Dionissios Mantzavinos (left) and Pavlos Kontos (right) advocate for strengthening international academic exchanges within the humanities. Photo: COURTESY OF DIONISSIOS MANTZAVINOS AND PAVLOS KONTOS

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As one of Greece’s leading universities, the University of Patras not only drives innovation in fields such as engineering, natural sciences, and medicine, but also actively promotes the development of the humanities and social sciences. Recently, CSST spoke with Dionissios Mantzavinos, vice rector for Strategic Internationalization and External Affairs, and Pavlos Kontos, head of the Department of Philosophy, to explore the vision and practice behind the university’s “Going East” strategy. Their insights shed light on the expansive potential of Sino-Greek academic collaboration and the vital role of the humanities and social sciences in shaping today’s academic landscape.

Internationalization as key to sustained competitiveness

CSST: How would you describe the University of Patras’ current academic and research priorities?

Mantzavinos: The University of Patras is a comprehensive institution with 31 academic departments across seven schools, covering nearly all disciplines except law. While we strive to advance all fields of study, our strongest academic and research pillars are engineering, natural sciences, and medicine. These disciplines not only attract top-tier faculty and students but also drive groundbreaking research and innovation. As we move forward, our priority is to enhance interdisciplinary cooperation, expand international collaborations, and strengthen our research infrastructure to remain a leader in higher education and innovation.

CSST: What are the biggest challenges Greek universities face in maintaining global competitiveness?

Mantzavinos: This September, Greece will see the establishment of its first private universities. Until now, all universities in Greece have been public. With this change, we will face competition from private institutions, which will likely attract some of the top students who might have otherwise enrolled in public universities. This shift compels us to enhance our competitiveness. Another challenge is the sheer number of public universities in Greece—currently, there are 24 for a population of about 10 million. This is a relatively high number, and the government should take measures to restructure and consolidate institutions to strengthen the higher education sector.

At the same time, universities must take proactive steps to adapt to this evolving landscape. One key strategy is internationalization. We need to develop more programs in foreign languages, establish partnerships with universities abroad, and even set up campuses in other countries. For example, the University of Patras has partnered with Liaoning University of Technology in China to run a joint program. Expanding internationally not only enhances our visibility but also attracts scholars and students from around the world. Asia, in particular, presents significant opportunities for Greek universities. As a region with rapidly growing educational institutions, countries like China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore are seeking stronger ties with the West. This makes it an ideal moment for Greek universities to forge collaborations in this dynamic region. To remain competitive, we must embrace a global perspective and actively engage with partners across different continents.

China and Greece share cultural affinity

CSST: The establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens (CSCSA) has created a new platform for Sino-Greek academic and cultural exchange. What are your expectations for this initiative? In your view, how might it promote cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the fields of classical studies and archaeology?

Mantzavinos: The CSCSA presents a valuable opportunity for scholars in the humanities and social sciences to collaborate closely. I see great potential for joint research projects, as well as the development of academic programs such as master’s degrees or summer schools that bring together scholars from both institutions.

The University of Patras is situated near two historically significant archaeological regions—Olympia and Delphi—both of which offer rich opportunities for study and excavation. Greece, and specifically our region, is home to numerous archaeological sites where the CSCSA could establish collaborations. There are even excavation sites close to Patras where our university is already actively involved. This opens the door for meaningful partnerships. While the CSCSA has its own archaeological projects, we have sites where our faculty conduct excavations. A mutual initiative could allow Chinese scholars to participate in ongoing projects, fostering deeper academic and cultural exchange between our institutions.

CSST: The first World Conference of Classics was held in Beijing in November 2024, with scholars from the University of Patras participating. What steps are being taken to expand the university’s involvement in such global events moving forward?

Mantzavinos: Last November, several scholars from our university participated in this important event. Moving forward, we aim to increase our involvement, with more scholars attending future conferences, depending on their location and thematic focus. At the University of Patras, we also have a large, well-equipped cultural and conference center capable of hosting up to 1,000 participants. This provides us with the opportunity to co-organize and co-host similar international gatherings, fostering greater academic exchange and collaboration in the field of classical studies.

CSST: With growing interest in China-Greece cultural and academic exchange, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in deepening this cooperation?

Mantzavinos: Our comparative studies should extend beyond ancient civilizations and delve into modern cultural and societal developments. For some reason, Greeks and Chinese share striking similarities, and this cultural affinity has been noted by the famous Greek poet Nikos Kazantzakis, who once said: “Scratch a Greek, and you’ll find a Chinese. Scratch a Chinese, and you’ll find a Greek.” This reflects the deep philosophical and cultural parallels between our two civilizations—both rooted in ancient traditions, wisdom, and resilience.

One of the key challenges we must overcome is the language barrier. If we can address this, everything else will become much easier. I don’t foresee major obstacles beyond that. The geographical distance is no longer a significant issue, given the increasing number of connections between China and Greece. In fact, our regional governor is actively working to establish a direct flight between Patras and China to further facilitate exchanges.

Multicultural approach to classical studies

CSST: The Department of Philology at the University of Patras has a strong focus on classical studies, traditionally centered on ancient Greece and Rome in Western academia. With the rise of multicultural perspectives, there is increasing debate about incorporating other ancient civilizations, such as China, into the field of classical studies. What is your opinion on this idea? How might expanding the scope of classical studies to include these civilizations impact the field’s methodology and global relevance?

Kontos: We fully share the view that one needs a multicultural approach to the classical world, and also that the comparative approach to the Chinese and Greek civilizations is an important aspect of this shift. That is why, over the past five years, the University of Patras has made significant progress in comparative studies of ancient civilizations and, in particular, of the ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations. 

Two initiatives represent the highlights of this agenda: the establishment of the Center of Greek and Chinese Ancient Civilizations (KELKIP) together with the Universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete, and also the establishment of a MA program in Greek and Chinese Civilizations, run by Patras’ Department of Philosophy together with the other above mentioned Greek universities, along with Southwest University in southwest China’s Chongqing. 

In the context of these academic initiatives, dozens of Chinese professors and graduate students have visited our university, numerous pertinent conferences have taken place, etc. The University of Patras and the Rector, Prof. Christos Bouras, promote these initiatives in any possible way and, thus, we are hopeful that they will prosper.

CSST: As global emphasis on STEM disciplines grows, what strategies does the University of Patras employ to support and revitalize the humanities, especially classical studies and archaeology? How does the university balance its commitment to both scientific innovation and the preservation of humanistic disciplines?

Kontos: The closure of humanities departments is, indeed, a widespread trend, driven, among other factors, by the privatization of public education and its, so to speak, unconditional surrender to market forces. Greece has not followed this path—at least, not yet. I believe there is an opportunity for China to play a crucial global role in this regard: If China demonstrates a commitment to promoting the humanities, particularly research on ancient civilizations, it could help reverse this trend. Our collaborations with Chinese universities and institutions align precisely with this objective.

Although the University of Patras was initially conceived as a polytechnic university, the humanities departments are by now very strong and enjoy the full support of the university. That is to say, there is justice and balance regarding the resources these departments are provided with and, most importantly, regarding the vacancies. For the rest, the university tries to find resources that will be exclusively available to these departments without entering into antagonism with research projects submitted, for instance, by the polytechnic or the medical school, and steadily fosters their strengthening in terms of infrastructure. 

At the end of the day, the University of Patras does not see any opposition, tension, or incompatibility between “scientific innovation” and “the preservation of humanistic disciplines” for two main reasons: First, it fully understands that there is “innovation” in the humanities too, and second, it realizes that no scientific innovation is really useful for our modern society without its being underpinned, communicated, and morally/politically evaluated by the humanities.

Edited by YANG LANLAN