From 17 to 20 September, Vice Dean Sang Dawei of Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, led a delegation to Greece for an international exchange visit. The visit focused on the discipline development of smart aviation management, and the delegation held a series of talks with several institutions, including the Hellenic Air Transport Organisation (Hermes), the University of the Aegean, Athens International Airport, and Greek aviation service providers, in order to deepen industry-academia-research alignment in the China-Greece aviation field and actively open up new space for international talent cultivation cooperation.
During the visit, the delegation met successively with the core management and academic leaders of Greek aviation industry organisations, national safety regulators, major hub airports, official air traffic management authorities, and universities, establishing stable and efficient channels of communication and collaboration in the China-Greece aviation field and laying a solid foundation of contacts and mechanisms for future mutual visits and practical cooperation between the two sides.
In talks with the Hellenic Air Transport Organisation (Hermes), the delegation met Dr Kostas Iatrou, Secretary General and Director of the organisation, and conducted a detailed study of the operating structure and educational practice of the industry committee of the Greek MATBA aviation transport management MBA programme, clarifying the trinity model of international aviation talent cultivation: "academic teaching by universities + empowerment by industry experts + practical support from enterprises."
At the Athens campus of the University of the Aegean, the delegation held in-depth discussions with Professor Andreas Papatheodorou, Dr Ioanna Pagoni, Dr Eirini Vlassi, Dr Anna Kyriakaki, Head of the Department of Tourism Economics and Management, Professor Theodoros Stavrinoudis, Dr Patroklos Patsouris, Dr Nikolaos Iason Koufodontis, and other faculty and experts from the university. The two sides exchanged views fully on the MATBA programme and the construction of a Master's programme in smart aviation management, systematically examining the MBA programme's operating mechanisms, university-enterprise collaboration model, curriculum structure, and pathways for bringing in industry resources. They reached preliminary consensus on cooperation regarding international talent cultivation in aviation, integrated innovation across industry, academia and research, and cross-border academic interaction, paving the way for deeper project-level collaboration.
The delegation visited the office of the European Public Law Organization and held a thematic discussion with Professor Triant Flouris, Chairman of the Hellenic Air Accident and Railway Accident Investigation Board (HARSIA), focusing on the exchange of views on aviation safety governance and professional talent cultivation. The delegation gained a systematic understanding of Greece's national-level aviation accident investigation and handling procedures, safety risk management framework, and integrated transport safety governance system, and learned about HARSIA's practical approach of participating flexibly in university aviation education in the capacity of an industry think tank. The delegation gathered a body of teaching materials and research topics worthy of reference in aviation safety management, accident case analysis, and civil aviation compliance and risk control, which will provide strong support for improving the quality and effectiveness of the college's course development and practical teaching in the aviation safety direction.
At Athens International Airport, the delegation called on Dr Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Marketing and Communications, and conducted on-site research into the operations management and industry-education integration practices of a major international hub airport. The delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the airport's advanced experience in commercial operations, operational support, and brand and market development, and mapped out the pathways through which airports participate in aviation talent cultivation, covering diverse cooperation formats such as joint course development, lectures by industry executives, on-site study visits, and matching of internship and employment resources. This provided important reference for the college in building a real-world aviation practical teaching platform.
The delegation also held a working meeting with Dr Alexandros Karidis, Deputy General Manager of a Greek aviation service provider, exchanging views on Greek air traffic management support, airspace governance, and industry-academia-research collaboration mechanisms. During the meeting, the delegation learned about cutting-edge industry practices such as Greek airspace planning and air traffic control, and studied the cooperation models through which official air traffic management authorities participate in university discipline development, including the provision of industry cases, guidance for academic research, and supervision of graduation theses. This broadened the international perspective and enriched the practical teaching resources for the college's discipline development in smart aviation management.