The programme contract for the programme of n. 3986/2011 for the “Renovation of the building complex of the Athens Student Center“, amounting to 24.8 million euros. euros, by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, the President of the Institute of Youth and Lifelong Learning, Anna Rokofyllou, and Deputy Managing Director, Panagiotis Stamboulidis, with implementation planned for the period 2025 – 2030.

The total expenditure will be covered by the Funded Development Programme of the Ministry of National Defence from national resources of the Public Investment Development Programme.

The Student Center of Athens, owned by the Foundation for Youth and Lifelong Learning (INEDIBIM), is located at 279-281 Patision Street and is one of the oldest in Athens, as it has been operating since 1964. It has 278 beds and hosts students of the Economic University of Athens. Its renovation is part of the government’s strategy to upgrade public student infrastructure in order to support vulnerable families with children studying at public universities.

The completion of the renovation is expected to radically improve both the exterior appearance and functionality of the building, as it includes large-scale interventions involving energy upgrading, structural strengthening, modernization of infrastructure, as well as the redesign of public and private spaces, with an emphasis on accessibility, safety, and quality of living for students.

The project has been included in the Strategic Significant Contracts Development Programme with INEDIBIM as the beneficiary and EESYP (Hyperfund) as the maturation agency for the award and execution procedures. The tendering is expected to take place shortly, marking an important step in supporting student care and strengthening social cohesion through the upgrading of public education.

The Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, said:

“The signing of the Programmatic Agreement for the complete renovation of the Athens Student Center, owned by INEDIVIM, is an essential vindication for one of the oldest and most historic student infrastructures in the country. Most importantly, it is the result of the intensive effort of all those who believe deeply in the value of student care as an integral part of the public University.

By actively supporting our students who come from socially and economically vulnerable families, we invest not only in education but also in social cohesion. The student residence at 279-281 Patission Street, with a “living” history dating back to 1964, is about to be “reborn”. With an emphasis on accessibility, safety and quality of daily life, we are creating a modern, functional and dignified living environment for our young people.

This project is part of a broader plan to support student care through synergies that enhance access, equity and quality in higher education, and specifically involves a series of additional renovations to INEDIBIM’s student residences. As the Ministry of Education, we remain firmly committed to the policy of strengthening public student infrastructure, with a focus on people and the real needs of students.”

The president of INEDIBIM, Anna Rokofylloo, said:

“At a time when the housing problem, and especially the issue of student housing, has emerged as a dominant social issue, we are implementing an important project that can provide a solution and relieve hundreds of low-income families who are looking for low-cost and high-quality solutions for the housing of children attending public universities.

The renovation of the Athens Student Center, the responsibility and liability of INEDIVIM, is a project that has been discussed for years, but now, finally, it is becoming a reality. As the Administration of INEDIVIM, we demanded from the Government the necessary resources for the implementation of this specific intervention, and the Government responded positively to this request.

I want to thank the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has put high on his agenda the issue of upgrading student housing. The Deputy Minister of Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, for securing the financial resources required for the implementation of the project.

The previous and the current political leadership of the Ministry of Education, Kyriakos Pierrakakis and Sofia Zacharaki, whose contribution is crucial for the completion of the intervention. The renovation of the Athens Student Residence is one of the many interventions that are being carried out throughout Greece, for the upgrading of Student Residences, aiming to strengthen student care and social cohesion, through the improvement of the infrastructure of public education.

Deputy CEO of the fund, Panagiotis Stampoulidis, said:

“The signing of the contract for the renovation of the Athens Student Center, with a total budget of 20 million euros, constitutes a substantial investment by the State in the future of public higher education and student care. The fund, through its Strategic Contracts Unit, is actively contributing to the upgrading of critical infrastructure that serves students, by undertaking the maturation and tendering of this important project with transparency, speed and efficiency.

The confidence of the Ministry of Education and I.NE.DI.BI.M. in the awarding of complex public investments with a tangible social footprint is a great honor and responsibility for us.”