In times when the concept of social responsibility was totally unknown to the public and there was no “social imperative” for reward from companies to society, Mediterranean College was the only private educational body to establish the scholarship system for special groups of citizens, by way of adopting social and academic criteria to relieve people of economically weaker classes as well as to reward students with exceptional performance.
By organizing conferences, congresses and meetings, Mediterranean College has also supported the efforts of various bodies to promote social issues, such as the fight against drugs, environmental protection, creative employment of young people, parent counseling, highlighting our country as “International Educational Centre” etc.
With the same sensitivity, the College offers equal opportunities to both its employees and students, regardless of sex, age, family status, nationality, colour, religion or sexual identity.
Today, the Mediterranean College develops a wide range of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in the following sectors:
- Support to non-profit and charitable organizations
With the established Christmas and Easter Bazaars and other initiatives, such as the disposal of part of the earnings from the events, Mediterranean College supports organizations such as The Smile of the Child, the Greek Children’s Village in Filiro, WIN Hellas, Melissa Orphanage, the Christian shelter for girls “Agia Anna”.
- Initiatives and actions to environmental protection
Mediterranean College organizes a number of activities to inculcate ecological awareness among students and the wider community of young people. Planting trees and cleaning beaches in cooperation with ARKTOUROS are some of the activities carried out to enhance environmental education, open lectures and speeches on environmental issues, sustainability and sustainable development etc.
A typical example is the recent initiative of Mediterranean College students to support the organization’s management to make Christmas “green” and ecological for the sake of the planet. In the intention to pass the message about ecological awareness though the global celebration of Christmas and with the slogan “YES to ECO-Christmas”, the College students “made Santa Claus green again”.
- Aid to socially and economically sensitive groups
The annual scholarship programme announced by the Mediterranean College addresses members of bodies, associations and organizations, as well as private individuals, who belong to socially sensitive groups such as unemployed people, parents of many children, members of minorities, athletes, families of low income etc. Bodies having received scholarships are:
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- Municipal Social Services
- Supreme Confederation of Multi-Child Parents of Greece (ASPE)
- Secondary High Schools
- Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics (SEGAS)
- Hellenic Association of Olympic Winners
- Greek National Women’s Water Polo Team
- Albanian community
- Associations of private bank employees
- Volunteerism
On the occasion of multiple issues concerning the social life of Greece, Mediterranean College encourages its students to participate in volunteering initiatives and offer voluntary work in non-profit organizations and bodies.
Through the Memorandum of Understanding for the Special Olympics – Athens 2011 Volunteers Programme signed by XINI Educational Group, Mediterranean College mobilized hundreds of students to participate as volunteers in the organization of the games. With this initiative, the College contributed to the organization of the biggest athletic event, the cultivation of the idea of volunteerism among the students, respect for diversity, self-esteem and support to the skills of people with mental disabilities. The President of Mediterranean College, Sophocles Xinis, was awarded an honorary plaque for his valuable and essential contribution to the Special Olympics volunteers programme and the cultivation of the idea of Volunteerism.
- Activities for the development of young people employability
Being aware that the majority of graduates of Greek universities lack in basic skills that could make them employable in today’s demanding labour market, such as effective job search, appearance in job interview, acquisition of transferable skills and practical knowledge, Mediterranean College has developed an integrated action scheme entitled MC Employability Scheme. The Employability Scheme of Mediterranean College addresses everyone, with no financial burden, either they are students/ graduates of the College or not, and includes a large number of events and provisions, such as Career Days, open educational seminars, vocational guidance, workshops for the development of skills etc.
