The 4th GE.L. of Rhodes had the opportunity to visit Italy from 8th to 12th March. 56 pupils and 4 accompanying teachers, Mr. Vrontaki Anastasia, Theoulakis Kyriakos, Tsakanika Evangelia and Philippaki Lina took an educational trip to Rome, following an invitation from Tor Vergata University, Italy’s second largest public university, attended by approximately 30.000 students from all over the world.
During the visit, they visited the university’s premises and toured the faculties of law, economics, pharmacy and engineering. After the presentation of the Italian educational system and the presentation of the way the university operates, by the officers of the liaison office, our students had the opportunity to talk with Greek students and to obtain further information about their studies and their lives. As noted by Emmanuela Titi and Giorgos Gouvas, second-year medical students: All science is based on the Greek language and Greek Nationwide Exams are very important, since admission to Italian universities is a prerequisite. The knowledge that comes with the Greek Nationwide Exams is essentially since it is needed for the first year of the university. The best part of student life in Italy is multiculturalism, contacting young people from all over the world.
Visiting our students at the university was in any case a life experience for them. Among the other things they did there, was attending the presentation of a program undertaken by engineering students and related to the creation of a Formula1 car that they design and manufacture entirely themselves, with the contribution of all departments of the university, proving in practice the interdisciplinary nature of science today and the fact that knowledge knows no limits. In addition, our visit to the university offered us the opportunity to realize that European citizens are truly free to study in any country in the European Union they want and to enjoy exactly the same rights.
At the end of the visit, the students offered the organizers of the visit and the Rectorate of the university, souvenirs from Rhodes provided by the kind sponsorship of the Tourism Directorate of the Municipality of Rhodes, as a means of showing our practical gratitude for the hospitality we experienced.
During the excursion, students visited Florence and Rome’s most important monuments. They also toured the Vatican state and realized that Rome is the only existing example of a city often defined as the capital of two states. Through their visit to all these cultural sites, they had the opportunity to experience the culture of the neighboring country and to strengthen their relations with each other.
Taking part in such an educational trip is always a life experience for children. Everything went smoothly and the accompanying teachers expressed their pride in accompanying such exceptional children. We wish our students to be given many similar opportunities in the future, to enrich their knowledge and experiences.
