Favierou str. 39
10438 Athens
Greece
- International/Cultural relations
- Research
- Youth and education
The Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs was founded in 2010 by a group of young international relations scientists. Today it consists of almost 40 members working on a voluntary basis. More than 1000 young students participate every year in its actions, such as european institutions' simulations, conferences, research programs and european-funded projects. The I.R.T.E.A.s' actions are financially supported either by its participation in european-funded projects or by the fees of participation set in some of the organisation's activities. In the four years of its existance the I.R.T.E.A. has managed to create partnerships with almost every University on political science, humanities and business administration in Greece, such as the National Kapodestrian Univeristy of Athens and the University of Piraeus, as well as with other NGOs both in Greece such as the ELIAMEP, and in other countries, such as the B.E.T.A. in Germany and the Youth Council of Cyprus. Lastly it has established its cooperation with the Official Representation of the European Commission in Athens and with the Information Office of the European Parliament in Athens.
The Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs was created with the purpose to fill the gap created in Greece and Europe among theoretical education, practical education and labor market and to establish a strong academic center in Athens for the yourh across the EU and its partner countries. In order to achieve this mission, the Institute will promote the following purposes: 1. The Institute’s primary purpose is for the Greek youth to fully understand the mode of operation of Bodies and Institutions of the European Union. 2. The Institute will inform the citizens of the Union on the international relations of the European Union and its other member states with third counties. 3. The Institute has as its mission the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and policy for the Environment and Sustainability, in order to realize a sustainable society. 4. The implementation of any kind of activity which contributes to the familiarization of the citizens of the member states of the European Union with different cultures and traditions. 5. The Institute aims to bridge the gap among the academic, social and business world in Europe. The most important thing for the Institute is to produce work living up to the requirements of this time and the young people. The Institute will train the young people so as for them to broaden their academic status and to pass from theory to practice. The Institute and the services provided are addressed to the younger generation, since the field of practical training in Greece is static and no expanded at all.
The actions of the I.R.T.E.A. could be divided in five main categories: the simulations, the conferences, the European programs, the actions related to media and the research programs. The simulations organized by the I.R.T.E.A. are four. The first one is the European Parliament Simulation ( Euro.Pa.S), which this year celebrates its five years of excellence. The Euro.Pa.S. has managed to be recognized by all the European Institution as well as the General Secretariat of Youth. In the five years of its existence it has gathered more than 1.000 participants from all over Europe. Our second simulation was the Military Academies Simulation with the participation of students of the National Military Academies of Greece. The simulated bodies are the Council of the European Union and of the Military Committee. The third Simulation is the Simulation of Private Corporations, named Be an Executive, created for post-graduation degree students, studying Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Law and Human Resources at the Athens University of Economics and Business. Last but not least, the Simulation of Euro-Summit in collaboration with University of Athens, Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy and Students Association for International Affairs, which aimed European postgraduate students. This particular conference simulates the European Council with the presence of Ministers of Economics. In the context of our research program our goal is to create and achieve a scientific outcome on issues related to Europe. To fulfill this mission we promote the efforts of the young students and we cooperate with all the interested in promoting as well this effort organizations. Working to this direction we participate in ECOSOC and Europaid. As an example some of our research programs are: “The strengthening of relations in security issues among the countries of Southeast Mediterranean.” “Participatory Democracy: The model of the positive direct democracy of Switzerland and can the EU adopt from that.” “The Balkan Member States as exponents of EU The European orientation and the Balkan States” In our actions related to media we have managed to organize three writing contests the past year, with participations from students in many Greek Universities. By creating this action our goal was to give the space to the Greek youth to express their opinion on daily issues regarding the Greek and the European societies. One of our most important actions which were created in 2013 and aims at becoming an annual event is the 1st European Economic Forum, taking place in Athens, Greece. This action aims at becoming the place where the economics and the society meet to discuss about the future economic plans and the sustainable development of Europe. Last but not least is our participation in European Programs. In 2013 we worked in the program B.E.S.T. (Bringing Europe at Schools and Teachers), in which we organized a simulation of the European Parliament for young pupils of the primary education. Our goal was to teach the kids using a fun game the way the European Parliament works and how the decisions are being made, in a simplified way. In the same year we participated in the program “European Citizens’ Year: The rights of the Youth as European Citizens”, in which we organized supporting the Research Centre of the University of Piraeus, three conferences for freshman students in the University and school students in their last year in the secondary education. Our goal was to raise the awareness of the value of the youth participation in the society in the EU. This year we work again with the Research Centre of the University of Piraeus in the program “Europe at Schools through Art and Simulation”. In this project we organize five simulations, one for teachers with almost 160 teachers working in the primary education and four for 300 pupils.
We believe that by participating in the network of Greece we can exchange good practises and know-how on the issues concerning the youth of Greece, which we have gained trhough our experience. Moreover we could cooperate closer and offer quality opportunities to the Greek youth for education and training on European, human rights and cultural issues. Last but not least we can disseminate the aims of the network and its results through our own activities.
We believe that joining the ALF Network is a great chance for the NGOs of the regions to find partners, exchange good practises, cooperate closer aiming at serving the civil society of their countries and improve the quality of their activities and its dissemination. Moreover the Network gives us the chance to work coordinated towards the cultural understanding and cooperation of the region. Therefore we wish to join the ALF Network and participate in its actions in an active and fruitfull way.