EU and U was an interactive, informative - but also entertaining - two-day conference organized by the Delegation of the European Commission to Greece, and supported by our own European Information Center, Europe Direct Central Macedonia!  The Conference hosted many speakers, mentors, and trainers who shared their experience with young people who were seeking information and inspiration!  Career Office staff and students from Perrotis College were there, to attend the lectures and workshops.

Perrotis College International Business students attended an event organized by the Hellenic Management Association. The event topic was the Human Capital and continuous success in SME’s. The key note speaker was Mr. Dimitris Bourantas, Management professor and author.

*In the picture Perrotis College students with the Mr. Dimitis Missas, president of the Human Resources Institute of the Hellenic Management Association

Dr. Adrian van den Bosch, consultant and instructor – collaborator in CAH Vilentum University – Drontenin Netherlands, visited Perrotis College and delivered lectures to Perrotis College students. The presentation topics were Innovative technologies and Reduced impact on Climate change as well as Vegetable Farming.

In addition, potential collabroations in research and other areas were discussed with Dr. Athanasios Gertsis and Dr. Kyriaki Zinoviadou.

Perrotis College students visited AB Vassilopoulos supermarket in the context of their Marketing class. During the visit students had the chance to discuss with the store manager and examine aspects such as consumer trends and key success factors for specific brands, evaluate the competition by assessing the number of stock keeping units and product variety available on the shelfs, evaluate pricing strategies and evaluate in store sales promotion techniques.

Perrotis College students had the chance to visit Ktima Gerovasileiou and tour the winery premises. They were informed in depth about the production process and about the proper wine tasting techniques. The visit was scheduled in the context of the module Sensory Analysis of Food.

Dr. Dedousis gave a lecture titled “Biological Agriculture” to Perrotis College students. Dr. Dedusis studied New Agricultural Technologies and is the Director of the mutli-farm “Γημας”, which produces only biological products and is located in Marathonas in Attica.

Perrotis College students attended an event titled “What is Blockchain? Can it help your business?” which was organized by the Greek Institute of Information Technology and Communication of the EEDE with the support of IBM.

The participants learned how Blockchain could modernize the security processes and quality assurance, as well as how it could become a marketing tool. The presenters discussed about how the distance between producers, suppliers and consumers could be minimized and how Blockchains could guarantee speed and security in transactions. The last section of the event examined if all sectors could benefit from Blockchains. 

On the evening of the last Wednesday of February, a day before Tsigknopempti the Perrotis residence staff held a game night to celebrate. There were many wonderful snacks including some cheese and meats. There was a raffle for a jumbo size chocolate bar. Many residents came together to play games such as Uno, Jenga, and Connect 4. Here is to wishing everyone Καλές Αποκριές!

Perrotis College strives to give its students opportunities and skills that will allow them to be competitive not only in the national, but in the international environment. An excellent example of such an opportunity is the participation in competitions aimed at students and young adults.

This semester, the second year International Business students, in the context of their Entrepreneurship class, submitted two group business plans, based on suggestions provided by Dr. Tryfon Adamidis and Dr. Kyriaki Zinoviadou, and under the guidance of Mr. Theocharis Spyropoulos, the course leader. The submission was made to the “Start Up Program of Junior Achievement-Europe” program. The program is being implemented simultaneously in 300 universities across Europe with the participation of 15,000 students.

In the previous semester, Ms. Foteini Kartali, a third year International Business student, submitted a proposal and is now among the 24 semi-finalists in Greece, at the MIT Enterprise Forum Start Up Competition. As a result of her achievement, Foteini will be participating, until May, in weekly workshops/training sessions on entrepreneurship in Athens.

Perrotis College students visited the company Viomar in Larissa. The company is a part of the Chipita group and produces marmalades packaged in jars, as well as marmalades used for croissant filling, which are shipped all over the world. The visit left a strong impression to the students for the high quality of the final products, the contemporary know how and equipment of the company, as well as the research and development department of the company

In the framework of the “Current Issues” module for the 3^rd year students of all majors of the Undergraduate Studies, Prof. A. Tsaftaris, the Academic Dean of the Graduate Studies at Perrotis College has presented the topic “Challenges and Prospects in the Agricultural Sector: The role of innovations particularly in the digital Genomics fields”.

The presentation was held on Wednesday, the 20^th February at 12:00, in the APEC Amphitheater of Perrotis College. Prof. Tsaftaris was introduced to the students by Dr Adamidis, Coordinator of Food Science & Technology Programme and the presentation was followed by a vivid discussion generated by the remarks and the questions of the senior undergraduate students.

The departments of Food Science and Technology and International Business visited in the context of the Current Issues module the SKNIPA microbrewery.

The students had the chance to tour the facilities, discuss about the beer production process and to be informed about the company’s promotional and exporting activities. The company also provided to the students malt for their New Product Development lab!

Perrotis College students visited the company Alpha Lavender in the context of their Medicinal & Aromatic Plants class. Alpha Lavender is a vertically integrated company that produces lavender essential oils and other products based on lavender. Not only they have fields for lavender cultivation, but also harvesting equipment and a distillery for essential oil production. The students were very impressed with the quality and organization of the whole operation and the very informative presentation by the owner, Theocharis Pavlidis. It was to be mentioned that the company follows all state and European laws and guidelines for safety and have all required certifications for their facility. Their products are certified organic and they also have the Halal and Kosher certifications for exports. The company serves as an example of the potential for a highly successful enterprise in the area of aromatic plants.

Waste is not always wasted! In the context of the classes Waste Management and Principles of Precision Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability Perrotis College students visited  Biogas Lagada SA, a company that produces electrical energy from farm and dairy waste. Faculty members in charge: A. Gertsis and K. Zoukidis.

On Friday the 9th of November third year students of the Food Science and Agro Environmental Systems Management programs visited the olive mill of our graduate and current MSc student Savvas Gavriilidis in Portaria Chalkidiki. The visit was organised by Dr. Vasilios Ziogas and Dr. Kiki ZInoviadou as part of the modules Postharvest & Olive Processing and Applied Food Biochemistry.

In recognition of his research and commitment to his students, Dr. Avraam Mavridis received the Athinoula A. Martinos Endowed Professorship award this past year.​ The award is funded by Thanassis Martinos, who established the Endowment in memory of his daughter Athinoula. Every year, 4% of the endowment covers the salary of a distinguished professor of Perrotis College. Dr. Mavridis received his Ph.D. in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Agroenvironmental Sustainability from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), his M.Sc. in Geoinformatics/Remote Sensing and his B.Sc. in Agriculture from the same university. He is National Expert of the European Commission on Organic Agriculture, evaluator of 81 research proposals and member of 35 projects, co-author in 6 books, member of Experts of EU EIP-AGRI, of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), of GSRT (Greek Secretariat of Research and Technology) and of EKDDA (National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government). 

On Wednesday October 31st Perrotis College Student Life staff hosted a Halloween Evening Gathering. The participants included students at the college along with one study abroad student and a few of the American Farm School fellows. The gathering entailed a three-legged race, pumpkin carving, and a cake-walk. The event provided time to enjoy the season with snacks and good company. Fun was had by many!

On Saturday, October 6th, 2018 first-year Perrotis College students gathered for a day of team-building. Also in attendance were mentors from the Perrotis Leaders and Mentors (PLM) program and some of the Perrotis College student life staff.

The day started with "ice-breaker" games used in order for the students to become more familiar and comfortable with one another and the staff. After some coffee and treats, it was time to go outside to the beautiful sunny day. The students were asked to work together and rely on their strong communication skills to take part in a team-building exercise, without using their hands they had to get a tennis ball in a drinking cup! Next, it was time to meet with their mentors from the PLM program. During this meeting, the groups played games and worked to begin the program on a strong note. Finally, to end the day the students enjoyed lunch together from the AFS dining service.

Participation of Dr. Vergos, Dean and Farm Director, School of Professional studies, and Dr. Rotsios, Academic Dean of Undergraduate programs at Perrotis College, at the event on “Agricultural education in Greece and the reconstruction of the Primary Production in the Midst of the Economic Crisis” organized at the Averofios Farm School, in Larisa, Saturday, 29/9/2018.

Dr. Christos Vasilikiotis is  at UC Davis, California, where he is working on planning and setting up the research project on the role of soil, management on soil health, in almond and prune orchards, and in particular on microbial communities in the rhizosphere and on mycorrhizal associations. 

Dr. Konstantinos Rotsios and Mr. N. Gizkis participate in the PanHellenic Feta Cheese conference (www.feta2018.gr) with a presentation on the “Global Trends in the Agro-Food Sector”. September 14th-16th, Elassona, Greece. This three day annual event focuses on one of the most well recognized Greek food products in international markets. It includes exhibitions, workshops and seminars, B2B meetings, culinary and cultural events. Dr. Rotsios and Mr. Gizkis, presented the current challenges as well as opportunities of the Agro-Food Sector and how these are addressed through the Perrotis College academic programs in addition to the joint project opportunities related to feta, with the industry.

We had the joy of welcoming Dr. Vitti Allender, chairperson of the Food Science & Technology Department at Cardiff Metropolitan University, with 8 of her students. 
During their visit - together with Perrotis College Professor Dr. Tryfon Adamidis - they conducted laboratory work, attended lectures and workshops and explored the possibility of organizing team student common projects. We are looking forward to welcoming them again soon!

Dr. Kiki Zinoviadou, Assistant Professor at Perrotis College, presented part of her and the students' research at the "5th International ISEKI_Food Conference; The food system approach: New challenges for education, research and industry" which tοοk place in Stuttgard, from July 3-5. The conference attracted more than 300 participants from 44 countries all over the world. 

Perrotis College has welcomed 23 Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) students from their Global Projects Program. 
For a little over 2 months, under the supervision of Perrotis professors, the student groups will work on exciting projects impacting the larger community of Thessaloniki. 

Precision Agriculture students were trained on flying a drone and learned how it can be used in the agro-environmental sector. 

First year Perrotis College students majoring in International Business visit the company “Bekas Family”, producing high quality buffalo products, in Sindos Industrial Area, Thessaloniki.

Perrotis College students of the Agro-Environmental Systems Management B.Sc. learn how to use a Disc Plough and prepare the soil for planting!

Spending his summers on his grandfather's farm in Albania, Genti Kostandini knew he would never lose his love of agriculture. What he didn’t expect, however, was a career path that would take him on a worldwide odyssey in pursuit of his professional goals. As a professor of agriculture and applied economics at the University of Georgia, Kostandini’s research has taken him to Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Mexico to study the impact of drought-tolerant crops and the risks associated with increased rainfall variability. Given his wide range of research interests—everything from the effect of immigration laws on labor supply to biopharming intellectual property rights—Kostandini expects that much more international travel lies ahead. Read on here.

Professor Kyriaki "Kiki" Zinoviadou arrived at Perrotis in 2011 to work as a part-time lecturer for the Food Science & Technology department, and since become one of the major's two full-time professors. She earned her BSc in Food Science from Aristotle University before heading off to Wageningen University in the Netherlands, where she earned her Masters in Product and Ingredient Functionality on a scholarship from NUFFIC (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education). She returned to Thessaloniki to complete her PhD in Food Science and Technology at Aristotle University, working as a fellow of the Ministry of Education. Read on here.