Friends of Athens Information Technology (AIT) (a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization) is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in New York, NY for the purpose of promoting awareness of Athens Information Technology (AIT), a center of excellence for research and graduate education headquartered in Athens, Greece; and, to provide a vehicle for our international friends and supporters to offer scholarships to talented young people who otherwise would not have the opportunity to receive an internationally competitive education.

The mission of Friends of AIT is to impact the areas of information systems and technology, telecommunications and technology management in collaboration with other research centers in Greece and abroad; and, to foster the development of the highest caliber information and communication technology professionals capable of creating technological breakthroughs. Students who receive support from Friends of AIT will be able to pursue masters’ degrees in and conduct research in cutting-edge technology in the fields of Information Networking (MSIN), Information and Telecommunications Technologies (MSITT) and Management of Business, Innovation and Technology (MBIT).

Further, Friends of AIT seek to:

1) aid in the funding, maintenance and future of the high level of education and research offered by AIT; the creation of collaborations with US universities, such as the existing ones with Carnegie Mellon and Harvard University; the fostering of a brotherhood of universities and student associations between AIT and the USA; establishing links with digital libraries throughout the USA; supporting AIT students to continue their academic careers in the USA; and attracting top US-Greek scientists with the purpose of forming an advisory committee through which they offer their experience, expertise and teaching skills to AIT,

2) provide opportunities for high-level internationally competitive Information Communications Technology (ICT) education to youth of Greek descent currently residing in the USA, in the country of their ancestors and enabling them to reconnect with their family roots; and to gifted youth from deprived countries in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia enabling those countries to enrich their human resource pool,

3) continue to provide, and offer additional, scholarships or financial aid to all accepted students; and continue to meet the increasing need of gifted students for an internationally competitive Information Communications Technology (ICT) education, who would otherwise not have such an opportunity,

4) bring people from all over the world together – through AIT’s degree programs, summer schools, executive training programs - with the goal of bridging education and cultures.

Implementation of Friends of AIT’s full range of programs is entirely dependent on grants, donations and scholarship sponsorships from private individuals and companies.

Qualified and valuable human resources available throughout the world benefit the future global business network.

For more information on and to complete an Expression of interest form, please visit www.friendsofait.org