The School was founded by Law no. 4589 / 29.01.2019 and operates in the geographic regions of Attica and of Central Greece. It includes three Departments: a) the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, a long-standing unit based in Athens, Greece, offering an undergraduate degree with a study duration of 5 years; b) the Department of Agricultural Business Administration and Supply Systems, established by Law no. 4589 (Government Gazette 13A / 29.01.2019) and based in Thebes, Greece. This unit offers an undergraduate degree with a study duration of 5 years and c) the Department of Regional and Economic Development, established by Law no. 4589 (Government Gazette 13A / 29.01.2019) and based in Amfissa, Greece. This unit offers an undergraduate degree with a study duration of 5 years. The Senate of the Agricultural University of Athens has also decided the foundation of the Department of Culture and Rural Tourism, to be effected yet.

The knowledge conferred in each of the three Departments is within the discipline of applied economics and social sciences focusing on: the operation of companies associated with agricultural (and livestock) activities and operations; the processing and marketing of food and/or agricultural products; but also in the design and implementation of rural development policies.

The three Departments consist of high caliber academic staff (Professors and specialised Laboratory Teaching Staff) with significant international aura and extensive experience in the functioning of both the global and Greek economies, offering thus to our students a unique university education of high international level. The recruiting of new academic faculty and laboratory teaching staff is competitive and is made on the basis of international academic criteria, thus ensuring the high quality of the education provided. A significant number of new Faculty have a remarkable academic career, in prestigious Universities abroad, conveying their knowledge and valuable experience to the students of the School.

Significant emphasis is paid not only on the development of a theoretical awareness to our students, but also on their empirical training through placements in companies relating to the discipline specific curriculum of each of: the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development and the Department of Agricultural Business Administration and Supply Systems. Previous studies indicate that the fulfilment of a six-month internship could effectively support the employability of our School graduates.

Within the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, there are two Interdepartmental postgraduate programs: the MBA in "Food and Agribusiness” (in collaboration with the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition); and the MSc in "Farm Business Management" in collaboration with the Department of Animal Science). The expansion of our postgraduate offering is also planned actively in all departments.

All faculty are research active, contributing to the creation of new scientific knowledge. Students are also involved and supported in this effort and all three Departments have policies and regulations in place for doctoral studies to foster the smooth completion of doctoral theses.

Teaching and administrative staff of the School will continue to labor in improving the quality of our university education offered for the benefit of our students.

The Dean

Konstantinos G. TSIMPOUKAS

Professor