At the Department of Computer Science (CSD) of the University of Crete, on Friday, September 25, 2026, the Department welcomed the incoming Class of 2026 and hosted a Reunion for the graduating classes of 1986 (40 years later), 1996 (30 years later), and 2006 (20 years later).
The event began at the “Nikos Petridis” Auditorium with a welcome address by Professor Sofia Schiza, Vice Rector for Administrative Affairs and Student Welfare of the University of Crete and a faculty member of the School of Medicine.
This was followed by a welcome address to the first-year students of the 2026-27 academic year and to the alumni of the Classes of 1986, 1996, and 2006, delivered by the Chair of the Department of Computer Science, Professor Kostas Magoutis. The address was followed by a presentation entitled “CSD Today.”
The presentation highlighted the Department’s academic and research opportunities, faculty and staff, infrastructure, and the wide range of activities available to students. It also showcased the Department’s strong standing and high ranking among comparable Computer Science departments in Greece today.
The event continued with a presentation of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) of the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH) by its Director, Panos Tsakalides, Professor in the Department of Computer Science.
In his presentation, Professor Tsakalides highlighted the Institute’s research activities, its support for the education and training of young scientists, and its contribution to the development of the information and knowledge society. He also emphasized the long-standing and exceptionally close relationship and synergy between the Department and the Institute since their establishment. This collaboration has been a key factor in enabling both the Department and the Institute to achieve top positions in national and international evaluations and assessments.
Following the presentation of the FORTH Institute of Computer Science (ICS), Professor Panos Tsakalides presented the Stelios Orphanoudakis Scholarships to twelve outstanding students of the Department of Computer Science.
The prestigious “Stelios Orphanoudakis” Scholarships were established by the Institute of Computer Science of the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH-ICS), beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year, in memory of Professor Stelios Orphanoudakis of the Department of Computer Science. Professor Orphanoudakis served as Director of the Institute of Computer Science for a decade (1994-2004) and as President of FORTH from 2004 until his passing in March 2005.
The scholarships are awarded annually to high-achieving undergraduate students of the Department of Computer Science, University of Crete, in recognition of their academic excellence.
This was followed by the presentation of the distinguished “OTS” Undergraduate Scholarships. Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, the Department of Computer Science established the “OTS” Distinguished Undergraduate Scholarships, awarded to outstanding undergraduate students of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Crete.
These scholarships are funded through a donation from OTS to the University of Crete. The awards were presented by Maria Dermitzaki, a representative of OTS and an alumna of the Department.
Also attending the event were Spyros Pampoukidis, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of OTS, and Panos Papadopoulos, Chairman of the company, both of whom are alumni of the Department of Computer Science.
The event continued with the presentation of Certificates of Distinction by the Chair of the Department of Computer Science, Professor Kostas Magoutis. These certificates were awarded to students of the Department who achieved notable distinctions during the 2025-26 academic year, including Best Paper Awards and prizes received in competitions and outreach activities.
The awards recognized the students’ achievements in research, innovation, and public engagement, highlighting the Department’s commitment to academic excellence and its active presence in the broader scientific and professional community.
The Chair of the Department also presented the Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Awards (DEPROFOIT) to undergraduate students who provided instructional support in courses offered by the Department of Computer Science during the 2025-26 academic year.
The opportunity for undergraduate students to undertake teaching assistant duties, following the evaluation of a relevant application, was established by a decision of the Department of Computer Science General Assembly in 2014. Participation in this program provides students with valuable teaching experience, which can also be highlighted in their professional résumés.
Through their contribution to course delivery and student support, these award recipients demonstrated a strong commitment to the Department’s educational mission while developing important communication, mentoring, and leadership skills.
The event program then featured a series of talks by distinguished alumni of the Department of Computer Science.
The first talk was delivered by Vangelis Angelakis, a graduate of the Class of 1996 and currently a Professor at Linköping University, Sweden, entitled “An Unexpected Journey: From CSD ’96 to Today.”
This was followed by a presentation by Maria Karavasili, a graduate of the Class of 1986 and Head of Sector, Programmes, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission, entitled “Another Marathon... on Uneven Terrain.”
The event continued with a talk by Dimitris Tsigos, graduate of the Class of 1996 and Co-Founder & CEO of Epignosis, entitled “Computer Science 1996-2026: More Relevant Than Ever.”
Next, George Georgiannakis, a graduate of the Class of 1986 and Head of the Information Systems Unit, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, gave a presentation entitled “From ‘Hello World’ to ‘Hello Future’: An Exciting Journey.”
The talks were followed by the “Roundtable: Every Alumnus Speaks for 30 Seconds”, an engaging and creative session during which alumni summarized their experiences and shared the lessons they had learned throughout their careers after graduation. The session was highly interactive and involved lively participation from the audience. It was moderated by Michalis Moundantonakis, a member of the Department’s Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP) and an alumnus of the Department.
The next session was the panel discussion “Computer Science in the Era of AI,” moderated by Professor Vangelis Markatos of the Department of Computer Science. The panel featured the following alumni:
- Artemis Vogiatzis, IT Professional and Independent Consultant
- Phoebus Zakkak, Software Engineer at IBM and Visiting Professor in the Department of Computer Science, University of Crete
- Spyros Lymberis, Senior Principal Engineer, Arm Ltd
- Aphrodite Michaelidi, Principal of a Secondary Education School
- Paraskevi Raftopoulou, Member of the Special Teaching and Laboratory Staff (EDIP), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of the Peloponnese
- Eftyhios Sifakis, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Principal Research Scientist at NVIDIA
The panelists’ presentations and discussions provided valuable insights into the academic and professional environments of earlier decades (1986, 1996, and 2006), offering current students a broader historical perspective on the Department. The alumni also shared practical advice on how to face challenges, make the most of their studies, and fully enjoy their experience at the Department over the next four years.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the CSD building and a discussion session with alumni, a consultation process that the Department refers to as the “20-30-40 Years Checkup.” During this session, participants exchanged experiences and discussed perspectives on the Department, generating feedback that will be used in multiple ways to support its future development.
More than 300 invited guests attended the main event, which was also broadcast live via the Department’s Zoom platform, enabling participation from alumni and friends of the Department worldwide.
Insights from the “20-30-40 Years Checkup”
From the dinner organized by the alumni
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