The new era of one of the longest running Corporate Social Responsibility Programs in Greece, the Forward for Education, presented today by Eurobank at the traditional award ceremony for the 384 outstanding high school graduates of the Educational Regions of Attica and Central Greece.
The Kytherian student of the National Technical University of Athens Yannis Vezos was awarded
One of the 384 winners of the programme is our compatriot Yannis Vezos of Lazarus, whose distinction has brought joy to the island. Yannis Vezos succeeded in getting admitted to the National Technical University of Athens.
The “Forward for Education” Programme”
By marking the milestone of 21 years of Forward for Education (the previous name was «The Great Moment for Education!»), the Bank expands its character, in the context of developing its broader initiative under the umbrella of Forward for Education, continuing a dynamic course adapted to the needs of modern times, with initiatives that strengthen scientific specialization and the link between academic and practical knowledge and the labour market.
The event, which was welcomed by the Minister Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, Mr Kyriakos Pierrakakis, in the presence of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, Mr. George P. Zanias and the entire Management of the Bank, the Managing Director of Eurobank, Mr. Fokion Karavias, presented the upgraded structure of the now enlarged Initiative, underlining the Bank's commitment to support young scientists in starting their professional careers.
In the context of contemporary trends and with the aim of supporting young people in their professional development and absorption by the labour market, the Bank's coverage of costs for the organisation and operation of the professional postgraduate degree programme “Digital Transformation” from Athens University of Economics and Business, with the possibility of recruiting its graduates to the Bank, as well as the Bank's financial support for the operation of a platform by CollegeLink for the linking students to the labour market.
Ο Minister for Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, κ. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, stated: «I would like to congratulate Eurobank for the «Forward for Education» initiative. And today's event is not just an award ceremony. It is an encouragement and recognition of a huge effort for children, for our students now. At the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, we support any effort that attempts to provide our young people with additional skills to enable them to face future challenges, which are many.
We live in an environment that is rapidly changing, catalysed by technology. Most importantly, we are fully aware of our role: the Department of Education has a huge responsibility to work for the future. Education is the future, it is the lever, it is the means to bring Greece further ahead, stronger, a more confident country and an even stronger presence internationally.».
Ο Managing Director of Eurobank, Mr Phocion Karavias, said, inter alia: «With the «Forward for Education» programme, the Eurobank supports for 21 years recognising and rewarding excellence. It is with great satisfaction that the Bank is now proceeding to upgrade, expand and extend the programme, with emphasis on specialisation and the interface with the labour market.
We cooperate with the Athens University of Economics and Business for the creation of a professional postgraduate programme in the field of digital transformation. And, at the same time, we commit ourselves to we offer the possibility of immediate recruitment to the Bank of the top 10 graduates of each year, by giving the prospect of professional rehabilitation within from an immutable academic path.
At the same time, we are multiplying internships, because η linking higher education to the labour market is a key weak link in the Greek economy. All our actions are governed by the principles of meritocracy and inclusion. Meritocracy and equal opportunities are their common denominator. We thank the Ministries of Education and Social Cohesion as partners in our key actions, such as the OPA and the CollegeLink, valuable partners in the new phase of the project.
And we commit ourselves that, as two decades of support for the Education Programme show, we will be ever-present with actions that create the conditions for a better future for our country and the new generation.».
Forward for Education in three (3) pillars
– Specialisation | The Bank finances the organisation and operation of the new Professional Postgraduate Programme[1] “Digital Transformation” of the Athens University of Economics and Business, promoting specialization in modern methods and techniques of design, implementation and management of digital transformation projects for businesses and organizations. The Postgraduate Program is addressed to graduates of Greek and foreign universities, includes 35 places per academic year, is English-speaking, full-time, with a small personal contribution of students to the annual tuition fees.
The Programme includes a provision for part of the positions to be filled by Eurobank Group employees, while, in addition, the Bank offers the possibility of recruitment to the 10 highest performing graduates. The new initiative underlines Eurobank's long-standing commitment to encourage lifelong learning, which it has long supported with a series of other scholarships for postgraduate studies and collaborations with distinguished academic institutions.
– Connecting to the labour market | Financial support for the creation and operation of the new platform en, offering young people tools to train, network and identify labour market opportunities. The platform was designed and is being implemented by CollegeLink with the financial support of Eurobank and is addressed to the approximately 4,000 members - award winners of the «Forward for Education» programme of the last four years, while in February, final year students from all Greek universities will also have the opportunity to apply for participation in the new platform.
Registered members will have, among other things, the opportunity to be informed about developments in the academic community and market trends, personalized guidance from professionals and mentoring, find internship opportunities, develop and cultivate non-technical soft skills, training and specialization in cutting-edge technological issues with certification from technology providers, consulting companies and academic institutions.
They will also have the possibility to apply for the program paid Internship of the Eurobank, lasting 2 months, with the aim of acquiring valuable knowledge in a real working environment. In addition, through the platform they will be able to apply for internships and work placements in third companies who work with CollegeLink.
In addition, Eurobank focuses on the interconnection of entrepreneurship with university research and academic excellence through the business accelerator egg - enter grow go of the Bank, which completes 11 years of contribution to start-up entrepreneurship. Through its cooperation with 15 Greek Universities and 46 Greek and Cypriot spin-offs, egg - enter grow go supports and develops, over time, the interconnection of start-up, innovative entrepreneurship with the domestic and international academic community.
– Reward | The Eurobank implements the programme of moral and financial rewards for excellence with the support of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, having allocated from the 2003, a total amount of money for the awards of 22,572 excellent award winners, amounting to €21 million. Through the Programme, the Bank offers moral and financial rewards to the first high school graduate of each high school in the country with the highest cumulative score in the national examinations. The Programme has been implemented for 21 years and has been embraced by all students and their families, local communities and the academic community.
Particular emphasis is placed on inclusion, a value that underlies all the Bank's initiatives, as children living in child protection units who succeed in gaining admission to higher education will be rewarded, as well as a number of foreign students who attended Greek schools in the country and managed to gain admission to higher education through the Panhellenic examinations process..
Honorary plaques to the 14 Lyceums from which graduated the excellent award-winning student with the highest cumulative access grades to higher education of each Regional Unit, awarded, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eurobank, Mr. George P. Zanias.
During the event, which took place at the Athens Concert Hall and was moderated by journalist Niki Lymperaki, the 384 top students from the Educational Regions of Attica and Central Greece as well as 36 top students from the Aegean islands who study at Attica's University Institutions were awarded.
In the context of the event, a short address was given by Mrs. Evita Fragou, winner of the 2003 award, the first year of the Front for Education programme. Mrs. Fragou, Pathologist - Attending Physician B’ of the First University Intensive Care Clinic of the Evangelismos Hospital, congratulated the award winners for their success and wished them a successful career.
