With the central message of linking academic knowledge with the real economy, the University of Piraeus actively participated in the “Piraeus Career Pathways 2025” forum, held on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, at the Peace and Friendship Stadium (S.E.F.), under the theme “Connecting People with the Economy.”
The event was organized by the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and S.E.F., under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the University of Piraeus, the University of West Attica, and other institutional bodies.
In the first thematic panel, titled “Piraeus as a Hub of Growth, Education, and Entrepreneurship,” the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michalis Sfakianakis, highlighted the multifaceted role of the city as a crossroads of commerce, shipping, tourism, and education.
He emphasized the importance of extroversion and cooperation among academia, business, and local communities. “The University of Piraeus is shaping an ecosystem of knowledge and innovation that bridges education with the real economy. Through collaborations with institutional bodies and international universities, we prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow,” he stated.
Professor Sfakianakis presented the University’s key initiatives fostering connectivity, including the Alumni database, the Career Office, the annual “Career Days festival”, and partnerships with local authorities and businesses. He also made special reference to joint postgraduate programs with international universities in cutting-edge fields and to applied research projects carried out in collaboration with Greek and multinational companies.
The Rector placed particular emphasis on the fields of shipping, the blue economy, and value-based tourism, stressing the need for investment in drawing in, high-quality and culturally conscious tourism. He also highlighted the University’s contribution to artificial intelligence and digital transformation, through the establishment of the first postgraduate program in Applied Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with Purdue University Indianapolis, as well as the joint organization of the upcoming international conference “Consequences and Limits of Artificial Intelligence.”
Among the participants in the panel were Yiannis Moralis, Mayor of Piraeus, and Vassilis Korkidis, President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while the discussion was moderated by Fanis Zois, journalist at Naftemporiki.
The University of Piraeus’ participation in “Piraeus Career Pathways 2025” reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to actively contributing to the development of Piraeus, strengthening the connection between education, research, and the labor market, and promoting a sustainable and innovative future for the city and the next generation of professionals.