The European Energy Framework

At the heart of European energy policy are various actions aimed at achieving an integrated energy market, ensuring energy supply security, and promoting the sustainability of the energy sector.

Renewable energy sources (wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric energy, ocean energy, geothermal energy, biomass, and biofuels) provide alternatives to fossil fuels and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying energy supply, and reducing dependence on unreliable and volatile fossil fuel markets, particularly oil and natural gas.

EU legislation for the promotion of renewable energy sources has significantly evolved in recent years. In 2009, EU leaders set a target for 20% of the EU's energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020. In 2018, a target was agreed upon for 32% of the EU's energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2030.

Greek Energy Priorities

The priorities of the Greek state in the field of energy align with the aforementioned European goals and are summarized as follows:

• Finding, securing, and managing energy resources aiming for the safe, smooth, uninterrupted, and reliable coverage of the country's energy needs across its entire territory, under the best possible terms for its citizens.
• Creating energy reserves, alliances, and alternative routes to meet the needs of the Greek energy market during energy crises and protect consumers by implementing mechanisms to smooth out external, emergency destabilizing phenomena and trends.
• Sustainable development of the energy sector in all its forms, from production to final use, through the lens of nature protection and environmental preservation.

The above goals highlight the significant importance of renewable energy sources and the creation of many jobs for engineers specialized in modern technologies of the sector.

Hydrocarbon Production and Exploitation in Greece

Alongside the development of renewable energy sources related to green and sustainable development, significant prospects are presented for Greece in the coming years from the research, exploitation, and transportation of hydrocarbons. There is political will to advance the exploration and utilization of hydrocarbon deposits, given that the country spends a large amount annually on energy imports. Transitioning to a carbon-free system will take many years, while exploiting hydrocarbon deposits will significantly benefit the national economy. Therefore, hydrocarbon exploration is expected to progress in the coming years, both in marine and terrestrial environments.

Hydrocarbon production, particularly natural gas, in the Southeast Mediterranean within the framework of international alliances in which our country participates, as well as the prospects of discovering hydrocarbon deposits in areas of the Ionian Sea and south of Crete, provide a good opportunity for the sector's development in our country and the creation of many specialized jobs. The construction of the EastMed pipeline is an example of a major energy project supported by the European Union, contributing significantly to the Greek economy and strengthening Greece's geopolitical position.

The engineering sector involved in energy has many development prospects, as it includes specialties aligned with the latest technological advancements. A key prerequisite for working in the energy sector is a combination of strong academic background and knowledge of new technological developments. An engineer must understand that the sector is continuously evolving and that there is much to see and learn. However, to achieve this, the engineer must be fully trained in the subject..

This is exactly the knowledge provided by the ADES Master's Program. The program aims to prepare scientifically trained professionals capable of addressing demanding technical problems in energy analysis, design, and management, and energy infrastructure, meeting the needs of the energy industry. Specifically, the ADES Master's Program is addressed to:

• Graduates of Greek and foreign universities and technological institutions who want to gain scientific/professional specialization in cutting-edge energy systems technology,
• Industry professionals who wish to deepen their knowledge and professional prospects,
• University graduates who wish to pursue a career in the energy sector,
• Any engineer interested in a dynamic career prospect in a continuously evolving global field.

If you fall into one of the above categories, the ADES Master's Program is an excellent choice for you, offering significant professional prospects and development opportunities.

The program started in the academic year 2018-19 and is an evolution of the "Energy, Industrial Processes and Pollution Control Technology" and "Engineering, Materials and Processing" directions of the Master's Program "Modern Methods of Design and Analysis in Industry," which operated in the department from 1998 to 2018.

Energy is a sector that will contribute very significantly to the development of the country and the European Union in the coming years. The developments occurring in this field are rapid: in both Renewable Energy Sources and Conventional Energy Sources (mainly natural gas), new projects and investments are being designed and implemented, new technologies are constantly being applied, and national and European policies and corresponding legislation are continually being revised.

This framework creates significant opportunities for development and professional prospects, with an emphasis on green development as well as natural gas. The penetration of Renewable Energy Sources into the energy balance is a global and pan-European goal that requires significant investments. Also, new technologies for the exploitation of natural gas form the basis for creating new specialized jobs.

In relation to these prospects and challenges, the ADES Master's Program prepares high-level engineers who are competitive in the job market and capable of meeting the needs of the energy industry. Specifically, the ADES Master's Program has the following competitive advantages:

• Industry-Based Design: It is designed based on the needs of the energy industry and the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Advanced Methods: Emphasis is placed on advanced methods of analysis and design using modern experimental and computational tools, preparing scientifically trained professionals capable of meeting future demands and challenges.
• Exposure to Modern Practices: Students are exposed to contemporary practices and technologies related to energy through seminars conducted by esteemed professionals in the field.
• High-Level Instructors: It boasts high-level instructors with significant international presence, recognition, and practical experience in the energy sector.
• Prestigious Scientific Approach: It follows a scientific approach based on the prestige of Polytechnic School studies.

Who is Eligible for Admission?

Graduates of departments from Polytechnic Schools, Schools of Sciences, Schools of Business Administration, and Schools of Economics from domestic universities or recognized equivalent institutions abroad, as well as graduates from Technological Educational Institutes (TEI) in related fields, are eligible for admission to the ADES Master's Program. Candidates who are not graduates of Polytechnic Schools are accepted if they successfully pass a number of undergraduate courses specified on a case-by-case basis by the Department Assembly.

Application Process

Around the middle of the spring semester of each academic year, the Department Assembly of Mechanical Engineers approves the call for the ADES Master's Program for the following academic year. This call is published in two local newspapers and one national newspaper and is posted on the Department's website. Interested prospective postgraduate students submit an application within the specified deadline, using a special form provided by the TMM Secretariat. Along with the application, candidates must submit a copy of their degree, a certificate of equivalence from DOATAP (formerly DIKATSA) (for foreign graduates), a transcript of grades, a certificate of sufficient knowledge of the English language, a CV, and two letters of recommendation.

Selection Criteria

The selection of candidates for the ADES Master's Program is based on a personal interview, considering the following criteria:

• Overall undergraduate degree grade,
• Grades in undergraduate courses related to the ADES Master's Program,
• Performance in the undergraduate thesis (where applicable),
• Research activity (if any),
• Relevance of undergraduate studies to the ADES Master's Program,
• Professional activity (if any) and its relevance to the ADES Master's Program,
• Sufficient knowledge of the English language,
• Possession of other postgraduate degrees.

The Coordinating Committee of the ADES Master's Program determines the details of the application of these criteria, considering the overall academic/professional career of the candidates after obtaining their undergraduate degree, and/or suggesting examination in selected courses in their preferred field, the results of which are also considered for selection.

Maximum Number of Admitted Students

The maximum number of admitted students to the ADES Master's Program is set at 30 per year.

The tuition fees for the ADES Master's Program are 2,700 euros. For full-time students, the tuition fees are paid in installments of 900 euros per semester for 3 semesters. For part-time students, the tuition fees are paid in installments of 540 euros per semester for 5 semesters. For each additional semester of extension, with a maximum of two semesters, the postgraduate student is required to pay 300 euros.

Students are exempted from tuition fees if their individual income, provided they have their own income, and their family's disposable equivalent income do not exceed, independently, 100% of the individual and 70% of the national median disposable equivalent income, respectively, according to the most recent published data from ELSTAT. In any case, exempted students cannot exceed 30% of the total number of students admitted to the program. If the number of eligible students exceeds 30%, selection is based on ranking, starting with those with the lowest income.

Additionally, there is the possibility of providing scholarships to excellent postgraduate students from the program's resources. There are also paid employment opportunities for good full-time postgraduate students in funded research projects conducted by faculty members teaching in the program, provided that the program's financial situation allows it, and based on the availability and terms of the projects, respectively.

Language of Instruction and Thesis Writing

The language of instruction for the ADES Master's Program is either Greek or English, while the literature used is almost exclusively in English. The thesis can be written in either Greek or English.

Classes and Teaching Schedule

The classes for the ADES Master's Program are held in the facilities of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the evenings. The program also offers support through distance learning tools to accommodate students who are working or living outside Volos.

Guest Lectures and Educational Visits

In addition to the regular teaching staff, ADES Master's Program students have the opportunity to attend lectures by distinguished scientists and professionals in contemporary practices and technologies from the energy industry. They also participate in educational visits to businesses and industries in the sector.

Facilities

The existing infrastructure of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is utilized for the program, particularly the laboratories of the Energy, Industrial Processes and Anti-Pollution Technology, and Materials and Manufacturing sectors.