There could be no greater honor for a university professor who has dedicated his life to science and his students than the recognition of his contributions and the satisfaction of seeing his students surpass him and excel in Greece and abroad.

ITE Award to Former NTUA Rector Andreas Boudouvis

This sense of emotion filled Professor Andreas Boudouvis when he was informed of his candidacy for the Award of Excellence in University Teaching by the Institute of Technology and Research (ITE), in memory of Vassilis Xanthopoulos and Stephanos Pnevmatikos, and when he read the letters of his “children.”

Students Nominated Andreas Boudouvis for the Award

Yesterday marked the culmination of Andreas Boudouvis’s 40-year career. During the event held on Wednesday evening in the historic Old Parliament Hall, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, awarded him the prize, recognizing his contribution to the academic community and his high-quality teaching.

Andreas Boudouvis served as Dean from 2013–2016 and as Rector of NTUA from October 2019 to November 2023. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Transport Phenomena and Computational Methods. His research interests include interfacial phenomena and computational process analysis. He has supervised 130 undergraduate theses, 50 postgraduate theses (as supervisor or co-supervisor), and 24 doctoral dissertations.

Who is the Award-Winning Professor Andreas G. Boudouvis

Born in Pyrgos, Ilia, in 1959, he graduated from a six-grade secondary school for boys and won the 1st National Award in the competition of the Hellenic Mathematical Society. For a student from a provincial school, competing against peers from prestigious schools like Varvakeio or Ionidios in Athens, this achievement became the springboard for an outstanding career.

Due to his close relationship with Mathematics, he initially considered pursuing that field but ultimately chose Applied Mathematics by studying Engineering. This decision defined his later work when, upon moving to the United States, his research focused on blending Mathematics with Chemical Engineering’s scientific and research problems.

After studying Chemical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, he pursued his PhD studies at the University of Minnesota in the USA in 1981, earning his PhD in 1987.

Admitted to the University of Minnesota with a scholarship, he faced bureaucratic obstacles due to university closures in Greece at the time, delaying his graduation. Despite these challenges, the University of Minnesota accepted him without his degree, enabling him to start his studies in 1981.

Mentors and Early Research Experience

At Minnesota, he was mentored by L.E. Scriven, a global leader in Chemical Engineering, from the University of Delaware. Scriven taught him to organize his thoughts, differentiate between essential and secondary matters, and draw solid conclusions. Beyond academic knowledge, he learned methodology and realized that an excellent teacher is also a mentor who identifies and nurtures the hidden potential in students.

Return to Greece and Academic Challenges

With significant changes to Greek universities’ legal framework, he returned to Greece as a Professor at NTUA in 1991. Adapting to a less advanced academic environment was challenging, including limited digital infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles. Despite these difficulties, his determination and innovative teaching methods helped transform the institution.

A Legacy of Inspiring Students

Boudouvis brought a fresh approach to teaching, inspiring his students to think beyond conventional boundaries. He took special care to motivate weaker students, showing them trust and pushing them to achieve more. His approach bridged the gap between passive learning and active engagement, emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving.