On Monday, 24 November 2025, the signing ceremony for the establishment of the Hellenic–Chinese Research Centre for Tourism and Cultural Heritage took place in the Meeting Hall of the Rectorate of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), at the Heraklion Campus. The Agreement was signed by the Rector of HMU, Prof. Nikolaos Katsarakis, and, on behalf of Ningbo University of the People’s Republic of China, Ms Zhang Yue, Chief Inspector of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province and head of the Chinese delegation.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of three additional universities, as well as officials from the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province. From HMU, attendees included the Vice-Rector for International Relations and Extroversion, Prof. Konstantinos Petridis; the Dean of the School of Management and Economics, Prof. Alexandros Apostolakis; the President of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Assoc. Prof. Markos Kourgiantakis; the Scientific Director of the new Centre, Dr Irini Dimou, Professor in the Department of Business Administration and Tourism; and the Head of the International Relations Office, Dr Gareth Owens.
The establishment of the Hellenic–Chinese Research Centre for Tourism and Cultural Heritage is a strategically significant initiative aimed at deepening international academic cooperation, advancing scientific research, and promoting the cultural and tourism identity of Greece. The new Centre is the culmination of an already successful collaboration between HMU’s Department of Business Administration and Tourism and Ningbo University. To date, this collaboration has included joint research in the fields of tourism and cultural heritage, the organisation of a summer school for Ningbo University students in Athens and Crete, teaching provided by HMU faculty to Ningbo students, and the co-supervision of postgraduate theses.
In the coming period, plans include the development of educational programmes for Greek and Chinese students, joint supervision of doctoral candidates, the organisation of a summer school for HMU students at Ningbo University, and the co-organisation of a conference to be held in Crete in September 2026. A key strategic objective is to strengthen the research footprint of both HMU and Ningbo University through the creation of an expanded cooperation network with universities in China and Greece, as well as through attracting funding for research projects in critical fields related to tourism development in both countries.
