Crete acquires a new institutional pillar of international cooperation, with the signing of an agreement for the establishment of a Greek-Chinese Research Center for Tourism and Cultural Heritage by the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA) and Ningbo University. The agreement was signed on November 24 at the Rectorate of ELMEPA in Heraklion, consolidating a collaboration that has already proven its potential through joint programs, research activities and academic exchanges.
At this point, it should be emphasized that the establishment of the new center is a strategic move of academic extroversion, aiming to strengthen scientific research in the fields of tourism and cultural heritage, but also to further expand the international presence of the two institutions. The agreement was signed by the rector, Professor Nikos Katsarakis, and the head of the Chinese delegation, Zhang Yue, in the presence of representatives of universities and academic institutions of Zhejiang province.
From ELMEPA, the vice-rector for international relations, Professor Konstantinos Petrides, the dean, Professor Alexandros Apostolakis, the president of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Associate Professor Markos Kourgiantakis, the scientific director of the center, Professor Irini Dimou, and the head of the International Relations Office, Dr. Gareth Owens.
The collaboration between the Department of Business Administration and Tourism of ELMEPA and Ningbo University to date includes research projects, summer schools in Athens and Crete, teaching by faculty members and co-supervision of postgraduate theses. The new center functions, to strengthen this, as an institutional continuation of a relationship that has developed in depth.
The immediate next steps include joint educational programs for Greek and Chinese students, supervision of doctoral theses, a summer school in Ningbo for ELMEPA students and the co-organization of an international conference in Crete in September 2026. The strategic goal is to attract funding and strengthen the research footprint of the two universities in critical fields related to tourism development.
This new partnership strengthens Crete’s role as a hub of knowledge and innovation in tourism, adding new momentum to the country’s academic and tourism map.
