Athens ITMOC Alumni Reunion and Presentation
Published 22 March 2005
Dr Niall Hayes, the ITMOC programme director, was in Greece between the 17th and 21st of March. As well as visiting Athens University and the AUEB, Niall undertook a presentation to prospective ITMOC students in Athens. The presentation was very well attended, and provided a good opportunity to meet many of the students who will join the ITMOC programme in September 2005. Chrysty Agapitou, Dimitris Brachos and Andreas Koidis - all ITMOC alumni students - were able to provide a student's perspective of the ITMOC programme. Several other ITMOC alumni (Ioannis Belouris, Alex Tortopidis and Kostas Pazalos) attended the presentation and answered questions informally about ITMOC and Lancaster University in general. Niall, who was delighted with the support he received from ITMOC alumni in Greece, said:
“Having so many ITMOC alumni come to the presentation, many of whom I did not know were going to attend, reflects the quality and strong identity of the ITMOC programme. All of the alumni enthusiastically conveyed to the audience the quality of the research-led teaching, the fascinating content of the different modules, and the cohesiveness of the overall programme. They also commented on how friendly and supportive the academic and administrative staff are. Further, all of the alumni stated ITMOC had far surpassed any expectations they had prior to starting the programme. I was delighted (but not surprised) to hear such glowing accounts of the ITMOC programme.
Based on the questions and discussion I had with prospective students at the presentation, and later in one-to-one discussions, I am confident that next year’s cohort will have some very strong and enthusiastic students on it. I look forward to seeing them in Lancaster in September.”
That evening, many ITMOC alumni joined Niall for a drink at the Amalia Hotel, before going on for a meal in the Silfio restaurant in the Psere district of Athens. It was a very enjoyable evening. It presented an opportunity for students from the same cohort to be reunited with each other, as well as to meet Greek ITMOC alumni from the other cohorts. Niall updated them with recent and planned developments to the ITMOC programme, the Management School and the University in general. Niall said:
“It was lovely to see all of the alumni. We work very closely with ITMOC students when they are in Lancaster, and get to know them very well. I was glad to have an opportunity to renew my relationships and hear how their lives are progressing.”
Those present at the reunion were (from right to left), Nikolaos Pierrakos, Dimitra Petrakaki, Chrysty Agapitou, Dimitris Brachos, Panos Zervopoulos, Alex Charvalias, Ioannis Belouris, Panos Efkarpidis, Niall Hayes (Programme Director) and Panos Gotsis. A number of other students had to reluctantly withdraw at the last minute. All of the alumni looked back fondly on their year in Lancaster, claiming that it was the best year of their life. Ioannis Beloris stated that he wanted to arrange a reunion in Lancaster in the next 12 months. This was greeted enthusiastically by those students present. We look forward to holding another reunion in Athens in 2006.
Pragmatic thinking for complex technological and organisational landscapes
