HEAD OF THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Professor George Petrakos
Εx Rector of the University of Thessaly
Brief Profile
George Petrakos is an Economist and a Professor at the Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly. He has served a 4-years term as the Rector of the University of Thessaly, an academic institution that was established in 1984 and has succeeded to be ranked at the top 5% of institutions worldwide in a short period of time. He has also served as the Chairman of the Department of Planning and Regional Development (6 years), a member of the Research Council of the University (3 years) and as the Director of several Graduate Programs and the Laboratory for Regional Policy.
He has also served the Government of Greece for 2.5 years as the Secretary General for Investment and Development in the Ministry of Economy and Development with responsibility for key aspects of the development policy of Greece, while in the same period he served as the President of the JESSICA and JEREMIE Investment Funds. In addition, he has served as the Vice-President of the European Regional Science Association (ERSA) and as a member of the Council of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) for a 3-years term (2008-11) with a crucial role in the administrative functions of the Association that promote academic activities such as international conferences, seminars and high ranking publications at a global scale.
He holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Arizona State University (USA) and has a strong research and publication record, which includes more than 25 books and edited volumes and about 200 articles in journals and books that have received more than 3000 citations (Google Scholar). He has a long experience in setting up and participating in European research networks and successfully implementing a large number of EU funded and highly competitive research programs of a total budget that exceeds 10 million euros. He has a 30 years teaching experience in Greece, the USA and elsewhere at both the undergraduate and graduate level and has supervised many Doctorate candidates. He communicates with ease in all cultures, investing in the role of personal commitment and leadership as much as in the role of institutions and networks.
Curriculum Vitae
Contact details:
Email: petrakos@uth.gr
Ph. office: (+30) 24210 7 4488
Ph. office: (+30) 24210 7 4468