The University of Piraeus and the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies (HAIC) have launched a new strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the links between university education and research, professional practice, and the evolving needs of the insurance market.
Τhe two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), following an initiative by the Department of Statistics and Insurance Science at the University of Piraeus. The agreement establishes a framework for joint initiatives in education, research, lifelong learning and knowledge transfer.
The partnership places particular emphasis on giving students opportunities to undertake internships with HAIC member companies and gain first-hand experience of the professional environment of insurance intermediation. The two organisations will also develop joint scientific and educational initiatives, seminars and workshops, as well as joint research projects and studies. They may further extend their cooperation to research programmes of national and European interest, drawing on HAIC’s participation in the European Federation of Insurance and Financial Intermediaries (BIPAR).
Professor Michail Sfakianakis, Rector of the University of Piraeus, stated:
“The University of Piraeus has consistently invested in building meaningful synergies with society, the economy and the labour market. Our partnership with HAIC forms part of this strategy and highlights the University’s pivotal role in connecting academic knowledge with professional practice and the productive economy. Insurance Science is a particularly important and dynamic field, closely linked to economic growth and the management of contemporary risks. Through our cooperation with HAIC, we aim to create significant opportunities for our students and young scientists, while strengthening research, innovation and knowledge transfer for the benefit of the University community, insurance intermediaries and the insurance market more broadly.”
Professor Alex Karagrigoriou, Chair of the Department of Statistics and Insurance Science, highlighted the importance of bringing students into direct contact with the professional world:
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with HAIC marks an important step towards further strengthening the links between the Department of Statistics and Insurance Science and the insurance market through insurance intermediation professionals. This partnership creates significant opportunities to exchange knowledge and expertise, develop educational and research initiatives and, above all, give our students meaningful exposure to the professional realities of a field that demands specialised skills and expertise. By drawing on the experience and know-how of insurance intermediation professionals, we can further enhance the educational process and help prepare young scientists to meet the needs and challenges of insurance in contemporary society.”
Konstantinos Roussis, President of HAIC, stated:
“For HAIC, our partnership with the University of Piraeus represents an important initiative with both strategic value and substantive purpose. Insurance intermediation needs a new generation of professionals equipped with up-to-date knowledge, strong academic training and a sound understanding of the constantly evolving needs of the insurance market. We want to play an active role in building a bridge between the University and the market, giving students the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the profession and real working conditions through internships, education and interaction with experienced insurance intermediation professionals. At the same time, we consider the development of joint educational and research initiatives particularly important, along with the application of scientific knowledge to address the challenges facing the insurance sector. All HAIC members share a commitment to actively support this partnership, with the aim of delivering long-term and measurable benefits for students and graduates, our sector and, ultimately, the insurance market.”
The new partnership aims to establish a lasting channel of cooperation between the academic community and insurance intermediation professionals. Through education, practical experience, research and knowledge exchange, the University of Piraeus and HAIC are laying the foundations for a partnership that can directly benefit students and young scientists while contributing more broadly to the development of Greece’s insurance market.
Ο Πρόεδρος της Ένωσης Ασφαλιστικών Διαμεσολαβητών Ελλάδος, Κωνσταντίνος Ρούσσης, δήλωσε:
«Για την ΕΑΔΕ, η συνεργασία με το Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς αποτελεί μια σημαντική πρωτοβουλία με στρατηγικό και ουσιαστικό περιεχόμενο. Η ασφαλιστική διαμεσολάβηση χρειάζεται νέους ανθρώπους με σύγχρονες γνώσεις, επιστημονική κατάρτιση και ουσιαστική κατανόηση των συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενων αναγκών της ασφαλιστικής αγοράς. Θέλουμε να συμβάλουμε έμπρακτα στη δημιουργία μιας γέφυρας μεταξύ του Πανεπιστημίου και της αγοράς, προσφέροντας στους φοιτητές τη δυνατότητα να γνωρίσουν από κοντά το επάγγελμα και τις πραγματικές συνθήκες εργασίας μέσα από την πρακτική άσκηση, την εκπαίδευση και την επαφή με έμπειρα στελέχη της ασφαλιστικής διαμεσολάβησης. Παράλληλα, θεωρούμε ιδιαίτερα σημαντική την ανάπτυξη κοινών εκπαιδευτικών και ερευνητικών δράσεων, καθώς και την αξιοποίηση της επιστημονικής γνώσης για την αντιμετώπιση των προκλήσεων που αντιμετωπίζει ο ασφαλιστικός κλάδος. Είναι κοινή βούληση όλων των Μελών της ΕΑΔΕ να στηρίξουμε ενεργά αυτή την συνεργασία, με στόχο να έχει μακροχρόνιο και μετρήσιμο όφελος για τους φοιτητές και αποφοίτους, τον κλάδο μας, και, κατ’ επέκταση, την ασφαλιστική αγορά».
Η νέα συνεργασία φιλοδοξεί να αποκτήσει σταθερό και διαρκή χαρακτήρα, δημιουργώντας έναν ουσιαστικό δίαυλο μεταξύ της ακαδημαϊκής κοινότητας και των επαγγελματιών της ασφαλιστικής διαμεσολάβησης. Μέσα από την εκπαίδευση, την πρακτική εμπειρία, την έρευνα και την ανταλλαγή τεχνογνωσίας, το Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς και η ΕΑΔΕ θέτουν τις βάσεις για μια συνεργασία με άμεσο όφελος για τους φοιτητές και τους νέους επιστήμονες και, ευρύτερα, για την ανάπτυξη της ασφαλιστικής αγοράς στην Ελλάδα.