USA. At present, Greece is among those member-states lacking some type of formal tertiary evaluation. The paper examines socio-political and economic conditions in which hostility towards quality assurance has developed. It discusses the prospects of Greece's converging towards the quality goals of the European Higher Education Area. This case goes beyond the limits of a strictly technical debate about the implementation of evaluation procedures or what its criteria ought to be, with the purpose of presenting the broader socio-political and economic background that influences the enactment and operation of quality assurance in Greece.Higher Education Policy (2006) 19, 433–445. doi:10.1057/palgrave.hep.8300132 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small scale study using qualitative methodology is presented. The paper identifies differences in revising for exams between Greek first and fourth year psychology students. In-depth interviews, were conducted with eight first year and seven fourth year students. Students’ studying activities in revising for exams were explored. The interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify categories of description. The findings indicate differences between first and fourth year students in the aim of studying, studying activities and perceptions of tutor’s demands. First year students appeared mainly rote learners while their fourth year counterparts were mainly strategic. A “deep-strategic approach”, the repetitive reading in revising, the role of episodic memory in understanding and in the development of knowledge objects are discussed. The study suggests the mediating role of the Greek examination system in revising strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any attempt to upgrade the status of a profession will focus on the qualification required and acquired by those who practice it. The technical teacher profession is no exception. This paper provides an analysis of trends and concerns associated with the initial training of technical teachers in Greece. The tone for the discussion is set by pointing out the role of higher education in the field and the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the two models in use. The curricular pathways the models aspire to offer are examined with reference to the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE), the sole higher institution in Greece for the education and training of teachers of technical and vocational subjects. Central to this is how the teaching practice system employed at ASPETE offers a powerful ‘tool’ for the preparation of prospective technical teachers and of the ‘learning’ professionals of the future. Toute tentative de révision à la hausse du statut d'une profession se concentrera sur les qualifications requises et acquises par ceux qui la pratiquent. La profession de professeur de technique ne fait pas exception à la règle. Le texte offre une analyse des orientations et préoccupations associées avec la formation initiale des professeurs de technique en Grèce. Dans un premier temps, le ton de la discussion est fixé en soulignant le rôle que joue le système d'enseignement supérieur au sein du milieu ainsi que les forces et faiblesses des deux modèles utilisés. Les avenues pédagogiques que les modèles aspirent à offrir sont examinées en référence avec l'Ecole Supérieure d'Enseignement Pédagogique et Technologique (ASPETE), la seule institution d'études supérieures qui soit vouée à l'éducation et à la formation d'enseignants spécialisés en matières techniques. Un aspect central de cette étude concerne la façon dont le système de pratique à l'enseignement utilisé à l'ASPETE offre un outil important pour la préparation des futurs enseignants en technique, ou encore pour la préparation des professionnels ‘en apprentissage’ de l'avenir. Todo intento de aumentar de nivel el status de una profesión, se enfoca en las cualidades requeridas y adquiridas por quienes la practican. La profesión del profesor técnico no es una excepción. Este articulo analiza tendencias y preocupaciones asociadas a la educación inicial de profesores técnicos en Grecia. Se establece el panorama para la discusión, puntualizando el papel de la educación superior en el tema, así como las fortalezas y debilidades que se perciben en cada uno de los dos modelos en aplicación. El camino curricular que los modelos intentan ofrecer, son examinados con referencia a la Escuela de Educación Pedagógica y Tecnológica (ASPETE), la única institución superior en Grecia dedicada a la educación y formación de profesores en materias técnicas y vocacionales. Es esencial para esto, cómo el sistema de práctica de la enseñanza aplicado por ASPETE, ofrece una herramienta poderosa para la formación de los futuros profesores técnicos o, en cambio, los profesionales del futuro que ‘aprenden’. Jeder Versuch einen beruflichen Qualitätsstandard zu verbessern, wird sich auf die erforderliche und erworbene Qualifikation derjenigen konzentrieren, die den entsprechenden Beruf ausüben.Der Beruf des Techniklehrers macht da keine Ausnahme. Dieses Papier liefert eine Analyse von wesentlichen Aspekten der Erstausbildung von Techniklehrern in Griechenland und deren aktuellen Trends.Der Tenor der Diskussion wird durch den Hinweis auf die Rolle der Hochschulausbildung in diesem Bereich geprägt und durch die erkannten Stärken und Schwächen der beiden Ausbildungsmodelle, die zur Zeit in diesem Bereich angewandt werden.Die in den Modellen angebotenen curricularen Ausbildungsgänge werden unter Berücksichtigung der Situation an der Schule für Pädagogische und Technologische Ausbildung (ASPETE) untersucht. Die ASPETE ist die einzige Hochschuleinrichtung in Griechenland für die Ausbildung und Schulung von Lehrern von technischen und anderen berufsbildenden Fächern.Von zentraler Bedeutung für diesen Themenkomplex ist die Frage, inwieweit das ‘System der Begleiteten Praktischen Unterrichtserfahrung’, das an der ASPETE zur Anwendung kommt, eine effizientes ‘Instrument’ für die Vorbereitung der angehenden Techniklehrer ist, oder anders gesagt, für die ‘sich ständig selber weiterbildenden’ Ausbilder der Zukunft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the way the national higher education entry examinations in Greece are used to determine entry into the 100 percent government-controlled state tertiary education system. The database refers to the population of all secondary education graduates taking (or not taking) the June 2000 national secondary school examination. There is considerable achievement variation across regions and types of school. Poor districts, evening schools, and state schools are associated with lower achievement. Private schools are associated with higher achievement, even controlling for parental schooling and wealth. Regardless of the student's achievement in the national examinations, entry each year is mainly determined by the number of available places. Given the fact the state cannot afford to provide free access to all those who want entry, the non-university cycle has expanded rapidly to accommodate a greater number of students into ``higher education technological institutes'' that are most frequently not the candidates' first choice. Thus, the fable of Procrustes is revived in modern Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WWW has turned into a development and run-time environment for large-scale and complex applications. Such sophisticated applications are being deployed in increasing numbers without having been developed according to appropriate methodologies and quality standards. The main reason for this ad hoc development philosophy is the lack of specialised training/education on the web engineering subject domain. This domain/discipline is new, still immature and has recently started getting the attention of researchers, developers, and other major players in the web-based application development market and training market. There is now justifiable and increasing concern about the manner in which students and lifelong learners are well educated and trained in this new discipline. It's also only one year ago that few universities have started providing special courses on this discipline and offer seminars to lifelong learners. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) decided to tackle the didactic need on this subject field, by offering to its postgraduate students one semester course called “Internet Publishing”. In this paper an overview of the course, its web-enriched delivery method as well as the quantitative and qualitative results extracted after an evaluation study which occurred during the autumn semester 1999–2000, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is part (and the outcome,) of my research on the inequality of access to Higher Education in Greece. Al) main focus will be the higher education entry National Examinations (`Genikes Exetasis,). Although my main data refer to the case of the metropolitan area of Athens, in this paper I will deal with inequalities of access to higher education at national level. I intend to show the differentiation, not just between, or within, the various higher education establishments and their respective disciplines (`hierarchisation of knowledge), but also between the various occupations in the labour market (`hierarchisation of occupations',). This will be done, after a brief reference to the international debates on the equally of opportunities in schools, the evolution of the Greek school system, and the relation between the structure of the school system and the main characteristics of the Greek job market. By using national statistics, I will construct some `Indices of Educational Opportunities' that show the patterns of `distribution' of students in the various universities and oilier higher education institutes. The students will be categorised according to their parents' occupation and educational level (i.e. father's occupational category, and father's and mother's level of education). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of higher education on women's fertility decisions. To address the endogeneity of non-compulsory education participation, I focus on an increase in the supply of higher education and a concurrent schooling reform that jointly expanded higher education opportunities in Greece in year 2000. Drawing data from the 10% sample of the 2011 Population Census, I use the exogenous variation introduced by the first grade enrollment age cutoff to apply a Regression Discontinuity Design comparing educational attainment and fertility for women that were just, and just not exposed to the reforms. The probability of giving birth before age 30 decreases by around 20 percentage points for women who completed higher education because they were exposed to the reforms. Career outcomes for employed women with higher education improve, while fertility decreases at ages following graduation, suggesting that the result is primarily driven by the increasing opportunity cost of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]