Operating licenses for three non-state universities canceled by the Council of State will be returned within the coming days, Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki announced.
The court revoked licenses and program certifications for Keele, York, and Anatolia over administrative failures, including building infrastructure compliance oversights and an evaluator conflict of interest. Approximately 600 students were affected.
Zacharaki stressed that decisions “do not call into question the substance and constitutionality of the reform, but highlighted specific administrative, regulatory and technical issues” now being addressed. Recertifying cancelled programs will require time.
Opposition PASOK spokesman Stefanos Parastatidis criticized the government, stating cancellation of three initial licenses “is not an insignificant administrative detail” and demanding accountability.
Zacharaki maintained non-state university development does not occur at public universities’ expense, emphasizing, “the strengthening of the public university and the development of the new institutional framework for non-state, nonprofit universities proceed in parallel.”
