History

Historical overview of the Department of Social Policy

The Department of Social Policy belongs to the School of Political Sciences of Panteion University. It is a new and innovative Department that operates since the academic year 2004-2005. It comes from the division (PD 106/2004) of the Department of Social Policy and Social Anthropology, which was founded in 1989 (PD 377/89) and it has been operating since the academic year 1990-1991.

Social policy as a subject is interdisciplinary and involves the combination of theory and application. These characteristics are reflected in the aims of the Department of Social Policy, which consist in the education of scientists regarding the study and research of society and its problems, the analysis of institutions, social structures and their timeless and transient transformation, with the ultimate goal being the design, implementation and evaluation of social policy at local, national and international level.

In particular, the aim of the Department is to educate students in the fields of social policy, social theory, social and economic development, social history of Greece and Europe, rural and urban sociology, rural geography, demography and the state or non-governmental intervention in the areas of employment, social security, labour and social relations, income, health, combating social inequalities and social exclusion, social rights, gender, education, migration, family, housing and social movements.

Our Graduates  can work in universities, research institutes, central, peripheral and local administration, in organisations of the public sector, as well as in other institutions. The nature of their work can be both the study of relevant issues and coping with the needs and problems that arise during the exercise of social policy.

The retired faculty members who served in the Department, some of them as Heads of the Department are the following:

  • Prof. Tsaousis Dimitrios
  • Prof. Kasimati Kiriaki
  • Prof. Mousourou Loukia
  • Associate Prof. Maos Vassilios
  • Associate Prof. Stasinopoulou Olga
  • Prof. Robolis Savas
  • Prof. Rousis Georgios
  • Prof. Tzonos Theodoros
  • Prof. Moisidis Antonios

Heads of the Joint Department of Social Policy and Social Anthropology have been the following:

  • Prof. Tsaousis Dimitrios (1990-1994)
  • Prof. Kasimati Kiriaki (1994-1998)
  • Prof. Mousourou Loukia (1998-2002)
  • Prof. Robolis Savas (2002-2004)

whereas, as Heads of the Department of Social Policy:

  • Prof. Robolis Savas (2004-2006)
  • Prof. Moisidis Antonios (2006-2010)
  • Prof. Kouzis Ioannis (2010-2014)
  • Prof. Karamessini Maria (2014-2015)
  • Prof. Psimenos Iordanis (2015-2017)
  • Prof. Papadopoulou Despina (2017-)

Historical overview of Panteion University

Historically, Panteion University developed in a creative and progressive way, associated with both the development of Higher Education and the development of the Social Sciences in Greece. Two men associated their names with the inception and the foundation of the University. One of them was a Cypriot, Georgios S. Frangoudis (1869-1939). The second was Alexandros I. Pantos (1888-1930) from Volos. Both of them studied law in Athens and then political science in Paris, albeit in different periods. It was the École Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris, where both men studied and as a free forum for scientific knowledge and expression, this School exerted a great influence on intellectuals. Even though the paths of these two men never crossed, they had a common vision, which was to establish a School of Political Sciences in Greece to the standards of that in Paris. The former, Frangoudis, made this vision a life’s work. The latter, Pantos, made the vision possible, as he donated virtually his entire estate for the foundation of a School of Political Sciences in Greece similar to the École Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris.

To promote his reformist ideas, Frangoudis established the Educational Renaissance Society in 1924, thus identifying the areas requiring reforms in education. To realise this goal, G. Frangoudis founded the School of Political Sciences through “Educational Renaissance”.

On January 2nd, 1927, the President of the Republic Admiral, Pavlos Kountouriotis, laid the foundation stone of the main building which is today located at Syngrou Avenue.

Classes began officially on November 18th, 1930 in the presence of the Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos. At the same time, Pantos’ last wish, who died in June of 1930, was of decisive assistance. He wanted a School of Political Sciences to be founded with the bequest he left behind.

The bequest was merged with the Educational Renaissance building in 1931 to become the Panteios School of Political Sciences. Thus the common vision of the two men became a reality. In 1937, it was declared a Higher School of Political Sciences and henceforth operated as a public institution. In 1939 the School was renamed Panteion Higher School of Political Sciences & Public Service officers. By virtue of Law 540/43, the School reassumed its old name - Panteion Higher School of Political Science - under which it operated until 1989 and acquired the right to award doctoral degrees. In 1951, traditional university organisation was introduced into the School. Its Board of Governors was replaced by the Vice-Chancellor, the Senate and the General Assembly of the School’s Academic Staff. In 1963, the duration of studies was extended to four years and the School’s Departments were named Political Science and Public Administration.

After the reorganisation of higher education under Law 1268/82, in 1983 the School was split into three Departments (P.D. 462/83). These were:

  • the Department of Political Science and International Studies,

  • the Department of Public Administration and

  • the Department of Sociology.

In 1989, in accordance with P.D. 377/89, the School was renamed Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and consisted of the following Departments:

  • Department of Political Science and International Studies

  • Department of Public Administration

  • Department of Sociology

  • Department of Urban and Regional Development

  • Department of Social Policy and Social Anthropology

  • Department of Communication and Media

  • Department of Psychology

  • General Department of Law

Afterwards the Department of Political Science and International Studies was divided into two separate departments:

  • Political Science and History

  • International and European Studies.

The Department of Urban and Regional Development was renamed Department of Economic and Regional Development and the Department of Communication and Media was renamed Department of Communication, Media and Culture. The Department of Social Policy and Social Anthropology was also divided into two separate departments: Department of Social Policy and Department of Social Anthropology. Finally, after 2012, following structural reforms, the 4 faculties were established.