The Minister of State for Education, Religious Affairs and Sport presented the draft for controlled entry and the security of academic institutions from the podium at RGC 2026.

“Cameras will be installed everywhere in all public areas of the universities and card readers for controlled entry into the buildings, as well as in areas with high-value laboratory and research materials,” said Nikolaos Papaioannou, Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, at the 14th Regional Growth Conference (RGC 2026), organized by the newspaper PELOPONISOS, the Region of Western Greece and the University of Patras, under the auspices of the Hellenic Parliament.

In the aftermath of recent incidents of violence, in a discussion with journalist Vangelis Yakoomi, Mr. Papaioannou spoke of single incidents by “bullying minorities”, but which should not have happened. He made particular reference to the fact that as of 2019 there is no active occupation at a university.

As for the institution of university police, the deputy minister admitted that it was a piece of legislation that was not properly designed and therefore did not “walk”. Instead, he stressed that the university authorities are already making use of the institutional tools that have been given to self-government since last July.

He cited as an example the events of last November at the Polytechnic, where criminal and disciplinary prosecutions, which can go as far as deletion, and fines through the AADE, were exercised. Similarly, two weeks ago, lawsuits were also filed against faculty members at the AUTH.

“A healthy academic community and a healthy society stands against these thuggish minorities who are getting smaller and smaller as they go along,” Papaioannou said: “Academia, the political system, the police and judicial authorities and civil society we are united, we are all against it.”

He also stressed the need for co-decision. “It is not possible that there are political forces, which through professors or others, use these untrue events, and then denounce the police entering the university and on this they build a narrative that gives these minorities the impetus to do it again.”

He conceded, however, that what is now missing is the necessary logistical infrastructure, namely cameras and digital entry cards, which will act as a preventive and deterrent. “Already the Centre for Security Study has studied the risk points in the HEIs so that there is a uniform standard security plan in all academic institutions in the country,” he explained.

As for the acceptance of the design by the administrations of the universities, Papaioannou pointed to the fact that the security plans of all institutions were sent within the deadline stipulated by law.

As he informed, especially for the five major HEIs, the location of the cameras and their specifications have already been studied, respectively, the EDYTE is finalizing the specifications of the digital cards so that they incorporate the requirements for personal data. “All this will be put into a public tender process,” he said.

Explaining the role and dynamics of the Regional Growth Conference, Papaioannou stressed that it is held within the University of Patras, which proves that the Greek public university has become extroverted and links science and knowledge production with the economy and society.

In the context of the public debate on the national examinations, he referred to a psychotropic, but unassailable system, and called on all institutions to participate in the national dialogue on the National Baccalaureate, which began in early February with a nine-month horizon. “It is not a party or political issue, it is a matter of the existence of the nation, the state and our children,” he said.

The Regional Growth Conference will take place from May 19 to 21 at the Conference and Cultural Center of the University of Patras, and after 14 years it has now established itself as an important institution for dialogue and exchange of ideas on the future of the Greek regions and the real economy, contributing substantially to the formation of a modern and sustainable development model for the country.