Athens University of Economics & Business (AUEB)

AUEB provides University level education mainly in the fields of Economics, Business Administration, Management Science, Marketing, European and International Studies, Informatics and Statistics.

In terms of student numbers the University is relatively small having approximately 5.000 undergraduate and 200 graduate students. However, it is a dynamic and creative institution with impressive presence in the scientific, economic and political life of Greece. It is our noble ambition to see that it will continue to do so.

The aim of our University is not only to provide its students with a sound command of theoretical principles and modern analytical tools but also to develop in them certain qualities, such as individual initiative and critical thinking which are necessary in order to assume a leading role in today's rapidly changing world. To this end, a well balanced curriculum in the various fields mentioned earlier, a computer center and an academic staff of high quality are employed. Research, both theoretical and applied, has always been considered as one of the University's most important tasks.

Great importance has also been attached to close and regular contacs with Universities and Research Institutes not only in the other European countries but also in North America and the rest of the world.

1. Historical notes

The Athens University of Economics and Business was originally founded in 1920 under the name of Athens School of Commercial Studies. It was renamed in 1926 as the Athens School of Economics and Business Science, a name that was retained until 1989 when it assumed its present name, that is the Athens University of Economics and Business.

It is the third oldest Higher Education Institution in Greece and the oldest in the general fields of Economics and Business. Up to 1955 the School offered only one degree in the general area of Economics and Commerce. In 1955 it started two seperate programmes leading to two seperate degrees: one in Economics and the other in Business Administration. In 1984 the School was divided into three seperate Departments, namely the Department of Economics, the Department of Business Organization and Administration, the Department of Statistics and Informatics.

In 1989, when the School assumed its present name, it evolved into the following six departments: Economics, International and European Economic Studies, Business Administration, Management Science and Marketing, Informatics and Statistics.

A formal Master's programme in Economics was launched in 1978 and another one in Business Administration started in 1985. Today the University is running five different programmes at the Master's level which are described later in more detail.

2. Location

The main site of the University is located at Patission Street in Athens, two blocks away from the Archaeological Museum. One of its sides faces the Pedion Areos Park and the Panellinios Sports Club.

Two more buildings in the neighbourhood service the University's needs in offices and teaching rooms. One of them is located at 12 Kodrikton Street and the other at 12 Derigny Street. The Research Center is located a few blocks away, at 46 Kefallinias Street.

3. Organization

The Athens University of Economics and Business is a State University under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. Its main decision-making bodies are the following:

1. the Senate, which is a representative body consisting of the Rector, the two Vice-Rectors, the Chairmen and representatives of the faculty of all Departments, and representatives of the student Union and the administrative staff,

2. the Rector's Council

3. the Rector

Decisions on academic affairs of each Department are made by the Department's General Assembly, which consists of faculty members and student representatives.

Decisions on academic, economic and administrative matters usually involve the formation of ad hoc committees. Standing committees are also formed on an annual basis, e.g. for the Library, the Computer Center, etc.

The Director of each graduate program is a professor appointed by the General Assembly of the corresponding Department.

4. Degrees offered

The six Departments of the Athens University of Economics and Business award degrees equivalent to a four-year B.A. or B.Sc. in the respective fields. Students are enrolled after a successfull nation-wide entrance examination. Presently, only one in ten candidates is admitted.

To become eligible for graduation a student should attend eight semesters (four years), corresponding to a total of 135-145 credit hours. Courses are compulsory, but there is also a wide variety of electives. Students in one Department are allowed to take courses offered by other Departments. Foreign language courses in English or French of German are compulsory in all semesters. Depending on their choice of electives, students acquire a major concentration on particular subjects.

The duration of postgraduate studies at the Master's level is four semesters (two years). Students are admitted to these programmes following a successfull entrance examination. Mastery of English is a prerequisite as courses include extensive seminars and lecturs in English. All graduate students may receive scholarships. All Departments offer different concentrations which may be selected by students depending on their particular interests.

Doctorates are awarded by each Department upon the completion of a dissertation and its successful defence in public.

5. Academic Staff

The academic staff of the University consists of Faculty members, teaching and research assistants and foreign language teachers. Requirements for a Faculty position include a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) and published research. Faculty members are elected on the basis of their academic qualifications by Faculty members of the same or higher rank.

Faculty members are assisted in their tasks by research and teaching assistants, many of whom hold a Master's Degree and continue their doctoral studies. When research assistants obtain their Doctorate and publish two or more articles in international journals, they can apply of a Faculty position.

Adjunct lecturers hold a Ph.D. Degree and teach specific courses as the need may arise. Professors from other Universities are regularly invited to teach, usually at the Master's Programme.

The academic staff of the University currently consists of 50 professors, 24 associate professors, 22 assistant professors, 23 lecturers, 6 adjunct lecturers, 60 teaching and research assistants, 8 foreign language teachers and 1 physical education teacher. All Faculty members and all adjunct lecturers, 5 teaching and research assistants and 3 foreign language teachers hold a Ph.D. degree or equivalent. Moreover, 37 out of the 60 teaching and research assistants as well as 3 foreign language teachers hold a Master's degree.

6. Students

In Greece undergraduate students in all Universities are admitted on the basis of national entrance examinations administered by the Ministry of Education once a year. The number of students for each University and Department is also determined by the Ministry of Education. A small number of foreign students are also enrolled every year.

It has been the policy of the University to limit the number of new entrants, in order to improve the quality of studies by avoiding the drawbacks of large student numbers. The new entrants are distributed as follows:

Undergraduate Programs (B.A. degree)

Department of Economics (200)

Department of International and European Economic Studies (110)

Department of Business Administration (270)

Department of Management Science and Marketing (70)

Department of Informatics (110)

Department of Statistics (80)

Graduate Programs

Department of Economics (35)

Departments of Business Administration and Management Science and Marketing (40)

Department of International and European Economic Studies (30)

Department of Informatics (30)

Department of Statistics (30)

All undergraduate students may belong to an independent Students Union, representatives of which participate in the Senate, Faculty meetings and in standing and ad hoc Committees.

Research centre

1. Administrative Information

The Research Centre is a non-profit organisation governed by an executive board formed exclusively by members of the University's faculty. One of the University's Vice-Rectors is appointed by the Senate as Chairman. The University's Departments appoint to the Board one member each. The Board is assisted by an Administrative Secretary who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Centre.

The Executive Board is presently constituted as follows:

· LEVENTAKIS John, Chairman, Professor, Department of Economics.

· KATSOULAKOS John, Professor, Department of Economics.

· MOUTOS Theodore, Professor, Department of International and European Economic Studies.

· KONSTADOPOULOS Maria, Professor, Department of Management Science and Marketing.

· PANARETOS John, Professor, Department of Statistics.

· PETRAKI-KOTTIS Athena, Professor, Department of Business Administration.

· MAGIROU Evangelos, Professor, Department of Informatics.

Administrative Secretary: Mr Spyros Hadziloizos.

A. Objectives

The Research Center was established in 1983 as part and under the auspices of the Athens University of Economics and Business in order to coordinate and facilitate research by members of the University's faculty. In this capacity, the Center is collaborating with other University Institutions, Public Entities and Organizations, private Enterprises, International Organizations and selected qualified individuals.

B. Areas of Research

The Center is devoted to the promotion of theoretical, applied, and policy research in the general fields of economics and management as well as in the fields of informatics and applied information systems. In this context, the Center has completed a large number of studies, most of which have been financed by the European Union. Emphasis is given to the analysis of problems and problem-oriented research. The preliminary processing of raw data is arranged in cooperation with other research institutions and statistical services.

Research at the Center is carried out mainly by members of the academic staff of the University. Visiting scholars and holders of short-term appointments may be also actively engaged in the research activities of the Center. In performing their tasks, faculty members enjoy full freedom in research topics chosen, methods employed and conclusions drawn from their own research work. The Center bears no responsibility for any of these conclusions. All research is undertaken with a view towards eventual publication in scholarly journals, technical reports and monographs.

C. Sources of Finance

The Center is financing its activities by administering research and training projects which are funded by both public and private organizations, as well as by international organizations, such as European Union, etc. It also receives research grants from the government, the University itself and from other public/private institutions and international organizations. The Center accepts funds on the understanding that the sponsors or donors will not interfere in the development of the outcome of the research being financed. The Center, in agreeing to administer research, does not assume the responsibility to eventually publish results of the research unless specifically agreed upon in advance.

D. Seminars, Research Workshops and Conferences

Regular retraining and executive seminars are organized by the Center with the objective of upgrading the education of University graduates unemployed or employed in both the public and private sectors of the Greek economy. Currently, most of the Center’s seminars are subsidized by the European Social Fund (ESF).

A regular workshop, attended by teaching and research faculty and invited specialists from universities, government agencies, international organizations and private industry, is held at the Center. At this workshop, progress reports of research projects under way, as well as completed research work, are presented and discussed.

In addition, the Center assists the University in providing organizational support for national and international conferences. In the recent past the University, through the Center, organized the European Econometric Society's Annual Meeting (in 1979), the Regional Science Association Meetings - European Section (in 1981), the Annual Conference of the International Institute of Public Finance (in 1986), the Annual Conference of the European Marketing Academy (in 1989), the 9th World Congress of the International Economic Association (in 1989) and the Hellenic European Research in Mathematics and Informatics Conferences (in 1994 and 1996), HERMES '94 and HERMES '96.

E. Research Units

A number of Research Units (R.U.) operating under the Center’s auspices have been established. These are small and flexible Research Units having specific targets relating to the analysis of problems and problem-oriented research. Members of the University faculty are members of the R.U.

The Research Units are:

1. Accounting

2. Advanced Computational Mathematics and Parallel Processing

3. Agricultural Economics and Regional Development

4. Financial Relations between Greece and the European Union

5. Financing, Shipping, Insurance and Tourism issues

6. Information Systems

7. Information Systems for Education and Operational Management

8. Labour Markets, Industrial Relations and Social Policies

9. Library Automation and Documentation

10. Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Forecasting

11. Management Science and Marketing

12. Market Structure and Investment Projects

13. Multimedia and Communications Laboratory

14. Political and Legal Aspects of the European Union

15.Public Economics and Policies

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