Greece's plans for technical institutes upset its universities

The Greek government's efforts to upgrade technological institutes have provoked deep divisions in the academic community.

University and technological institute chancellors have convened meetings to formulate counter-proposals to the draft legislation. Some teaching staff have already taken industrial action and others are considering it.

Greece's 14 technological institutes are included in the non-university sector, but draft legislation states: "higher education in Greece is made up of two branches: the universities and the technological institutes. Both branches retain their specific roles and orientation but work together according to the rules and regulations that govern the branch of their activity."

Upset by the draft legislation, university chancellors claim that "not all the technological institutes are ready for upgrading". They propose a system of assessment, which may lead to upgrading for some. Technological institute chancellors reject such assessment.

Technological institute teaching staff object to any reassessment and job reapplication procedures. They want all the technological institutes upgraded and their jobs regraded in line with conditions in the universities.