The event “Career Day 2026”, organized by the Department of Tourism of Ionian University, was successfully held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The main objective of the event was to connect students and graduates with the labour market and to strengthen the Department’s collaboration with tourism stakeholders and businesses.
The event opened with welcome addresses by the Head of the Department of Tourism, Professor Christina Beneki, Mr. Ioannis Zikos, Regional Councillor for Health and Education, who delivered a greeting on behalf of the Governor of the Ionian Islands Region, Mr. Ioannis Trepeklis, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the Region and Ionian University, as well as the contribution of the Department of Tourism to a sustainable and competitive development model in the Ionian Islands. This was followed by a welcome address by the Deputy Mayor for Sustainable Tourism Development and Public Relations of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, Mr. Spyridon Chalikopoulos, who congratulated the Department of Tourism for organizing the event, emphasizing its dynamic and outward-looking role and its contribution to public dialogue on tourism. He described Career Day as an important initiative that connects education with the labour market and stressed the importance of cooperation between the Municipality and the Department of Tourism.
In her address, the Head of the Department referred to developments in the tourism labour market and emphasized the importance of acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills for young people’s professional careers in a constantly evolving sector. She noted that tourism constitutes a dynamic ecosystem in which cooperation between the University, public authorities, businesses and the local community is a key prerequisite for sustainable regional development.
Subsequently, the Head of the Department presented the Department of Tourism, providing representatives of local authorities and businesses with a comprehensive overview of students’ knowledge and skills, the interdisciplinary nature of the studies offered—aligned with contemporary international trends—as well as the Department’s strong academic and research profile. This was followed by a detailed presentation of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Programme “Digital Technologies in Hospitality and Tourism Management” by its Director, Professor Adamantia Pateli of the Department of Informatics. Company presentations then took place, giving students and graduates the opportunity to learn about business activities and career opportunities.
A total of nine companies participated in the event:
Voulgaris Hospitality Group, Sani/Ikos Group, Divani Corfu Palace, Mar-Bella Collection, Mitsis Group, Blue Tours, I TECH OE, DTS – DERTOUR Group and Angsana Corfu.
In the second part of the event, scheduled interviews were held between company representatives and students and graduates, contributing to their connection with the labour market and the exploration of career opportunities.
The Department of Tourism warmly thanks all participants for supporting this initiative and contributing to the success of the event. Special thanks are extended to Mr. Athanasios Papavlasopoulos, Managing Director of the Social Cooperative of Corfu “Neoi Orizontes”, for kindly offering the catering services.
Establishing Career Day as an annual institution is a key objective of the Department, aiming to strengthen the connection between education and the labour market, local authorities and the local community, as well as to create new opportunities for students and graduates, promoting extroversion and sustainable tourism development.
