Since its founding, and thanks to its valuable and multifaceted activity, the Onassis Foundation has been inextricably linked to public benefit and the support of the most critical sectors of Greek society. In particular, the Onassis Foundation, thanks to its founding vision and the commendable and dynamic initiatives of its administration, has carried out a timeless work in the fields of Education, Health and Culture.
In recognition of the inspired leadership of the Onassis Foundation by Antonis S. Papadimitriou, the University of Piraeus proceeded with a particularly honorary gesture.
More specifically, the Ceremony Conferring an Honorary Doctorate upon Antonis S. Papadimitriou by the University of Piraeus took place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, on the packed Main Stage of the Stegi, in the presence of representatives from the state, the academic community, and the business world.
During the presentation of the honoree’s work, the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Michail Sfakianakis, spoke of “a distinguished, multifaceted, and charismatic personality” and noted: “Today we honor a man of knowledge and action, a man who uniquely combines legal, economic, political thought and education. A man who has dedicated his life, not only to building an innovative entrepreneurial path, but also to establishing with respect and responsibility institutions that serve humanity, culture, and knowledge.”
“The academic community honors a charismatic leader, who combines decisiveness with genuine inspiration, a leader who constantly seeks innovation and is not afraid to overturn established norms, taking risks that most would hesitate to undertake. A modern homo universalis, multifaceted yet creative, dedicated to the goal, yet also a visionary, who continues the tradition of the great benefactors, sensitively perceives the needs of people for progress and advancement, harmoniously balances his personal vision with the collective good, and reminds us that true leadership is not measured by profits, but by the light it leaves behind, serving as a model for the next generation of leaders,” he concluded.
For his part, the President of the Onassis Foundation, Antonis Papadimitriou, in his speech, noted that he accepted the honor “with a deep sense of gratitude,” “personally, but also as a representative of an entire team of people” and referred to the timing of the conferral of the highest academic honor, as, he said: “it coincides with a personal and several institutional anniversaries, as it coincides with the twenty years I have served as President of the Onassis Foundation, which celebrates fifty years since its birth and the 15 years of the Stegi, while at the same time, the Onasseio Hospital has already celebrated its 30 years of operation.”
“The fact that the conferment originates from a space of ideas, and takes place in another space, which defends their freedom, has its own distinct significance,” he emphasized and continued: “Every business action, every innovation, every change in our lives, starts exactly from this: a powerful idea that can sweep along thousands of others. If we owe one reminder to the graduates of economic studies and business administration, it is that ultimately real success is measured by the qualitative difference we bring to the lives of the many. This is the real return on an investment. It is good to remember that out there, markets change, technologies evolve, and challenges come and go. What remains as a timeless asset is curiosity, integrity, courage, and education.”
Mr. Papadimitriou described his conferment as a “distinct milestone,” because, as he explained, “apart from personal recognition, it is also a reminder of the adventure of curiosity, persistence, and the obsession with remaining faithful to your values. All, that is, the characteristics that compose what we call the great family of the Onassis Foundation.”
“The Onassis Foundation, I want to believe, has inherited something from the dna of its founder. Having inherited the name of Aristotle Onassis, we want to do what others cannot, do not want, or do not dare to do. We have deep roots in classical education, but we serve modern culture, with a deeply progressive mindset,” he added.
Mr. Papadimitriou referred to the three main pillars of the Foundation’s actions, health, culture, and education, emphasizing the Foundation’s most recent initiative regarding the digital transformation already taking place, to support the new program of the Ministry of Education: “Introduction of Artificial Intelligence in Schools.”
“Artificial Intelligence is already here. The question is not whether it can teach, but whether it can do so in a fair and inclusive way,” Mr. Papadimitriou pointed out and added: “It is not just another tool that we can add to the existing educational system; it is a force that will reshape what knowledge means, how we teach it, and who can define it. We need a 21st-century educational system that teaches students to collaborate with AI, to understand it, to question it, and to improve it. A system that prioritizes critical thinking, the rules of ethical use, and the skills of adaptation in a rapidly changing world.”
Representatives of the country’s political, military, and religious leadership and the academic community were “present” at the ceremony, among them the President of the Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanos, the Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki and the Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, responsible for Higher Education, Nikos Papaioannou.
With information from APE-MPE
Photo: Andreas Simopoulos
