NKUA - History and Perspectives
Profile
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest state institution of higher learning in Greece, and among the largest universities in Europe. As all other Greek universities, it is a self-governed legal entity of public law and all major policy issues are determined by the Ministry of National Education and Religion. Retaining its academic autonomy, it fully respects the constitutionally secured right to everyone for a free education. This is possible because it is funded by the state. Moreover, It is progressively succeeding to benefit from its property and legacies, as well as from the funding of research projects with national and international partners. All funds are invested into the management and operation of educational, research and cultural programmes, into student and staff services and grants.With a student body of about 80,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, over 2.000 members of academic staff and approximately 1.300 administrative and secretarial staff and specialised personnel, the University of Athens aims at excellence in both teaching and research in a significantly varied range of disciplines.
From past to present
The University of Athens, inaugurated on 3rd May 1837, was first housed in a neoclassical residence, on the northeastern side of the Acropolis, renovated today and operating as the University Museum. Initially named "Othonian University" after Greece's first King, Othon, it consisted of 4 academic units and 52 students. As it was the first university in the newly established modern Greek state, as well as in the Balkans and the Eastern Meditarranean region, its socio-historically significant role has been decisive for the production of particular knowledge and culture in the country.
In 1841 the administrative services and education units were transferred to what is presently known the "main building" of the University of Athens which, in 1932 was officially named National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in honour of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, after the nation's independence. Today, this building houses the Rectorate, the Senate, the Great Hall of Ceremonies and important central services. Its forecourt, the propylaeum, is socio-historically significant as it has served as a main site for political rallies and demonstrations by students and other social groups involved in social rights movements.
Until the early part of the 20th century, the University of Athens was the only university in Greece that provided the Greek society with qualified professionals in medicine, in the physical and social sciences, in law and economics, in archeology and in education as well as in the clergy. In its many years of operation, it has offered the country a centre of intellectual production, stimulating intellectual circles functioning inside and outside its premises. Moreover, it has and still offers important social services as its academic staff regularly serves on national and international committees, carries out educational and other research projects, plans and takes part in seminars for a variety of social groups, oftentimes in addition to their full-time work at University. One of its most important contributions is in the national health scheme, since students of the health sciences in training, under the supervision of professorial staff, offer their medical services to the public.
Still perhaps the most prestigious university in the country, the University of Athens has established a tradition in scholarship and constructive participation in the social sphere.
Gazing at the future
At present, the University of Athens constitutes a modern Tertiary Education Institution comprising:
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2200 members of teaching staff,
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1505 members of administrative staff,
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around 110,000 undergraduate students and
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12,000 postgraduate students,
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31 Departments,
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102 Postgraduate programmes,
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158 Laboratories,
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69 Clinics (included in 4 University Hospitals and several others which belong to the National Health System),
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6 big Central Libraries,
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the Modern Greek Language Teaching Center (currently with around 1600 students),
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the Center of Foreign Languages and many new modern study areas.
Moreover, the University of Athens is equipped with
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2 new and 2 renovated Student Halls,
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more than 35 new multi-media centers with free access to students,
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a new, modern swimming pool and
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2 Sports Centers.
All this indicates that the University of Athens is a dynamic University where all sciences are fostered with quality and systematic organization according to the present day status of human knowledge.
The profile of the University of Athens is changing. As the new millennium begins, the university wishes to play a dominant role in social mobility and in social change.
