The Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation (MGSF) has today revealed it continues to hold discussions with Sydney’s Macquarie University over its proposal to discontinue the Modern Greek Studies program.
The future of the Modern Greek Studies Program at Macquarie University in Sydney has been uncertain following a proposal by the University to move away from the discipline of Languages and Cultures and instead establish a Discipline of Global Studies.
To this end, the University has been considering discontinuing studies in Modern Greek language (along with Croatian, German, Italian, and Russian).
At the time, the MGSF responded immediately to the University’s proposal, submitting a lengthy written statement against it and holding face-to-face meetings and discussions with the Vice Chancellor of the University and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
The Greek Herald newspaper, in partnership with the Macquarie University Greek Association (MUGA), also initiated a petition to rally community support and save the beloved Modern Greek Studies program at Macquarie University. The petition has so far garnered over 2,500 signatures.
A number of community and political leaders in Greece and Australia further added their voices to the fight, writing to Macquarie University in strong support of the continuation of the Modern Greek Studies Program.
The campaign has been actively supported by Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Kotsiras; Greece’s Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis; the General Secretariat for Higher Education of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports of the Hellenic Republic, Odysseas – Ioannis Zoras; the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; and Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
Other supporters included two federal members of the parliament, Steve Georganas MP and David Smith MP; the NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper MP; the NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis MP; the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis; the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), Harry Danalis; and the former President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra (GOCCC), John Loukadellis; among many others.
In a media release issued on Monday, the President of the MGSF, Theo Premetis, thanked political, community and faith leaders for their support. He also praised Dr Patricia Koromvokis, Lecturer in Modern Greek Studies at the University, and Leon Bombotas, Board Member at the MGSF, for all their hard work over the past few months.
Mr Premetis said a final decision on whether the Modern Greek Studies Program would be discontinued is expected to be made by the middle of 2024.
“Discussions with the University are continuing…” Mr Premetis said in the media release.
“At present, the status quo regarding the Modern Greek Program remains unchanged, and new enrolments are taking place for the 2024 academic year, as well as all other scheduled academic and outreach activities, such as the maintenance of Macquarie University as the only certified Examination Centre in NSW for the Certificate of Attainment in the Greek Language, which is the largest such centre in Australia and one of the most significant in the whole world.”
Mr Premetis also said events are already being planned for next year, such as the Awards Ceremony for the Certificates of Attainment in the Greek Language scheduled for early February 2024, celebrating the International Day of the Greek Language.
