The MSc programme – “Master in Law and Economics” visits the World Bank and the IMF

The MSc programme “Master in Law and Economics” of the University of Piraeus announces its honorary participation in the signing of a memorandum of academic cooperation between George Washington University’s Elliot School of Foreign Affairs and the Rectorate of the University of Piraeus.

The memorandum was signed on Wednesday, 7th of February 2018, between the Vice President of George Washington University, prof. Leo M. Chalupa, and the Rector of the University of Piraeus, prof. Angelos Kotios, laying the foundation for strengthening academic, educational, and research collaboration between the two institutions.

“This initiative is part of the University of Piraeus’ broader internationalisation strategy. Our goal is international networking, promoting our research and scientific achievements globally, student and faculty exchange on an international level, attracting distinguished scientists, and co-supervising doctoral theses,” the Rector of the University of Piraeus, prof. Angelos Kotios stated.

The World Bank, the US Department of State, the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, and the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) were among the institutions visited by the students of the “Law and Economics” Interdepartmental Program of the University of Piraeus, along with the programme’s director, Prof. Victoria Pekka-Economou, during their recent visit to Washington DC, USA.

Members of the Greek delegation met with the IMF representative in Washington, Dr. Gerry Rice, and Greece’s representative at the IMF, prof. Michalis Psalidopoulos, with which they discussed Greece’s contemporary challenges and opportunities in the modern, globalised context. Greece’s representative at the IMF, prof. Michalis Psalidopoulos, explained the three main functions of the IMF: surveillance, lending, and training. He detailed that the IMF oversees countries’ financial systems, lends and approves assistance programs to member countries with a current account deficit (e.g., Greece, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus), aiming for financial stability. This means the IMF’s purpose is to maintain balance when distortions occur, which would adversely affect other economies due to the domino effect and the globalised modern economy.

The IMF representative in Washington, Dr. Gerry Rice, welcomed the graduate students of the University of Piraeus and praised the initiative of the MSc programme “Master in Law and Economics” to visit the IMF headquarters and discuss Greece’s opportunities and challenges. Dr. Gerry Rice stated that Greece needs a second debt relief, but this is a long-term process because it depends not only on Greece or the IMF but because this relief will affect other forums, policies, financial institutions, and other entities. The pending relief, the IMF representative added, is also related to the EU and, more precisely, with the ECB and its president, Mario Draghi.

At the same time, students were informed about internship opportunities at institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. This visit was made possible by the efforts of the programme’s director, professor Victoria Pekka-Economou, to promote the programme internationally and build its academic network. “Similar actions strengthen our prestige in the international academic and scientific community. We aim to expand our international collaborations and enhance the outreach of the MSc programme “Master in Law and Economics” and the University of Piraeus in general,” stated the programme’s director, prof. Victoria Pekka-Economou.

This was a unique experience, according to the programme’s students, from which, as they noted, they obtained valuable knowledge, widened their network and created favourable conditions for future academic and professional partnerships.

The successful organisation, implementation, and completion of the educational trip to Washington were the result of a joint effort by prof. Aristotelis Tziampiris, Dean of the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus, prof. Athanasios Platias, director of the MSc programme “Master in International and European Studies” of the University of Piraeus, and prof. Victoria Pekka-Economou, director of the MSc programme “Master in Law and Economics” of the University of Piraeus.

Source: Το Βήμα