Donation of Equipment for e-learning and videoconferencing by ZTE Corporation, China, to the Athens University of Economics and Business (October 2, 2010)
Donation of Equipment for e-learning and videoconferencing by
ZTE Corporation, China, to the
Athens University of Economics and Business
One of the twelve bilateral agreements that were signed between Greece and China during the official visit of Chinese Premier Mr. Wen Jiabao, to Greece, referred to the Athens
University of Economics and Business (AUEB), and the Business Confucius
Institute (BCI) of Athens which is housed in AUEB. More specifically, the agreement referred to a donation of a complete e-learning and videoconferencing laboratory to AUEB from ZTE Corporation, a leading
Chinese telecommunications company.
Professor Gregory Prastacos, Rector of AUEB, and Co-Chairman of BCI, and Mr. He Xiaoóu, the General Manager of International Markets of ZTE Corporation signed the
Donation Agreement on October 2, 2010 at Megaro Maximou (Prime Minister's Official
Office), in an official ceremony, in the presence of Mr. George Papandreou, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, and Mr. Wen Jiabao, the visiting Premier of the People's Republic of China.
This donation consists of a remote education and conference system in AUEB, thus enabling students of AUEB and BCI to connect to lectures and conferences between AUEB and UIBE (University of International Business and Economics in China) as well
as other institutions internationally, to help Greek and Chinese students develop collaborative projects, and also to enable faculty in developing collaborative research, in sharing educational resources, thus enhancing the mutual culture exchanges and
promoting further cooperation between our two countries.
The donation comes as a result of the consistent effort that has been made over the recent years from AUEB to develop educational and cultural relations with China. The establishment of BCI at AUEB, the 1st Confucius Institute in Greece and just the 3rd
Business Confucius Institute in Europe, was instrumental in the promotion of these relations. The agreement for its establishment was signed in Beijing on 2008, in the presence of Presidents Karolos Papoulias and Hu Jintao, and the official opening ceremony
took place on 2009, at the Athens Concert Hall. Celebrating the 1st Anniversary of BCI in Athens, a series of teaching and cultural activities have led to further cooperation between Greece and China.
The next major event to be organised by AUEB and UIBE is the international conference "Leadership and Management in a Changing World: Lessons from Ancient East and West
Philosophy". This conference, which will take place in Athens on June 12-14, 2011, aims to bring to the surface key ideas of ancient philosophy and history, and identify how these relate to modern management and leadership in a cross-cultural
perspective. Managers, policy makers, and educators will significantly benefit from participating in this unique venue that aims at debating how substantial improvements in management practice can be achieved.