22 Chinese students visiting Corfu
CORFU. The visit is part of the familiarisation programme with Greek culture, conducted by the Ancient World Studies Laboratory of the Department of History in collaboration with Sichuan University and the Australian Archaeological Institute in Athens.
On Friday, January 26th, a group of Chinese students from Sichuan University is arriving in Corfu. The 22 students are participating in a programme to familiarise themselves with Greek culture, initiated by the Ancient World Studies Laboratory of the Department of History at the Ionian University.
The programme is the result of a collaboration between the Laboratory, led by the Head of the School of Humanities, Professor Athanasios Efstathiou, Sichuan University, and the Australian Archaeological Institute in Athens.
The goal is to introduce the Chinese students to Greek culture and history through visits and guided tours to archaeological sites, significant monuments, and ancient attractions, as well as more recent historical landmarks. The Chinese student delegation will set foot on Greek soil on January 21st, initiating their contact with the iconic museums and historical landmarks of Athens before departing for Corfu. They will also visit Ioannina during their programme.
Guided tours and lessons
During their nine-day stay (departing on February 4th) on the island, the students will visit museums, the archaeological site of Mon Repos, the preserved ancient temples, the Old and New Fortress, and other significant monuments. "During their visit to Corfu, they will go on guided tours of important landmarks on the island and attend classes on issues related to Greek culture, as well as medicine in antiquity and Byzantium. How we go forward will depend on the results,' Mr. Efstathiou told Enimerosi.
The whole process started in the autumn of 2023, initiated by the Ancient World Studies Laboratory, headed by Mr. Efstathiou and also supported by his colleagues Polyxeni Strologa and Konstantinos Stefos. Last November, the laboratory was visited by the director of the Australian Archaeological Institute in Athens, Professor Tamar Hodos, along with Dr. Lita Gregory-Tzortzopoulou, to discuss the details of the project.
As Mr. Efstathiou said, it is an effort that enhances the international orientation of the Ionian University. Despite the significant challenges faced to reach the present, they have managed to overcome them, and time is now counting down to the arrival of the Chinese students. "The whole process started last October. The first contact was made, and after agreeing that the programme could take place, we entered the process of selecting the students," he stated.
Selection of students
Indeed, the demand exceeded expectations, leading to the need for selection of participating students through interviews, conducted via Zoom. In total, 50 applications were submitted by interested students. Sichuan University is a public research university and one of the top academic institutions in China.
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
Photo: Professor Athanasios Efstathiou with the director of the Australian Archaeological Institute in Athens, Professor Tamar Hodos, and Dr. Lita Gregory-Tzortzopoulou
