ATHENA sets the course for the future

Crete 2022 - At the Management Meeting and Rectors' Meeting in Crete, the partner universities prepared the project extension and welcomed two new universities to the consortium.

From 15 to 17 June 2022, the second ATHENA management meeting and the third meeting of the rectors of the partner universities took place at the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Heraklion, Greece. Among the approximately 60 participants on site, the new members of the Alliance, the University of Vigo from Spain and the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland, were also represented for the first time.

The opening day of the meeting focused on introducing and integrating the new partner universities. Representatives from Vigo and Lublin presented the foci of research and teaching at their universities and explained their motivation for joining the Alliance. The leaders of the nine ATHENA work packages also gave an overview of the current status, results, and challenges in the respective working groups.

On the second day of the meeting, the working groups met to discuss the progress of the project and exchanged ideas about upcoming tasks. For example, the first courses for the development of a joint teaching offer were determined and it was discussed how the Alliance can improve its communication strategy. A calendar for networking events with the industry on various IT and engineering topics was also decided.

In the afternoon, preparations began for the ATHENA project extension to be submitted next year. For this purpose, the Alliance hired an external consultant who attended the meeting in person and is to evaluate previous processes through a neutral, outside view. Together with the external consultant, the project leaders of the now nine universities discussed the future vision of ATHENA. In a further meeting with the rectors on the following day, tasks for the project extension were defined and KPIs for monitoring the agreed objectives were determined. The results of the consultation were then presented to all participants on site.

An important item on the agenda on the last day of the meeting was the reunion of the ATHENA student representatives. There, it was discussed how the participation of students in the various projects and working groups of the Alliance can be increased and in which ways students can initiate and implement their ideas.

The meeting was accompanied by a diverse cultural programme as well as various team-building activities, e.g., a visit to the ancient palace of Knossos and a guided tour of Heraklion.

Photo top right: The rectors and vice-rectors of the partner universities gave information to the local press about the progress and plans of the project.