POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR SUPPORTING FOREIGN STUDENTS IN GREECE: A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOANNINA

Autors/ores

  • Christos Zagkos Associate Professor of Sociology of Education, Department of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
  • Olga Tzafea PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
  • Christina Tziamtzi MA, Preschool Educator, Greece
  • Spyros Aravanis PhD, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v13i2.6517

Paraules clau:

international students, higher education, integration, inclusion, intercultural education

Resum

This study examines how foreign students experience studying at Greek universities and how institutional policies support—or fail to support—their integration. Based on semi-structured interviews, the research explores students’ perceptions of language, cultural adaptation, and institutional practices. The findings reveal that although Greece has introduced policies promoting internationalization, their implementation remains weak. Support for foreign students is fragmented and mostly informal, depending on personal relationships rather than organized structures. Language barriers, bureaucracy, and financial difficulties are major obstacles to academic success and inclusion. The study concludes that Greek universities still operate within a monocultural framework that places the burden of adaptation on students themselves. To achieve genuine inclusion, institutions must provide systematic language support, mentoring, intercultural training, and accessible information services.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter

Biografies de l'autor/a

  • Christos Zagkos, Associate Professor of Sociology of Education, Department of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Christos Zagkos (PhD) is currently an Associate Professor of Sociology of Education at the Philosophy Department of the University of Ioannina.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3845-0915

  • Olga Tzafea, PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Dr. Olga Tzafea holds a PhD and has completed a postdoc fellowship in the field of Sociology of Education. Her current research interests include social inequalities, intercultural education, and higher education policy.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6756-7082

  • Christina Tziamtzi, MA, Preschool Educator, Greece

    Christina Tziamtzi is a preschool educator. She holds two MA degrees in Cultural Studies and in New Technologies in education.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0946-0517

  • Spyros Aravanis, PhD, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

    Spyros Aravanis holds a PhD and a Postdoctoral specialization in Intercultural Education from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His research focuses on refugee and migrant integration in education and training, the theory of Cultural Capital, and bullying in multicultural school environments. He works as a Secondary School Teacher, connecting academic research with everyday educational practice.

Referències

Altbach, P., & De Wit, H. (2015). Internationalization and Global Tension: Lessons from History. International Higher Education, 2-4. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315314564734

Archer, L., Hutchings, M., & Ross, A. (2003). Higher education and Social class: Issues of exclusion and inclusion. London and New York: Routledge Falmer. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203986943

Asterioti, N. (2018). Introduction of internationalization into higher education curricula (in Greek). Academia, (12), 4-31. https://doi.org/10.26220/aca.2880

Baum, S., & Flores, S. M. (2011). Higher education and children in immigrant families. The future of children, 171-193. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2011.0000

Bista, K., & Foster, C. (Eds.). (2016). Exploring the social and academic experiences of international students in higher education institutions. IGI Global. Retrieved from https://www.igi-global.com/book/exploring-social-academic-experiences-international/139324

Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste (R. Nice, Trans.). Harvard University Press. Retrieved from https://monoskop.org/images/e/e0/Pierre_Bourdieu_Distinction_A_Social_Critique_of_the_Judgement_of_Taste_1984.pdf

Bourdieu, P., & Passeron, J. C. (2014). Reproduction. (in Greek). Athens: Alexandria.

Bowden, M. P., & Doughney, J. (2010). Socioeconomic status, cultural diversity and the aspirations of secondary students in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Higher Education, 59(1), 115–129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734%E2%80%91009%E2%80%919238%E2%80%915

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Burke, P. J., & Crozier, G. (2015). Cultural capital and higher education. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 36(4), 521–537.

De Wit, H. (2011). Internationalization of higher education: Nine misconceptions. International Higher Education, 64, 6-7. https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2011.64.8566

Delgado-Márquez, B. L., Hurtado-Torres, N. E., & Bondar, Y. (2011). Internationalization of higher education: Theoretical and empirical investigation of its influence on university institution rankings. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 8(2), 265–284. https://doi.org/10.7238/rusc.v8i2.1069

Engwall, L. (Ed.). (2023). Internationalization in higher education and research: Perspectives, obstacles, alternatives. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47335-7

Eurostat (2025). Foreign students in tertiary education in the EU – 2023. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250822-1

Gang, I. N., & Zimmermann, K. F. (2000). Is child like parent? Educational attainment and ethnic origin. Journal of Human Resources, 550-569. https://doi.org/10.2307/146392

Georgakopoulos, G. (2019). Acculturation and cultural identities of second-generation immigrant students in the Greek educational system. (in Greek) Doctoral dissertation: University of Patras.

Gropas, R., & Triandafyllidou, A. (2011). Greek education policy and the challenge of migration: an ‘intercultural’ view of assimilation. Race Ethnicity and Education, 14(3), 399-419. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2010.543394

Hawawini, G. (2016). The internationalization of higher education and business schools: A critical review. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1757-5

Jin, J., & Ball, S. J. (2019). ‘Toned Habitus’, Self-emancipation and the Contingency of Reflexivity: a Life Story Study of Working-class Students at Elite Universities in China. British Journal of Educational Studies, 68(2), 241–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2019.1644292

Kavounidi, T., & Cholezas, I. (2013). The paths of young people of immigrant origin in education and the labor market, (in Greek) Athens, KEPE.

Kehm, B. M., & Teichler, U. (2017). The internationalization of higher education: European trends and perspectives. Center for Higher Education Policy Studies.

Knight, J. (2004). Internationalization remodeled: Definition, approaches, and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education, 8(1), 5-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315303260832

Kontogianni, P. (2012). Participation of students with a migrant background in Greek higher education and social background. (in Greek) Master's thesis, University of Ioannina

Larsen, M. A. (2016). Internationalization of higher education: An analysis through spatial, network, and mobilities theories. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53345-6

Law 4009/2011. Structure, operation, quality assurance of studies, and internationalization of higher education institutions. Government Gazette, Issue A, No. 195.

Law 4485/2017. Organization and operation of higher education institutions, regulations for research, and other provisions. Government Gazette, Issue A, No. 114.

Leask, B. (2015). Internationalizing the curriculum. Routledge.

Marginson, S. (2018). Global trends in higher education and the international student experience. Studies in Higher Education, 43(9), 1665–1678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2017.03.008

Milesis, C. P. (2004). Foreign students from Albania in the school community. (In Greek) Doctoral dissertation, Panteion University.

Ninnes, P., & Hellstén, M. (Eds.). (2005). Internationalizing higher education: Critical explorations of pedagogy and policy. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3784-8

Reay, D., Crozier, G., & Clayton, J. (2010). ‘Fitting in’ or ‘standing out’: working-class students in UK higher education. British Educational Research Journal, 36(1), 107–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/01411920902878925

Reay, D., David, M., & Ball, S. J. (2001). Making a difference?: Institutional habitus and higher education choice. Sociological Research Online, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.548

Riddell, S., & Weedon, E. (2014). European higher education, the inclusion of students from under-represented groups and the Bologna Process. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 33:1, 26-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2013.873211

Robson, S., Almeida, J., & Schartner, A. (2017). Internationalization at home: time for review and development? European Journal of Higher Education, 8(1), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568235.2017.1376697

Stamelos, G. (2009). Educational Policy. (in Greek) Athens: Dionikos

Thomas, L. (2002). Student retention in higher education: the role of institutional habitus. Journal of Education Policy, 17(4), 423–442. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680930210140257

Van Ours, J. C., & Veenman, J. (2003). The educational attainment of second-generation immigrants in the Netherlands. Journal of Population Economics, 16(4), 739-753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-003-0147-0

Williams, R. D., & Lee, A. (Eds.). (2015). Internationalizing higher education: Critical collaborations across the curriculum. Sense Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6209-980-7

Zagkos, Ch., Kyridis, A., & Fotopoulos, N. (2019). Refugee crisis and contemporary educational practices. From systemic social vulnerability to structured integration (in Greek) (No. IKEEBOOK-2019-106). Athens, ADEDY-Social Multicenter.

Descàrregues

Publicat

2026-02-05

Número

Vol. 13 Núm. 2 (2026)

Secció

Articles

Llicència

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).