AIT at a glance

Athens Information Technology (AIT), an internationally-renowned non profit education and research center in the fields of information technology, telecommunications, and innovation management, was founded in 2002 by the INTRACOM group of companies. In creating AIT, INTRACOM’s purpose was to build on the track record of excellence set by Greek scientists and engineers both in Greece and abroad, and to enable Greece to play a significant future role in these fields.

The Greek Ministry of Education granted AIT one of 30 operating licenses, which under a new governmental decree, recognize the right of non state post-secondary educational institutions to operate in Greece.

AIT’s commitment is to certain life values and free-market economies according to which science does not only relate to technological development, but also to human progress and empowerment by providing new opportunities to all; and to create a fertile environment for high quality advanced education and research innovation widely recognized as a private non-profit, socially conscious, academic initiative that promotes current education and research standards.

AIT’s mission is to:

• Establish and maintain a center of excellence for research and education in the areas of software engineering, telecommunications/networking, embedded systems and electronics;
• Foster the development of top level competitive information and communication technology professionals capable of creating technological breakthroughs and skilled in technology and innovation management;
• Continue to provide the education to meet future ICT trends;
• Continue to provide education opportunities to gifted students through scholarships.

To support its education efforts, AIT signed a collaborative agreement with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the Information Networking Institute (INI) of Carnegie Mellon to operate a joint Carnegie Mellon-AIT Master of Science in Information Networking (MSIN) Program. This program is based on the curriculum of the current MSIN program offered by CMU/INI.
All AIT’s academic activities follow Carnegie Mellon’s academic procedures and standards. This program is designed to attract gifted graduates from Greek and other Southeastern European universities, and to support professionals in this region seeking to update their knowledge in today’s competitive technologically oriented market. The duration of the MSIN, taught jointly by AIT and Carnegie Mellon professors, is four semesters. The Master of Science degree is awarded to qualifying students directly by CMU.

AIT also offers two more graduate programs: a Master of Science in Information and Telecommunications Technologies (MSITT), and a Master of Science in Management of Business, Innovation & Technology (MBIT); a PhD program with Aalborg University in Denmark; Executive Training by AIT and with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and annual Summer School programs. Starting October 2010 AIT will offer the BSc in Computer Engineering, in collaboration with Aalborg University in Denmark.

The aim of basic and directed research undertaken at AIT is to turn the center into an international research hub in software engineering, telecommunications/networking, embedded systems and electronics by fostering collaborations with other research centers in Greece and abroad. Research activities are synergistic with and complementary to those of other research and education centers in Greece and the region.

AIT’s research and education facilities located in Peania, a northern suburb of Athens, include three state-of-the-art interactive amphitheaters (totaling 400 seats), fully equipped with audiovisual network systems enabling tele-education; the region’s most technologically advanced laboratories for embedded systems, software engineering & web applications, autonomic & grid computing, high speed & optical communications, and wireless & sensor networks; a library; study rooms; a bookstore; a restaurant-café; a recreation area; and a dormitory.

The Academic Council of internationally-renowned distinguished scientists guides AIT’s education and research activities.

AIT operates as a Laboratory of Liberal Studies according to the Greek Law.