Annual meeting of the Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) of the Computer Science Department

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, the Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) of the Computer Science Department reconvened for its annual meeting at the main campus building in Thessaloniki, Greece. Comprised of 9 esteemed experts in the ICT industry, the Board convenes once a year, and this gathering marked the first meeting since the lifting of the Covid-19 crisis restrictions.

The meeting was highly productive, with a range of intriguing and challenging topics discussed at length. The agenda primarily focused on exploring the latest trends and advancements in the IT field, with the aim of identifying future directions and incorporating them into our academic programs. Proposals were presented to enhance our teaching and learning methodologies, taking into account market changes and the current and future demands of the IT industry. Additionally, the meeting delved into the identification of key attributes, personal characteristics, and both soft and hard skills necessary for a successful career in the field.

The Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) of the Computer Science Department at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus serves as a vital bridge for communication and collaboration with the ICT industry in southeastern Europe. One of the primary goals of the Computer Science department is to produce highly skilled graduates, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, who are well-prepared for successful careers. The IAB plays a crucial role by providing advice and guidance to the department on educational, professional, and research matters, complementing the feedback received from scientific societies, quality assurance agencies, and students.

The IAB establishes a direct connection between the department and local industry representatives, resulting in mutual benefits for both parties. Some of the key advantages include:

Department’s Benefits

• Effective direction, review and advice on department's curricula

• Input on current needs of the regional IT industry on both professional skills and knowledge expected from graduates

• Identification of current and future needs of the IT industry

• Employment opportunities for our graduates

• Potential collaboration in EU-funded projects

• Enhancement of the curriculum with active participation of industry practitioners: industrial projects/dissertations, guest lecturing, company visits

Industry’s Benefits

• Opportunities for recruitment of high calibre graduates

• Insight of contemporary trends in academia

• Potential collaboration in EU-funded projects

• Involvement in research activities

• Opportunities to safely experiment with new technologies/methodologies/ideas through undergraduate and postgraduate industrial projects.

The valuable insights and guidance provided by the Industrial Advisory Board complement the feedback received by the faculty from scientific societies, quality assurance agencies, and students on educational, professional, and research matters. Together, they contribute to the continuous improvement and development of our department.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Industrial Advisory Board for their invaluable contributions and look forward to continued collaboration and growth.

IAB 2023 Members:
The IAB consists of high level executives of leading IT companies and senior staff members of the Computer Science Department:

• Kostis Kaggelides, Chief Executive Officer at Gnomon Informatics SA, Chairman BoD,SEPVE

• Sotiris Karagiannis, Chief Innovation Officer (Commercial) - Senior Technology Leader, Space Hellas S.A.

• Dimitris Kartsonakis-Mademlis, PhD,Senior Consultant | Salesforce Developer, Deloitte Digital

• Evagelos Katsadas, Chief Technology Officer, Logismos S.A.

• Alexandros Minas,  Director, Accenture Technology

• Maria Rammou, Human Resources Director, Veltio

• Jimmy Toulas, RWD and Commercial Data Director, EMEA & China, Enterprise Data Solutions & Engineering, Pfizer Digital

• Agathoklis Vatzias, Operations Manager, Digital Transformation and Digital Skills center (DT&S) - Cisco

On behalf of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus the meeting was attended by:

• Prof. Petros Kefalas, Vice-President for Teaching & Learning

• Dr. Dimitris Dranidis, Head of the Computer Science Department

• Mr. Nikos Zaharis, University-Industry Collaboration Manager, Director of South East European Research Centre SEERC

• Dr. Konstantinos Dimopoulos, Principal Ethics Administrator, Academic Director of Postgraduate Studies

• Mr. Dimitris Kiakidis, Director of Career, Employability & Enterprise Centre