panoreon

See the mission “Penelope Gandhi”

Identity

Our identity

The University of the Mountains is a non-profit, voluntary organization that was born in Crete in 2008. Its goal is to unite the university community with the people of the countryside, through actions that promote education, health, culture and social cohesion.
Who are we?

Bridge between University Knowledge and Local Society for Sustainable Development

The University of the Mountains is a voluntary, non-profit organization, member of the Mountain Partnership of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Since 2008, it has been a unique example of collaboration between university knowledge and local society, aiming to promote education, sustainable development and social cohesion in the mountainous and remote areas of Greece.

17+ Years of History

Since 2008, a community of people has been uniting knowledge with action, bringing hope to the mountains and villages of Crete.

Vision

To emerge a new model of prosperity, one that measures human happiness with human indicators and not with income data. A model based on cooperation, knowledge and solidarity, far from overconsumerism and extreme individualism.

Shipment

The University of the Mountains seeks to become the meeting place between the University – a carrier of scientific knowledge – and the Locality, which represents the experiential experience and wisdom of the countryside. Through mutual teaching programs, it brings together students, educators, researchers, doctors and rural residents, creating a network of learning and collaboration.

Philosophy

We believe in symbiotic learning: everyone has something to teach and something to learn. Theory and practice are united through life experience, observation of nature and the power of community. Knowledge is not limited to classrooms, but is shared in the field, in the laboratory, in the school and in the square.

Our Principles

Protection of the human and natural environment
Rejection of overconsumerism and extreme individualism
Ενίσχυση της παραδοσιακής οικονομίας με σύγχρονα εργαλεία
Independence from borrowing and subsidies
Developing a small-scale, high-value economy
Recovering human relationships and cultural identity of small societies

Our work in practice

To achieve its goals, the University of the Mountains implements the following actions:
 
  • In schools in mountainous and remote areas,
  • With interactive interventions between rural and urban students,
  • With public lectures, events and seminars,
  • With medical missions and social support initiatives.

Our Areas of Action

At the same time, it is expanding its activity in the areas of economic consulting, local synergies, as well as scientific research in the communities themselves.

Health

Society & Culture

Economy & Environment

Education

Each sector expresses a different axis of our mission — but they all have the same core: knowledge, participation and solidarity.