The University of Delaware (UD) in Newark, Delaware, and The American College of Greece (ACG) in Athens, Greece, announced today a comprehensive partnership to facilitate cooperation between the two institutions in several strategic areas, including: Study Abroad programs, undergraduate/graduate articulation, and faculty research and development.

The partnership brings together a premier U.S. public university ranked #33 in U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools and the oldest and largest U.S. college or university in Europe.

Established in 1743, UD pioneered study abroad in 1923. Today, UD enrolls nearly 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 300 academic programs in seven colleges.

Founded in 1875, ACG was the first regionally accredited U.S. institution abroad (1981) and enrolls nearly 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 70 countries.

As part of the agreement, ACG will become UD’s fourth World Scholar site, joining John Cabot University in Italy, St. Louis University-Madrid in Spain and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The World Scholars Program continues UD’s legacy of innovation in international education by providing students with a four-year structured program of study that begins with the first semester of the first year abroad and continues with myriad global opportunities both on and off campus.  The first cohort of World Scholars to begin their studies at ACG will arrive in fall 2019.

“Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization so it’s a wonderful place for World Scholars to launch their global experience,” said UD President Dennis Assanis. “By partnering with ACG, UD students will have access to a unique experience blending old and new, from immersion in classical studies to modern educational offerings in hospitality management and business. Over the past several months, we have been working closely with the ACG team to create a robust partnership to take our World Scholar program forward.”

With firsthand insight on the benefits of the ACG program, Assanis and his wife, Eleni, were both born and raised in Greece; Eleni Assanis is a proud ACG alumna.

“The UD / ACG partnership holds enormous potential to advance both institutions’ goals of enhanced academic quality, internationalization and greater social impact; we are thrilled with this new affiliation,” said ACG President David G. Horner.