Two inflexible deadlines for implementing provisions of the 2021 law on security in universities have been announced by the Minister of Education, Sofia Zacharaki, at the rectors’ meeting in Halkidiki. At the same time, Mrs. Zacharaki announced a legislative regulation on the issue of inactive students, to ensure that if they prove their willingness to get a degree, and under certain conditions, they will not be deleted from the universities.

In particular, all universities will reportedly have to have completed and put in place controlled access systems by the end of the year, while by the end of July, all universities will have to have submitted or updated, where required, security plans that have also been legislated by 2021. It is noted that so far, only 8 of the 24 HEIs have submitted these plans: NTUA, OPA, AUTH, International, Piraeus, Democritus, Patras, and Crete.

Regarding the final expulsion of students who commit serious misconduct, a change in the law is planned to establish one disciplinary board per university, instead of one per faculty, which is currently in force and has not been implemented in practice. And in addition, it will be expressly provided that anyone who destroys will pay the cost of the damage they have caused.

The discussion at the Session was conducted in a very good atmosphere and, as noted, there was a constructive dialogue. The rectors agreed that there is an over-promotion of incidents of violence, which is damaging the effort to internationalise universities.