Who we are

The University of the Aegean represents a historical attempt for the Greek University area, since its foundation in 1984, in fact, was a “re-establishment” as a continuation of the vision of the prominent Greek mathematician Konstantinos Karatheodori (or Constantin Carathéodory) at the University of Berlin, who proposed the foundation of an Ionic University based on the indisputable fact that the Greek world is a mediator of the Slavic and Turkish-Arab world and the world of the West. This international prestigious scientist considered that Athens, as the unique education center of Hellenism, is no longer sufficient for its needs, especially in terms of its eastern part. Therefore, he proposes three possible seats for the establishment of the new University: Smyrna, Thessaloniki and Chios, with numerous for each advocated selection criteria. The Founding Decree of the University of Smyrna is issued on December, 1, 1920 by the High Commissioner of Greece, after the signature of the Peace Treaty of Moudros (17/30 October 1918), assigning Greece to control the Smyrna area in order to maintain stability and peace in the wider area and Karatheodori undertook the task of co-ordinating the initial efforts The first plans predict the establishment of Schools related to the exploitation of the area as a neuralgistic point for the overseas Hellenism, while in the final course of the preparation works, the University was considered as equivalent to the big European Universities. Nevertheless, it has never been able to operate due to the Asia Minor Catastrophe.

The first plans included the establishment of Schools which would promote the development of the area as a key spot for the overseas Hellenism, while, when it was almost ready to operate, the University was considered just as good as other well-known European Universities. However, the Ionian University never opened its doors to students due to the Asia Minor Disaster in 1922.