About

The Foreign Language Unit was initially founded in the late 1960s and provided the foreign language teaching program for the newly established School of Mathematics and Physics. It remained under the supervision of the aforementioned School until the 1980s, when its supervision was transferred to the Central Administration, namely to the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and the Senate.

Today, the Foreign Language Unit operates as an independent teaching unit governed by a charter approved and ratified by the University Senate (171/31-08-1992), in accordance with Act 17, Paragraph 5, of the Charter of the University of Patras (Decision of the Ministry of Education Β1/482/14-06-1989). It is funded by the University’s annual budget.

Every three years, the Unit appoints a Coordinator who is responsible for the daily operation of the unit. The Coordinator is a permanent member (EEP) of the teaching staff of the Foreign Language Unit, is proposed by the decision of the unit’s general assembly and is ultimately approved by the University Senate.

A similar election process applies to the Financial Coordinator, who is also a member of the teaching staff (EEP) of the Unit, and he/she is responsible for the unit’s income and expenses.

The members of the teaching staff of the Foreign Language Unit are elected to positions of Special Teaching Staff (EEP) based on the availability of positions.

A. The Foreign Language Unit offers courses in English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish (in collaboration with the Cervantes Institute of Athens) to students whose departments include foreign language instruction in their undergraduate curriculum (from one to four semesters depending on the department). Therefore, it aims to meet the teaching needs arising from the curricula of all University departments in the field of Foreign Languages for Specific, Academic, and General Purposes.

B. The Foreign Language Unit also aims to collaborate with domestic or foreign academic institutions, research centers, scientific bodies, public services, local government agencies, and other social organizations on issues related to teaching and research in the field of Foreign Languages, as well as in other areas related to the further academic development or specific academic interests of the Unit’s EEP members.

C. Moreover, it aims to organize conferences, workshops, seminars, and lectures related to foreign language teaching as well as research associated with applied methodology and pedagogy, and with aspects of the cultures of the respective countries whose languages are taught. Finally, its members aim to produce academic publications, develop teaching materials, and contribute to various forms of academic publishing.