“Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.” - Plato

Name of study/program Leiden University

• Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice – with Honors, 20/09/2017 – 06/10/2017
• Risk in Modern Society, 29/01/2018 – 15/02/2018
• Security and Safety Challenges in a Globalized World, 25/12/2017 – Present

  

Why I chose Leiden University?

You could call it fate. When I first learned “General History of Europe” during my first year in European Cultural Studies at Hellenic Open University• I never imagined that I would evolve from an admirer of Dutch history to active alumni of one of the excellent International Universities in the Netherlands. Known for the achievements in European International Relations, Governance, and high Policies from early years of 16th, 17th, and 18th Century. A powerful guardian of knowledge which inherit the next generation’s principles and governance systems that offers European equilibrium to an old continent that had already been in the midst of the most powerful constituent element of humanity, war, which would determine the history and evolution of the New Europe. And at the end of 19th Century one of Europe’s leading Universities. 

According to all these details, Leiden University convinced me that Leiden was the best choice with world-class educational infrastructure and facilities, great teacher’s methodology, academic rigor, personalized career counseling and that it ranks among the top 100 best universities in the world. Great reasons to choose Leiden for my Specialization in International Security.

My Leiden experiences

Until now, my experience with the university is limited to distance learning education. However, it is in my immediate plans to visit the facilities in the Netherlands and talk with the professors on issues that are part of the world's security. 

However, the experience is unique even by distance learning platform. The feeling that you are experiencing by participating with other students/associates from other countries, exchanging views on various issues that concern us in the field that each of us gives you the opportunity to stand for a moment, filter the data and review again for something which at the moment you consider important. You set priorities, develop your emotional intelligence and become part of an intercultural holistic view that recommends the coexistence and creation of a hybrid model that would otherwise not work. But in this case, it can be achievable!

Within the specific theme of my bachelor (EU Studies) in Hellenic Open University and my research programme in Panteion University of Athens, I completed my studies in the Security program that interested me and which offered me information that in a different case I would only receive as a staff of the armed forces or security forces in my Country in order to develop my knowledge in this field.

What I’m doing now

I am a Bachelor undergraduate student in European Cultural Studies at the Hellenic Open University.
At a technical level, I’m a professional e-commerce consultant with a license in General Principles and necessary Knowledge and Skills for e-Consulting from the Spin-Off Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. And I’m conducting research as a Research Assistant at the Institute of International Relations of Greece which is specialized in the Defense Sector: War Geo-economics – Financing of Terrorist Organizations and is a Research Center of Studies of Panteion University located in Athens, Greece. 

Alongside my major, after the successful completion of a programme which is related to Global Security: Terrorism and Counterterrorism from Leiden. More specifically from Leiden with honors after completing assignments in Cyberterrorism and Bioterrorism (Weapons of Mass Destruction) I had the honor to be invited by Leiden Network to become a Mentor (e-moderator) in their Community Management Team for the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC’s Platform) in operational level with Coursera company. 

So I act, as a Mentor in two Security programmes of Leiden University, those programmes are Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing theory and practice, and Security & Safety Challenges in a Globalized World. 

Through e- moderation I’m gaining valuable experience at an advanced level via distance learning management of your blockbuster courses. My main focusing is how people deliver the factual information and how people interact usefully with the University Community and with their peers in a very efficient way through online education (MOOC’s). By consulting learners following the academic guidelines, monitoring their behavior in the community and upholding the rules as well as by coaching and seeking to change behavior with encouragement, filtering information to the teaching staff, support, meet & greet the new learners to each course in an international and multicultural environment, which I gained valuable social skills from this process.

However, since I have always loved and respect to make good use of my free time in terms of quality and creativity, I have integrated online programs on Terrorism and Counterterrorism from University of Maryland & Georgetown University, from Stanford University for Nuclear Terrorism, and Nuclear Brink, in aim to advance the science, the discourse, and discussion around the benefits and the limits of scientific forecasting and foresight of nuclear weapons and their use in the future. 
Furthermore, a few months ago I completed by OSCE programme for Countering the use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes. Also, Crisis Management Specialization & Modern Warfare: armed systems, high strategy, and tactics by Panteion University in Greece. And last but not least by Johns Hopkins University Psychological First Aid in order to understand security issues and impacts in human behavior after a disaster.

P.S: Yes, as you can see I’m a multi-tasking person with passion and devotion to my activities.

My reasons for becoming a Leiden University Ambassador

Connect with fellow alumni and also convince young people to study at Leiden University.

I wish to be part of building an International Leiden Alumni network here in Greece, and hopefully, with the support of the University, spread the view and overcome the language barriers with active communication, collaboration, and curiosity for knowledge! I always seek for the interplay operating interaction between people, in order to gain practical working experience of cooperation through social communication through constructive contribution and looking forward as  a person to exchange ideas and views in a conducive environment such as that of Leiden in order to develop my skills, broaden my horizons on leadership in a constructive way and at the same time be responsive in a wider level.