started · updated
Greece faces higher education funding and research gaps
A study by Eurobank’s Economic Research and Analysis Unit highlights significant challenges within Greece’s tertiary education system. The report reveals that Greece has the highest proportion of 20-year-olds enrolled in higher education in the EU-27, at 55.7%, compared to an EU average of 33.1%. Between 2001 and 2023, postgraduate student numbers increased eightfold, while doctoral students nearly tripled.
Despite high enrollment, the study notes that public funding for education in Greece remains low, averaging 4.1% of GDP during the 21st century, compared to the EU average of 4.8%. While higher education institutions absorb a larger share of this funding (1% of GDP versus the EU average of 0.8%), the majority of these funds are directed toward faculty salaries. This leaves critical areas such as research, infrastructure, student welfare, and scholarships underfunded.
The researchers, Dr. Tasos Anastassatos and Dr. Konstantinos Peppas, propose several policy reforms to better align education with economic needs. These include rationalizing student intake to match EU averages, addressing oversupply in certain fields to prevent underemployment, and strengthening sectors that match Greece’s competitive advantages. The study emphasizes the need to boost research and improve the quality of education to attract international students and drive economic growth.
Entities
Eurobank · European Union · Greece · Konstantinos Peppas · Tasos Anastassatos
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] 55.7% of 20-year-olds in Greece attend higher education institutions, compared to the EU-27 average of 33.1%. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Greece's state funding for education averaged 4.1% of GDP between 2001 and 2024, compared to the EU average of 4.8%. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Greek productivity stands at 56.2%, the lowest level in the European Union. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Higher education institutions in Greece absorb 1% of GDP, compared to the EU average of 0.8%. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The number of doctoral students nearly tripled between 2001 and 2023 to 33,700. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The number of postgraduate students in the university and technological sector increased eightfold between 2001 and 2023 to 106,800. www.thenewspaper.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · www.ieidiseis.gr