On October 20, 2025, the official opening of the 7th International Staff Week was held by the University of Piraeus in Greece
Established in 1938, the University of Piraeus is one of Greece’s leading public universities, ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide. As an Institutional Coordinator for Erasmus+ with a network of over 300 partner universities globally, it holds a UNESCO Chair on “Creative Cities in Motion” and is a member of the EUonAIR European University Alliance on Artificial Intelligence.
The university is located in Piraeus – Greece’s largest port city with over 2,500 years of history, serving as a crucial gateway between East and West and the departure point to famous Greek islands. This strategic location combined with modern facilities makes Piraeus an ideal venue for large-scale international events.
Event Scale and Scope:
The program, taking place from October 20-27, 2025, is a major international event featuring:
- 20+ academic sessions and specialized workshops
- Speakers from multiple continents: Europe (Greece, Poland, Germany, Cyprus), Asia (Vietnam, Armenia), Africa (Uganda, Kenya)
- Participating organizations: UNESCO, European Commission, Erasmus+ Associations
- Diverse topics: EU Education Policy, AI in Education, International Research Collaboration, COIL, Social Inclusion
The program focuses on activities of Working Groups 3, 4, and 6 of BEST project, providing the HUB delegation with valuable opportunities to learn from international experiences and expand cooperation networks with European partners.
The delegation from Ho Chi Minh University of Banking (HUB), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Trung – Rector, attended the Opening Ceremony of the International week and the annual meeting under the BEST Project (Boosting Excellence in Second Tier HEIs) held at the University of Piraeus, Greece – an initiative co-funded by the European Union aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education. Accompanying the delegation were Dr. Luong Thi Thu Thuy – Acting Director of Saigon International School of Business (SaigonISB) and Dr. Tran Hai Van – Vice Director of SaigonISB. The presence of senior leadership demonstrates HUB’s strong commitment to promoting international cooperation and enhancing training quality.
There was attendance from the HUB delegation alongside high-level leaders from the project’s member universities, as well as representatives from the local governors.
Professor Michail E. Sfakianakis- Rector of the University of Piraeus, delivered the opening address, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in improving higher education quality.
Ms. Andriana Zarakeli-Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Piraeus for Extroversion, Tourism and European Projects, shared insights on the role of local government in supporting continental-scale educational initiatives.
Professor Spyridon Roukanas- Vice-Rector for Academic and Administrative Affairs and Institutional Coordinator of Erasmus+ at the University of Piraeus, presented the project activities and implementation plans.
The BEST Project is part of the Erasmus+ program aimed at strengthening the capacity and quality of higher education institutions across Europe. HUB’s participation in this training program demonstrates the university’s commitment to international integration, enhancing training and research quality, while affirming its position on the international stage.
Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Trung shared: “This is an invaluable opportunity for HUB to learn best practices from European partners, especially in the field of international education. Participating in the program at the University of Piraeus – a leading institution with extensive experience in international cooperation and as an Erasmus+ coordinator – will provide us with a comprehensive view of European education standards. We look forward to building sustainable cooperative relationships that will contribute to enhancing HUB’s training quality and international standing.”
With the participation of a leadership team with deep expertise in international education, HUB expects to gain valuable knowledge and experience while establishing strategic connections with leading universities and prestigious international organizations such as UNESCO and the European Commission, contributing significantly to the university’s development strategy in the coming period.
The program serves not only as a knowledge-sharing platform but also creates a vibrant international networking forum, contributing to the development of global higher education and building a world-class higher education space.
