North College Thessaloniki

Statement

In late 2009 North College of Thessaloniki ceased its 34-year-operation due to the Greek economic crisis.This affected the degree completion of many enrolled students. However, North College reputation still remains high through its graduates who have succeeded in achieving substantial careers professionally and academically in Greece and overseas.

Contents

• Statement
• Historical Review
• Academic System
• Academic International Partners
• Academic Innovations
• Location
• Organisation Curriculum
• Governance
• Social Activities
• Alumni
• The Campuses
• References

Historical Review

North College of Thessaloniki, Greece, was established in 1975 as "Makedonikos Ekpedeftikos Organismos - MEO" (Macedonian Educational Organisation). In late 70s the MEO was renamed North College.

North College was one of the first independent institutions of Higher Education in Greece, dedicated to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate academic courses.

Since its establishment, the North College of Thessaloniki operated as an Independent, non-profit-making, Liberal Studies College until 2009, under the legislative decree of the Hellenic Republic, 9/9.10.35.

In 1978, in co-operation with USA Academic institutions and in light of the growing demands of the local employment market, North College of Thessaloniki developed a relevant inspired academic system.

North College began its operation according to the trimester mode and on the basis of a clear modular system.

Until 1993 all courses lead to the Degree after three-year-studies, namely after the completion of a nine-trimester-course.

Academic System

In 1990, North College initiated a policy of approaching the British Educational System in order to comply with the European standards of education. This policy included close contacts and co-operation with British educational institutions.

In 1990s, the College moved rapidly towards a European educational philosophy, in view of the European Unification. In this context, North College Thessaloniki adopted the British educational system.

In 1995, North College changed its nine-trimester-mode of studies into eight-semester-mode.

Academic & International Partners

Specifically, the following collaborations have had a catalytic effect on the North College's operating system:

Academic Innovations

North College was the first and only Institution of Higher Education in Greece, both in the Independent and/or Public sector, which introduced and operated Journalism Studies Courses in 1977.

That innovation enabled first graduates students to be fully and unconditionally accepted by American and British Universities for post-graduate studies.

Until 1990 the Greek state Universities ignored the Media Studies courses. Since then, the dominant notion was that the media professions were, merely, skill-oriented and thus, it was not necessary for journalists etc. to study for a degree.

All the media professionals were self-taught or graduates of irrelevant degrees such as lawyers, mathematicians, psychologists or, even just, high school graduates.

Location

North College resided in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city after Athens. Thessaloniki has a population about 1.2 million and an extensive activity on trade and services.

Organisation / Curriculum

The College developed educational programmes in Business Studies, Division of Computing, Art & Design, Psychology & Counselling, Applied Linguistics & Foreign Languages, Mass Media & Communications.

The College was oriented towards the development of Higher Education programmes, research and related services in Greece as well as overseas.

North College internationalised its education in Europe and in the United States by joint projects:

The North College of Thessaloniki used to offer 37 bachelor and 17 master's degrees in School of Business & Computing, School of Art & Design, and School of Humanities & Social Sciences.

United Kingdom remained and still remains the most popular choice of North College graduates to seek for post-graduate studies.

Governance

Social Activities

Clubs, Groups and Societies of North College created by students who shared the same enthusiasm and the same preference for Social, Sports, Cultural, Arts, Performing and Media activities. They were strongly encouraged to develop new plans and initiatives as well as to participate and involve in such activities, cultivating their social skills.

Various Clubs, Societies and Groups used to operate in North College such as Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Aerobic and some more unusual such as Art Therapy Group, which was founded by students of the Department of Psychology and was open and flexible to include members from other study areas.

Alumni

The Alumni Association of North College, operates as an independent legal entity recognized by statute by the competent authorities of the Greek State, in order to ensure communication between the alumni of the college. Besides, one of the main activities of the Alumni Association of North College is the continuous mutual information for the development of its members, but also the interconnections both within the organized structure, and between the different actors and networks of common interest.

The Campuses

During the academic year of 1992-93 (until 2005), the College moved to its new facilities outside the city of Thessaloniki, with purpose-built classrooms, better equipped, bigger and more in quantity. At that time North College owned three Inner City Campuses (City Annex, and Metropolitan Campus) and one out-city campus (Ioannina City).

The last Metropolitan Campus Building of the college was presented during the Pan-Hellenic Architecture Exhibition organized by HELEXPO in November 2005.