Visit of the University of the Mountains at Prison Of Agias - Chania, 23 December 2011

Visit of the University of the Mountains at the Orphanage of Heraklion and the nursing home for old people at Rethymnon, 20 December 2011

Visit of the University of the Mountains at Heraklion's prison, 12 December 2011

Visit of the University of the Mountains at Chania's prison, 02 December 2011

On Friday 1 and Saturday 2 May 2011 the UoM carried out a series of actions in Hersonisos in cooperation with the corresponding municipal authority and the Cultural Association of Mochos.

On Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May 2011 the UoM carried out a series of actions in Kantanos-Selino and Platanias in cooperation with the corresponding municipal authorities.

The Androgeo municipal hall was filled with local people, members of the academic community and students during the speech of Serge Latouche at 18:15 on Thursday, 5 May 2011. The title of his speech was “Degrowth / Down scaling as a Local Plan”.

The speaker was introduced by the Rector of the University of Crete, professor I. Pallikaris, and His Holiness the Archbishop of Crete Mr. Eirenaeos.

On Wednesday, 27 April 2011, UoM members, under professor and Rector of the University of Crete Mr. I. Pallikaris, met with representatives of the prefecture of Chania in the conference hall of the building of the prefecture to discuss the issue of valorization of the Omalos Museum, the agricultural and stockbreeding prospects of the region and the planning of relevant actions.

On 26 April 2011 the members of the Culture group met to plan further actions by the UoM.

Professor Theocharis Detorakis was designated head of this group, to be assisted by professor Michael Kopidakis.

On Monday 18 April 2011 the UoM, headed by the Rector of the University of Crete professor Ioannis Pallikaris, met with local government officials in the building of the prefecture of Chania to discuss the valorization of the Omalos Museum and ways to support development in the mountainous and isolated regions of the prefecture. They also discussed the plans for their new action to take place in the municipality of Kantanos-Selino.

On Friday, 8 April 2011, the UoM, jointly with the municipality of Amari, carried out a series of actions in the municipal villages.

At 09:00 am on Thursday, 17 March 2011, a meeting was held in the Rector’s Hall in Heraklion to discuss the details for the submission of a program proposal involving the building of a solar powered cheese-making unit as well as other actions of the UoM.

At 13:30 on Tuesday, 15 March 2011, a meeting was held in the Rector’s Hall of the University of Crete to discuss the details for the expedition to Amari on 8 April 2011.

On Friday, 4 March 2011, the UoM, in cooperation with the municipality of Viannos, the Mobile Eye Unit of the University Hospital, the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute under prof. I. Pallikaris, as well as the ENT team of the University Hospital under Registrar A’ Mr. Emmanuil Prokopakis, traveled to the village of Ano Viannos of the Heraklion prefecture to carry out health checks of High School and Lyceum students.

At 2:00 pm on Wednesday, 9 March 2011, the Physicians of the Mountains convened in the Rector’s Hall of the University of Crete to plan future actions.

At 7:00 pm on Thursday, 3 March, a meeting was held in the Rector’s Hall to discuss the set up of a network for the design of further actions.

At 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 3 March, faculty members from the Department of Social Sciences and the Department of Education convened in the Rector’s Hall at the UoC in Rethymnon to plan for Educational Actions.

At 09:00 am on Monday, 28 February 2011, the heads of the Work Groups convened in the Rector’s Hall to plan the new actions of the UoM.

On Saturday, 5 Feb. 2011, the Administration of the UoM, headed by the Rector of the UoC, Professor Ioannis Pallikaris, met with the deputy Secretary Generals and most of the mayors of the island.

The UoM, in cooperation with the Mobile Eye Unit of the University Hospital, staff from the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute under professor of Ophthalmology Ioannis Pallikaris, and professor of social medicine Christos Lionis, arrived at the village of Miamou on Friday, 28 January 2011, to provide medical assistance to the inhabitants.

On Tuesday, 25 January 2011 a meeting was held in the Rector’s hall of the UoC between the Rector, professor Ioannis Pallikaris, and professors Panagiotis Michailides and Christos Lionis; the Director of Primary and Secondary Education of Crete Mr. Apostolos Klinakis; and the Head of Science and Education Counseling for Secondary Education of Crete, Mr. Emmanuil Polyzoakis.

This meeting was attended by UoM volunteers Mrs. Varvara Terzaki and Mrs. Tereza Karpathiotaki.

The aim of this meeting was to foster cooperation among UoM professors and the staff of the Directorate of Primary & Secondary Education of Crete to better support schools located in mountainous and isolated areas of the island.

On Monday, 27 December 2010, a meeting was held for the (UoM) annual report 2010. The meeting was attended by the Archbishop of Crete, His Holiness Eirinaeos, professors I. Pallikaris and Panagiotis Michaelides, Mrs. Varvara Terzaki, Mr. Stavros Kabelis, Mr. Michalis Kopidakis, Mr. Georgios Kopidakis and Mr. Manolis Stratakis.

An International Conference on Culture

24-27 November 2010 at the House of Arts & Letters – Onassis Foundation

On the occasion of the 65^th Convention of Rectors and Presidents of Faculty Staff of Hellenic Universities held on 22-23 October in Rethymnon, a satellite event was organized for the wives of Rectors and Vice Rectors with a visit to the old sector of the town of Rethymnon. The ladies were escorted by Mrs. Varvara Terzaki, the wife of the UoC Rector, and the assistant head of the Directorate of International and Public Relations Mrs. Maria Papadaki. Mrs. Anastasia Ploutarchou acted as their guide in the Historical and Folk Art Museum of Rethymnon. Subsequently, Mrs. Sophia Katopi received the ladies in the Center of Modern Art.

I would like to make special reference to the University of the Mountains because I believe it represents a most ambitious effort and is of the highest significance for Greece as it brings knowledge closer to society and society closer to knowledge. It is an experiment which, if its results are given due consideration, it can act as a catalyst in the nature of our universities.

In the context of the 65^th Rectors’ Convention that took place in Rethymnon, the UoM organized an educational intervention referred to as “reciprocal teaching between urban and country students”. This was successfully carried out at the High School of Krana on Friday, 22 October 2010.

On Saturday, 28 August 2010 there was a meeting at the village of Loutro of Sfakia between the Rector of the UoC and chairman of the Board of the UoM Mr. I. Pallikaris and the Association of Greek Stockbreeders. The members of the UoM were also present in the meeting.

The aim of that meeting was to establish contacts with the Association of Stockbreeders and discuss issues relevant to the production and marketing of their products in Greece and abroad, quality improvement and competitiveness in the light of strengthening the local economy. This reflects one of the principles of the UoM, which encourages the young to stay locally and prevents depopulation of these areas.

Discussions focused mainly on the application of UoM good practices in Crete and in other regions of the country. With respect to reciprocal teaching, special emphasis was given to the organization of meetings among stockbreeders from various parts of Crete and among scientists from other parts of the country.

Among others, the following were also present in the meeting: Mr. Panagiotis Peveretos, Mr. Eleftherios Gitsas and Mr. Georgios Giannitsopoulos (respectively, the president, vice-president and sheep-and-goats sector head and PR manager of the above mentioned Association), also the Rector of the UoC prof. I. Pallikaris, beekeeper Mr. Ioannis Hatzidakis, stockbreeders Mr. Stylianos Tsiridanis, and Mr. Emmanuil Paterakis, PPC employee Mr. Christos Arvanitides, and communication expert Mrs. Terzaki Varvara.

A series of happenings, “Actions in Health and Education”, took place at the village of Vorizia on Thursday and Friday, 10 & 11 June 2010. This event was the initiative of the UoM and the prefecture of Heraklion. The following entities also cooperated: the Center for Agricultural Development and Social Solidarity of the prefecture of Heraklion, the municipality of Zaros, the University of Crete, the University General Hospital of Heraklion, the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute, the Health Center of Moires, the District Infirmary of Zaros, the Office for Health Education of DIPE of Heraklion, the High School of Zaros and the teachers of the kindergarten and of the primary school of Vorizia.

The workshop on the subject “Development of the University of the Mountains in Crete” was very successful. In addition to UoM staff, attendants were from the UoC, and the Leiden University of Holland. The presentations will soon be posted on our website.

Attendants: 10 stockbreeders from Anopoli of Sfakia; the Rector of the UoC, prof. I. Pallikaris; the mayor of Sfakia, Mr. Sifis Lykos; the deputy mayor of Chania, Mr. Konstantinos Gyparis; the mechanical engineer Mr. Manolis Benioudakis; the beekeeper Mr. Konstantinos Hatzidakis; the stockbreeder Mr. Manolis Paterakis (from Rethymnon) and Mrs. Varvara Terzaki.

Mr. Pallikaris talked about UoM activities and focused on the solar powered cheese-making unit at Madares. Subsequently, Mr. Hatzidakis and Mr. Paterakis highlighted the significance of this intervention as a model for sustainable development. Next, Mr. Benioudakis presented the technical details for the cheese-making unit and answered questions by interested stockbreeders. The mayor of Sfakia focused on developmental issues in his area and on related past interventions. He found the project [solar powered cheese-making unit] very interesting and suggested that it be purchased by municipalities to be used by stockbreeders free of charge. Mr. Gyparis, the deputy mayor, also spoke highly of the project.

At the closing of the discussions the attendants decided that the first solar powered units be financed by the municipality of Sfakia, while Mr. Benioudakis promised to give a final quote for the cost and provide the final specifications of the machine the soonest possible.

Professor Michael Herzfeld, member of the executive committee of the UoM, gave a lecture on “The institutional footing of fear of responsibility: Scientific Meritocracy and Neoliberal Threat” in connection with the Municipal and UoC lectures-project “Science Citizen 2009-2010: The crisis of the economy and the economy of crisis”.

The UoM organized a meeting-discussion with local people and the staff of the UoC at the village of Vorizia on 23 March 2010.

During that meeting the speakers were: UoC professor of Social Medicine Christos Lionis. He spoke about:

“What do we want from the GP/family physician to prevent diseases?”

Physician and associate of the UoC Department of Social Medicine Christos Hatzis spoke about:

“Traditional Greek nutrition in the prevention of chronic diseases”

On the occasion of this event, the Mobile Mammography Unit arrived at the village of Zaros on Monday 22 March and remained there until Friday 26 March, to invite local women for screening.

A lot of children, their parents and the mayor Mr. Antonis Haralambakis enjoyed the excellent performance “Little Prince”.

At the closing of this event guests tasted delicious local snacks appropriate for all, even for those on a fasting diet.

The UoM organized a spring visit to the charming environment of the plateau of Lasithi, bringing along the Mobile Eye Unit of the University Hospital and staff from the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute. The meeting was scheduled for Saturday, 20 March 2010. Professor of Ophthalmology and Rector of the UoC Ioannis Pallikaris was in charge of this expedition and Mr. Eustathios Detorakis was group leader. The medical team consisted of the following physicians: Trisevgeni Giannakopoulou, Giorgos Kontadakis, Manolis Kallionakis, Dimitra Portaliou, Ourania Pateraki, Katerina Halkia, Giorgos Agorogiannis.

From 10:00 to 20:00 hours the team of physicians examined 102 citizens, mainly aged men and women, in the surgery that had been set up in the Town Hall of Tzermiado.

Serious cases of glaucoma and eyelid problems were diagnosed and patients were referred to the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University Hospital or to the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute.

In the framework of the Coffee shop of the Mountains a stage performance, “The Little Prince”, was staged in the auditorium of the Town Hall at 7 pm of the same day. Mr. G. Antonakis was the stage director while the cast were students of the UoC.

University of Macedonia professor of Learning Difficulties G. Th. Pavlides gave a lecture on the subject “Dyslexia – God’s gift: learning difficulties, attention deficit” in the Androgeo municipal Hall at 17:00 on Tuesday, 2 February 2010. This lecture was organized in cooperation with the UoM, the municipality of Anogeia, the Cultural Association of Anogeia, and the Parents & Guardians Association, as well as the teachers of the Elementary and the High School of Anogeia.

Following two years of successful operation, the members of the Executive Committee of the University of the Mountains convened at Vosakou Holy Monastery on Sunday, 17 January 2010. A report of previous year’s actions and the future plans of the UoM were presented.

In a competition for the title “Man of the Year 2009” which was organized by TA NEA Newspaper, the University of the Mountains and Professor Ioannis Pallikaris received very high ratings, the former for the bulk of its accomplishments and the latter for his work and contribution to UoM.

The chairman of the UoM Executive Committee, Prof. I. Pallikaris; professor of Chemistry Nikos Haniotakis; cheese producer Pavlos Orphanoudakis and an engineer met to discuss the technical specifications of a new traditional cheese factory.

The chairman of the Executive Committee of the UoM, prof. I. Pallikaris, met with Mr. D. Toubanos, an expert on European programs, and with Mrs. T. Karpathiotaki, to discuss the prospects for funding UoM activities through research projects.

The Mobile Eye Unit of the Ophthalmology Clinic of the University Hospital, led by Mr. Stathis Detorakis, staff from the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute, and a team of gynecologists from the Maternity Clinic of the University Hospital, led by Mrs. Anastasia Goumenou, carried out eye and gynecological examinations, respectively, to the inhabitants of the highland areas of the municipality of Tympaki.

The chairman of the Executive Committee of the UoM met with Mr. Stavros Kampelis, Georgios Petrakis, Nikos Haniotakis, Lampis Kopasis to discuss the status of the technical study for the Traditional Cheese Factory to be installed in Madares.

The UoM organized a discussion among parents and teachers in the broader area of Mylopotamos on the subject “Relations between parents, teachers and students”. Among the participants were the Rector of the University of Crete (UoC) and chairman of the Executive Committee of the UoM, professor I. Pallikaris; the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the UoC, professor P. Michailides; faculty members and educators from the prefectures of Rethymnon and Chania.

Members of the University of the Mountains (UoM) and of the Sitia Development Organization SA visited the island of Kasos from 30 to 31 October.

The UoM is a volunteer organization (non-profit) which was formed by the University of Crete to support the mountainous and isolated areas of Crete and of adjacent islands along the lines of sustainable development.

The chairman of the Executive Committee of the UoM, professor I. Pallikaris and Mrs. Varvara Terzaki, Mr. Georgios Petrakis and Mr. Manolis Tsantakis met with the owners of mitata (singular: mitato, shepherd’s shelter) in Anopolis of Sfakia to discuss the prospects for the construction of a traditional cheese-factory. Having discussed the particular features of the plot and the specifications of the equipment, plus other details of the project, 14 representatives of mitata owners signed an agreement that kicks off the technical study for the construction of the traditional cheese factory.

The chairman of the Executive Committee of the University of the Mountains, professor I. Pallikaris, met with Petrakis Giorgos, K. Xylouris, L. Kopasis, P. Orfanoudakis, A. Koutsolelou, T. Karpathiotakis to discuss the prospects for the construction of a Traditional Cheese factory.

Indicative Plan for Educational Interventions in schools located in the highland areas of Crete.

The chairman of the Executive Committee of the UoM and Rector of the University of Crete (UoC), professor I. Pallikaris, paid a 3-day visit, 29-31 August, to the highlands of Madares. Actually, he accessed the mitata located at an altitude of 2,200 meters, having to negotiate rough winding foot paths which lead to remote locations, although laid with telephone and communication lines. Mr. I. Pallikaris discussed with the shepherds the prospects of graviera production on this remote area and the formation of an association-type activity with members pooled from shepherds-owners of local mitata (approx. 14-16 mitata in the area)

Staff from the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital and the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute, members of the University of the Mountains (UoM) and officials from the Prefecture of Heraklion cooperated with the municipality of Kouloukonas (in the prefecture of Rethymnon) to organize a series of health checks for the villagers registered with the municipality of Kouloukonas. The surgery had been set up in the village of Aemonas on Friday, 21 August, and it operated from 09:00 – 13:00 and from 16:00 – 19:00.

Specifically, people had their eyes checked in the Mobile Eye Unit of the University Hospital, while the Internal Medicine team, and related professionals affiliated with the Division of Social Medicine of the University Hospital, provided general check ups. Also, the Mobile Mammography Unit of the prefecture of Heraklion invited interested women, 40-70 years, for screening.

During the same evening (19:30) the Coffee shop of the Mountains invited local citizens for a meeting-discussion in the square of the village with the members of the UoM, professors from other universities, intellectuals, farmers, shepherds and interested working people in the area.

At 18:00 hours on Wednesday, 5 August 2009, a meeting-discussion took place at the Town Hall of Fry in Kassos among residents and members of the University of the Mountains, local stakeholders, intellectuals, farmers and stockbreeders.

On Friday, 7 August 2009, UoC Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry Mr. Manolis Stratakis gave a speech on the subject “The beauties of the Cretan mountains – Prospects for Development” during the 15^th Cretan Students’ Conference (Theme: “Mountainous Crete: Development – Modernization – Promotion” that took place on the Plateau of Lasithi from 6 to 10 August. Venue: Conference Center of the Plateau (inside the Town Hall of Tzermiado).

The “12^th Diktaean 2009: To Diktaean Zeus” was a 3-day event that took place in the village of Psychro on the Plateau of Lasithi. At 20:00 on Thursday 27 August 2009, UoC Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and UoM founding member Manolis Stratakis informed the participants of the newly established Musical Academy, “Rea”. This Academy is the result of cooperation between the UoM and the Kampaneio Foundation.

Since the first postwar years the agricultural sector went into a spiral of intense economic and social transformation, with consequences becoming evident during the 1960’s – a “decade of unrest and violent changes” (Kovani, 1988:271). The rate of changes accelerated in time, from the beginning of the 20^th century to date.

As is true for the agricultural areas of the country, the plateau of Lasithi is a place where significant demographic movements to adjacent and distant urban centers are noted, especially of young people who are in search of better working conditions, higher salary and quality of life.

The issue concerning the development of the Plateau of Lasithi has been on the drawing board of many private and public bodies and on the agenda of associations and lay people, all of whom harbor various ideas about the development of the Plateau which would solve local problems.

This summarized text is written without specialist jargon to address our university professors as regards the outcomes of their work.

For many years now we voice our wish for the Greek universities to become a lively place of knowledge, a place that fosters the exchange of ideas between academics and society. In this way a university nurtures society and is itself rejuvenated by society – in a sense, by thinking globally the university acts locally. There are many theories about an ideal university. However, the question still remains open about the way an entire university can find its way to becoming productive.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

The Plateau of Lasithi is a place of unique natural beauty. It is located at an altitude of 860 meters and surrounded by the mountain ranges of Dikti and Selena. Covering an area of 25,000 square meters (flat land) with 3,500 inhabitants, it is the highest municipality in Greece. In its long history the plateau has met with periods of grandeur and decay, not to mention long periods of depopulation as a result of authoritarian measures.

“Etearc and Fronime: Fact or fiction? Past and present in Axos (Axos of Mylopotamos)”

University professors make their presentations. Open discussion. Interventions by representatives of local authorities and lay people.

Aim: Distinction and synthesis between scientific knowledge and experience.

“Plateau of Lasithi: Traditional sector economy, Technology & Entrepreneurship”

Speeches by Researchers-Professors. Open Discussion. Comments/Arguments by representatives of the local authorities/associations and lay people.

Signing of a Memorandum with the Kampaneio Foundation.

Plateau of Omalos:

• Local products (use – production)
• Energy – Water resources
• Built environment

Speeches by Researchers-Professors. Open Discussion. Comments/Arguments by attendants to the meeting.

21 Dec. 2008 – Meeting of Work Groups. Drafting of proposals (Student Center building)

22 Dec. 2008 – Presentation of the Work Groups’ proposals. Discussion (Vosakou Holy Monastery)

Contacts with local bodies and the Kampaneio Foundation.

Venue:

Village of Psychro, Lasithi.

Venue:

“Pnevmatiki Estia” of the Lasithi Plateau

Venue:

Holy Monastery of Transfiguration at Halepa

Venue:

Holy Monastery of Diskouriou of Mylopotamos

In the light of their preventive medicine actions, the Mobile Eye Unit of the University Hospital, staff from the Vardinoyiannio Eye Institute and of the UoM, in cooperation with the Cultural Center of Kalesa, organized an eye examination of the citizens in the area of Kalesa on Tuesday, 21 July 2009.

Revival of the Saint Marina feast.

Venue:

The tavern of Prokopis, Temenia of Chania

Speech on the subject: “University of the Mountains: Meeting the needs of local communities”

You can download it in pdf format

The Fund Raising Committee of the UoM called a meeting. The attendants were: Emmanuil Helidonis, Nikolaos Vidakis, Ar. Tsatsakis, Emmanuil Stratakis and Ioannis Pallikaris.

The Rector of the University of Crete, professor Ioannis Pallikaris, gave a press conference at the Hall of the Foreign Press Association about the University of the Mountains, which is the initiative of the University of Crete.

My name is Ioannis Karavalakis and I come from the Plateau of Lasithi. I have studied veterinary medicine in France and currently am the president of the P.E.P.L.

My first contact with the University of the Mountains was during a UoM meeting in the Hall of the P.E.P.L. on July 19, 2008. However, I learned more about the UoM when I studied the transcripts of previous UoM meeting recordings (at the Holy Monasteries of Vosakou and Diskouriou, respectively). Following this, I was convinced that if efforts to establish the UoM were successful, then this project would benefit the country.

By the euphemistic term “quality of life” modern people refer mainly to material affluence and leisure devoted to recreation. To attain their aims, in the context of equalizing globalization, people waste natural resources, set their priorities wrong and downgrade Education which, ideally, is neither a fast track utilitarian pursuit nor offhand information gathering, but commensurate development of both our intellectual and moral powers.

Venue:

Omalos

Venue:

Vosakou Holy Monastery at Mylopotamos