Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-03

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Cabinet discusses bill for post-graduate studies

[02] 4.3 bln for Piraeus container terminal

[03] FM: Democratic deficit in FYROM poll

[01] Cabinet discusses bill for post-graduate studies

In statements after the meeting, Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis said the meeting had focused on the second phase of higher education reforms and noted that the completion of election process at most higher educational institutes throughout the country marked the conclusion of the first phase of the government's reforms.

"The main characteristic [of the bill] is that it boosts the extroversion of Greece's state institutes of higher education and, after assessment, allows the creation of postgraduate departments in both universities and Technical Educational Institutes (TEI), encouraging their cooperation with foreign universities and giving them the capability of launching post-graduate studies abroad as well," the minister said regarding the postgraduate studies bill.

According to Stylianidis, such as move would discourage foreign universities from collaborating with free studies centres while at the same time boosting their cooperation with approved Greek state universities.

The minister said that this would usher Greece into a new "era of quality" in which the government would invest in and improve post-graduate studies courses throughout the country and provide more opportunities to the younger generation.

Asked whether the bill also allowed the participation of the private sector in such post-grad studies programmes, Stylianidis clarified that the bill would allow three forms of funding: European funds, state funds and fees.

It was up to individual institutes whether they chose to use all three forms of funding or not, he added.

At the same time, he clarified that sponsorship would be accepted and that they would help boost cooperation between educational institutes and the job market.

Commenting on the reactions to the new election process for the administration of universities, which allows the entire student body to vote, Stylianidis reported that this was now complete in the majority of universities and TEI and that "democracy has been imposed in practice".

Specifically, he said that 13.5 of the 14 TEI in the country now had elected administrations, while the process had been completed successfully in two out of three universities in spite of the various acts of disruption and vandalism.

"I believe that the framework law [for education] is now being implemented in practice and this will continue in the period to come," he added.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photograph of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis

[02] 4.3 bln for Piraeus container terminal

[03] FM: Democratic deficit in FYROM poll

"... Greece is observing, with great concern, the democratic deficit recorded during the election in FYROM. We will await the election process to conclude, before carefully examining all of the reports by election observer. We sincerely regret the way this election was conducted. We will await final results and then state our position," Bakoyannis emphasised.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis.

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