The tripartite collaboration was signed by Mr. Vassilis Kazas, CEO of Grant Thornton, Ms. Catriona Allis, Head of Europe – ACCA, and Professor Michael Sfakianakis, Rector of the University of Piraeus, on Tuesday the 17th of September at the University's premises.
This initiative aims to create a joint program that will provide hands-on professional experience in the audit industry. This program is aimed at senior students of the Department of Business Administration of the University of Piraeus, who are interested in obtaining the ACCA certification and taking their first professional steps as certified public accountants. In addition, it offers participants the opportunity to combine their degree with an internationally recognized professional qualification and the acquisition of work experience in the Grant Thornton team. The "Ignite Your Career" initiative is expected to be fully implemented in the official start of the new academic year this October.
The program will last for three months and will provide significant benefits to participating students, with a basic salary equal to the salary of new entrance assistants, adjusted to their working hours. In addition, Grant Thornton undertakes the cover of the costs of registering students for ACCA's 'accelerate' programme, which allows students who have not yet completed their studies to register with ACCA and start their certification. Grant Thornton will cover the total cost of participating in the “accelerate” programme and will subsidize the tuition fees for those students who choose to take exams during their contract, covering 60% of the education costs.

In addition, Grant Thornton provides special study permits to students on the day of the ACCA exam, thereby facilitating progress, both in their studies and work. Students will be selected on the basis of their academic performance, taking into account their GPA, as well as their scores in specific subjects such as Auditing, Accounting and Cost Analysis. This combined support strengthens their academic and professional future, paving the way to a successful future career.
Mr. Vasilios Kazas, CEO of Grant Thornton, underlined the importance of the partnership, saying: "The partnership with the University of Piraeus and ACCA is a pivotal point for Grant Thornton, as it highlights our substantial commitment to the practical support of young people professionals. With this action, not only do we offer internship opportunities, but we also create the foundations for a long-term collaboration between academic institutions and the business world. Through initiatives like "Ignite Your Career", we contribute from our side to the creation of meaningful prospects for young workers".

Professor Michael Sfakianakis, Rector of the University of Piraeus, stated that: "The University of Piraeus is firmly oriented towards actions and collaborations aimed at strengthening the skills of our students and graduates and the consequent consolidation of strong prospects for their absorption in the labor market. Our partners have leading global presences, Grant Thornton as International Business Consultants and ACCA as a Global professional Accountancy Certification body. This collaboration of ours will certainly contribute to the development of critical skills for our students, which is an important driving force for a healthy entrepreneurship of the future".
Mrs. Catriona Allis, Head of Europe – ACCA, noted: "The specific act and innovative collaboration between the University of Piraeus - Department of Business Administration, Grant Thornton and the largest global body for accounting and finance professionals ACCA, creates new and long-term opportunities for students and future graduates from the Department's undergraduate studies programme, who aim to transition into the professional world, continuing their professional studies with the globally recognized ACCA certification, and gaining meaningful experience through Grant Thornton."
Ms. Katerina Koulouri, Partner, Head of the People Experience and Culture department at Grant Thornton, noted: "This collaboration is not only about providing students with practical experience. It is a comprehensive initiative, which aims to prepare the future leaders of the business world. Through the internships, students will gain access to real working conditions, while participating in the ACCA program will provide them with a competitive edge for their future careers. With our support, they not only receive technical training, but also develop critical skills that will accompany them throughout their careers."