Greece plans to use its cultural and historical riches to lure Chinese and other foreign students to its universities as part of an overhaul of the state-run higher education system.
Niki Kerameus, the education minister, said in an interview that by 2024, she hoped about 40,000 to 50,000 foreign students would be taking part in English-language courses in classical literature, philosophy and ancient history.
“During past years Greek universities have been inward-looking institutions. We want to internationalise them and render them a hub for [tertiary] education in south-east Europe,” said Ms Kerameus. “We are working with academic institutions, with governments and through personal contacts at universities abroad.”