Christina Paraskevopoulou, Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet Education, participated in ProdExpo 2026, contributing to the panel discussion “Universities as Real Estate Catalysts: How Campuses Reshape Cities, Investment and the Next Generation of Urban Districts.” The discussion took place at the New Stage of the Athens Conservatoire and was moderated by Danae Makri, Head of Strategy & Content at Design Ambassador. The panel also featured Anne Papageorgiou (University of Pennsylvania), Michalis Mavroleon (A&M Architects) and Konstantinos Pechlivanidis (Premia Properties).
Ms Paraskevopoulou highlighted Greece’s significant opportunity to establish itself as an international study destination. Growing interest from international students, the current geopolitical landscape and the reform enabling the establishment of non-state universities are creating new opportunities for the country. However, she emphasised that competition among international study destinations remains intense and that access to suitable accommodation has become a decisive factor in students’ choice of where to study.
“International students do not choose only a degree; they choose an experience. And they start evaluating that experience before they even apply, through the residence tours students share on Instagram and TikTok. The question for us is simple: what do we have to show them?”
Addressing the role of higher education institutions in the development of student accommodation, Ms Paraskevopoulou advocated a collaborative model based on clearly defined responsibilities, with each stakeholder contributing its core expertise. Investors provide capital and technical know-how; the state and local authorities provide planning certainty and infrastructure; and educational institutions bring student demand, quality standards and long-term commitments for accommodation capacity.
“Student accommodation is not a hotel; it is an extension of the campus. Every bed should have a student behind it, and only the institution can provide that level of certainty,” she noted.
As an example of good practice, Ms Paraskevopoulou referred to the United Kingdom in the early 2000s, when the expansion of higher education brought universities, local authorities and private investors together, contributing to the emergence of a dedicated student accommodation market.
“That is the kind of collaborative forum Greece is missing today. The new student accommodation capacity being planned represents an important step forward, but without coordination, it will remain just a number. We are ready to be part of that conversation,” she concluded.
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